You Mocha Me Crazy (Coffee Loft: Fall Collection)

8. Bradley

Chapter eight

Bradley

“Hey, boss,” Heath says, poking his head in the doorway of my makeshift office. “We’re going to head out now. See you tomorrow?”

I lean back in the chair and rub my eyes with the heels of my hands. “Quitting time already?”

Heath laughs. “Already? We’ve been here nine hours. Not that you’d notice. You’ve been staring off into space with a goofy look on your face most of the afternoon.”

“What, now?” I’ve been thinking of Aurora a lot today, but a goofy look? I doubt it. It’s been five days since I tried taking her out on that date. Five days of walking by the Coffee Loft and peeking inside to get a glimpse of her. Five days of trying to figure out how to repair the damage I inadvertently caused her.

“I would say he met someone pretty,” Hudson says from behind Heath. “But he’d have to go somewhere besides here and home for that to happen.”

Heath shakes his head. “My money’s still on a woman.” He winks. “See you tomorrow, Bradley. C’mon, Hudson, Gabby’s making lasagna and I’m sure there’s enough for you, too.”

“I’ve got plans,” Hudson says, stepping into full view, his chest puffed out.

“Anne’s going to be there,” Heath says, a knowing smirk on his face. “But I guess I’ll have to entertain them both alone.”

Hudson sputters. “I guess I can make it.”

I laugh as they both try walking out the door at the same time. They’re not huge men, but big enough they bounce off each other like they’re in a pinball machine.

Deciding to wrap it up for the day, I finish writing up the report that I promised Allen, and close up the computer. The cool autumn breeze washes over me as I step outside. There’s a chill in the air tonight. I make a left instead of a right and head to the Coffee Loft. A warm cup of cocoa sounds great. Plus, a chance to see Aurora, since I noticed her car’s still parked outside.

Just before I pull open the door, Aurora locks eyes with me . . . and swan-dives behind the counter. I laugh. That’s a creative way to avoid talking to me. I’d be hurt, but I can’t blame her if she really thinks I was behind the bullying. I only heard a little of what Miley and Lauren had said to her, and it wasn’t good. I can’t imagine what they said when I wasn’t around to hear.

“Welcome.” Ashlan, the barista who’s usually working in the afternoon, greets me. “How can I help you?” She looks down to where I’m assuming Aurora is hiding on the floor, and back to me, a look of amused confusion on her face.

“I was hoping to say hi to your beautiful boss. Is she here?”

Aurora scoffs from her spot behind the counter. “Uh,” Ashlan says, looking down at the floor behind the baked goods. “No, she’s out for the night.”

She glances back up at me and smiles. I admire her loyalty. “Hmm. I’ll have to stop in another time, then. Can I have a hot cocoa please? Extra whipped cream and a dash of salted caramel if you have it.”

Ashlan looks down again, clearly bewildered by her boss’s behavior. “You bet.” She rings up the order and takes my payment before stepping in a wide arch around where I’m assuming Aurora is hiding on the floor.

“When did you guys get all these mugs?” I ask, pointing to a rack of coffee mugs, each one different from the others. I chuckle when I see one that says. “Life happens, coffee helps.” If that’s not the truth, I don’t know what is.

“Oh, Aurora thought it would be fun to add a mug display and let customers who were dining in choose a unique mug to use.” She points at the rack. “That’s what we’ve got so far.”

“Neat idea,” I say, taking the hot cocoa from her hands. “Thanks for this. Please tell Aurora that next time she doesn’t need to dive behind the counter.” I wink. “I won’t bite.”

I chuckle when I hear Aurora gasp. “See you ladies later.”

A few days later, it’s clear Aurora’s still avoiding me. I work right next door. You’d think it would be easy to get five minutes of her time, but no. She’s always busy with a project or a customer. I’m glad the Coffee Loft is so popular, but help a guy out here.

I would love nothing more than to ask her out again. Or at least figure out how to be on friendly terms without her diving behind furniture when she sees me coming. I shake my head. That was funny, but I’d like to get to a point where she’s happy to see me. Or, at least, not annoyed by my existence.

“Hey, Bradley,” Heath, the newest guy on the team, interrupts my thoughts. “I was going to run next door and grab some muffins and coffee. Need anything?”

Yeah, Aurora to talk to me . “I’ll take some coffee. Thanks.” I hand him the business credit card. “Use this.”

I watch him leave and wonder if Aurora’s next-door making coffee and small talk with her customers. Maybe I’ll catch sight of her when I leave for the day. Somehow, I’m the guy who looks forward to little glimpses of a beautiful woman. I shake my head. Does that make me a creeper? I hope not.

I glance at the stack of wood left over from when we framed the rooms for the play areas and get an idea. Ashlan did mention a display for the mugs. There’s a lot of wall space behind the cash register. I bet a wall display for the mugs would look great there. I could make that. Easily.

