“You think so?”
“Yeah. If I’d been in charge, we would’ve closed down already. You’re a fighter, and if anyone can figure out how to keep this place going, it’ll be you.” He steps back, then glances at his watch. “Well, I gotta run. Eddie’s expecting me at the shop for my first day of work.”
“Good luck, Eli,” I say as he starts to head out. “You’re going to be amazing at this.”
He opens the door, and it’s the most hopeful I’ve felt about my brother in years.
I go back to sweeping when voices outside the cafe catch myattention. Isabella, Elana, and Rosa are approaching the door, murmuring with their heads together.
They’re probably coming to tell me they’ve heard the news about what I’ve done, before they brush me out of their lives forever.
My gut tells me this is how it ends—the end of their good opinion of me, the end of pulling me in as part of their family, which I’ve grown to love like my own. Rafael probably told everyone that I’m just an opportunist who manipulated their beloved Brendan for a vendor contract.
But avoiding them won’t change anything. And at some point, I’ll have to face them. Might as well be now.
To my surprise, Isabella greets me with her usual, warm smile, her dark eyes crinkling behind her colorful glasses. “Good morning, Scarlett. So good to see you!” She kisses my face before the others do the same.
“Is it?” I reply, then seeing her puzzled reaction, I shift gears, “I mean, it’s so good to see you, too.” I keep my distance, looking between their faces, waiting for a sign. “So…what brings you in today?”
Surely, they’re going to ask me if the accusations are true.If I’m really a fraud…
“We all want Americanos with cream today,” Grandma Rosa announces before settling into a nearby seat.
“Americanos? Is that it?” I ask, confused.
Aren’t they here to set the record straight?
“No, I’ll take a plain coffee. I’m on a diet,” Elana replies bluntly.
“Again?” Isabella asks with a frown. “When are younoton a diet?”
“At the wedding. I wanted to enjoy that cake.” Elana pats her stomach and smiles. “It was worth every calorie.”
For some reason, this seems like their usual banter. Which can only mean that Rafael hasn’t told them yet.
The business card burning a hole in my pocket reminds me that it’s only a matter of time.
As I start making coffee, the women chat about the Crushers’ win, which I watched online while Dad was in the hospital.
They discuss Brendan’s coaching and whether Jaxon will finally retire, but my mind isn’t really on their conversation. It’s on the weight in my chest, growing heavier by the second. I need to tell them the truth myself. If I don’t, Rafael will do ithisway, and I won’t get the chance to tell them how much Brendan really means to me.
“I keep telling Raf to get rid of that Jakowski.” Isabella waves her hand dismissively. “But does he listen?Nooo.My brother listens to no one.”
“Sounds familiar,” I mutter to myself.
“What?” Isabella says.
“About brothers.” I clear my throat, changing the subject. “So, have you seen Rafael since the wedding?” I ask, just as I spill coffee grounds all over the counter.
Very smooth, Scarlett.
“Not yet,” Rosa says. “He got in early this morning from San Diego and then went straight to the arena.”
“Why do you ask?” Isabella tilts her head.
I stop cleaning up the coffee grounds, anxiety ballooning in my chest. I want them to like me. But they’re not going to after this, and that’s a really painful thought.
Then again, being the most authentic version of yourself requires bravery and the ability to accept that some people might not like what they see. Andwow, does that suck.