Then Aurora would have to talk to me. At least to say thank you. It’s a flimsy plan, but it’s all I’ve got right now so I’m inclined to go for it.

I open my laptop and start designing. Allen won’t mind me using the leftover wood for this project. Usually, we donate it to the ReNew House thrift store in Lost Creek. I’ll make a cash donation to their efforts in its place.

For the first time in weeks, I have a renewed sense of excitement. I can do this for her. It won’t make up for all the times she was made fun of, but maybe it will show her I’m genuine and I actually care for her feelings.

“Coffee’s here,” Heath calls from the entryway. Hudson makes a mad dash to the muffin tray. “Any blueberry?” he asks.

Heath shakes his head. “I don’t know. I just asked for a few muffins.” He puts the box of muffins and the container of coffee on the makeshift break table and steps back. “Help yourself.”

Hudson’s already digging into a muffin. “Delicious.”

I laugh. “You’re a mess, Hudson.” I make myself a cup of coffee, adding creamer and sugar from the Tupperware container we keep on the table. “Finish up and get back to it. We need to complete the framing this week, so we stay on target.”

He nods. “You got it.”

The phone rings and I step outside to answer it. “Hello?”

“Hey, Bradley, I have a potential client who wants to look into renovating the old bank building in Piney Brook. Think you can meet him there this afternoon and get a feel for what he wants?”

I turn and look through the glass-paned doors at Heath and Hudson as they finish eating and pick up their tools. “Shouldn’t be a problem. Do you have a time in mind?”

I’m leaning against a bench just outside the Coffee Loft when I spot her. The rich caramel color of her hair pulled high into a ponytail, and her radiant smile as she helps a customer, stop me in my tracks. My heart lurches in my chest.

I force myself to turn around and look away while Allen continues to fill me in on the details for the meeting.

“Thanks for taking this on while you’re in the middle of another project.” Allen pauses. “I still mean to get down there and try some of that coffee I’ve been hearing so much about.”

At the mention of the Coffee Loft, I turn back around, just in time to see Aurora’s face pinch in distress. My feet are moving before my brain has time to react.

I pull open the door, the tinkle of the chime alerting her that someone’s stepped inside.

“Well, well, well,” the customer at the counter says as she turns around and faces me. “If it isn’t Thumper and Bambi.”

I stop. “Miley, what a surprise.” And not a good one. Even after I left, I heard stories about her and her girl crew’s antics. Seems they’d bully anyone who dared be different than them. From the looks of it, not much has changed. “What brings you to Piney Brook?”

“I’m in town visiting my parents for a while, and they told me our little Thumper opened her own coffee shop. I just had to come down and see for myself,” Miley says, her voice dripping with contempt before she turns her fake smile at Aurora. “Seems some things never change, no matter how old you are.”

She gestures her hand up and down in front of Aurora. Implying what exactly, I’m not sure. Miley can’t possibly mean there’s something wrong with Aurora’s body.

I risk a glance at Aurora. Her cheeks and neck are flaming red. Tears glisten in her eyes. “Hello, Bradley,” Aurora says, her spark gone. “Miley was just about to order and go.” Aurora glares at Miley, showing a bit of the backbone I’ve come to expect from her.

“Can I get . . . whatever you serve here that doesn’t taste awful?” Miley slaps down a five-dollar bill, then turns and glares at me. “What are you doing here? I thought you moved away from this small town and its . . . limited options.”

“I’m back. I’m working next door and stopped in to tell Aurora how thankful I am for her tasty coffee and delicious muffins. It’s been keeping me and the guys motivated.” That’s not entirely untrue, but I’d hoped to discuss how we might move on from the past. “There’s nothing quite like a Coffee Loft coffee to brighten the day.” I raise a brow and hope she can take a hint. Her vitriol is not welcome here.

“Aww, isn’t that sweet,” Miley says, and rolls her eyes. “Seems someone still has a crush on the chubby girl. Though, I do wonder what’s wrong with you . . . since you’re still single and all.”

Aurora’s hands shake as she hands Miley her coffee—in a to-go cup. “Here you are. Black coffee,” she says, her voice cracking as she talks. My heart aches for her. Miley must have been even worse to her after I moved for it to still be affecting her all these years later.

“Too bad Bradley didn’t stick around and see you in high school,” she shudders. “The braces were really something.” Miley takes a sip of the coffee and sighs. “I suppose it will do,” she says. “It was a pleasure to see you both.” She spins on her heel and stomps out the doors. That was . . . interesting.

“Aurora . . .” I start, but she holds up a hand and cuts me off.

“Thank you for stopping in,” she says, curtly. “I’d appreciate it if you’d send someone else next time.” She blinks rapidly, as if holding back her tears.

“I’m sorry, what?” I’m as stunned by what just happened as she is, but she can’t be serious.

“Every time you’re around, something bad happens. Please, just stop.” She turns and rushes through the door to the back room.

Well, that didn’t go as planned.