You Mocha Me Crazy (Coffee Loft: Fall Collection)

13. Aurora

Chapter thirteen

Aurora

It’s been several days since I ran into Bradley at the park. Thankfully, my parents are back and picked up Pax this morning before I left for my shift at the Coffee Loft. I still can’t believe he tripped Bradley and caused such a mess. I was so embarrassed and distracted by Pax’s pulling that I didn’t even think when I offered to take his clothes to wash them.

Thank goodness he seems to have a sense of humor, otherwise that could have gone so much worse.

I’m surprised I haven’t seen Bradley in the Coffee Loft. Even though he’s waved when he walks by, he’s stayed away like I asked. I’m not sure how I feel about that. On one hand, I’m grateful he’s giving me the space I asked for. On the other . . . I miss him popping in.

Heath and his co-worker Hudson were in early this morning to section off the part of the dining area that would be under construction. A huge barrier now separates the demolition zone from the rest of the shop. Thankfully, that means I can keep operating and won’t lose much revenue.

“Well, then,” Mrs. Sanders says, setting her book and purse at a nearby table. “It looks like you’re in the home stretch.” She leans against the counter while she takes in the makeshift wall the men put up.

I grin and busy myself making her a latte. “You’re right. I’ll be glad when this part is done. Lacey’s next door, setting up the rooms and preparing the computer system today. Opening day is in a week!” I pass the latte over to her.

“Thanks, dear. I’ll have a banana nut muffin, too, please.”

I quickly plate the muffin for her and slide it across the counter. “Anything else?”

She shakes her head. “That’s it for now.”

I ring in her order, and take her payment just as the sound of hammers slamming into drywall starts.

“Oh dear . . . we may have to meet at the library today.” Mrs. Sanders jumps at each crash of the hammer. “It’s a bit too loud to think in here.”

Her point is made when a loud buzzing starts from behind the barrier. “You’re not wrong,” I say. “I’m sorry. Can I get you a to-go cup?”

She smiles kindly. “That would be nice. I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s like when it’s all done.” She’s nearly shouting to be heard over the sound of things breaking.

I reach under the counter and grab a bag for her muffin and a cup to pour her latte in. “Me, too.”

She puts her things into the containers and waves before grabbing her purse and book and heading out the door. She’s already on the phone when she turns the corner. Presumably to reschedule the book club to a quieter location.

When another customer opens the door, hears the noise, and steps back out, I decide to close up for the day. No one wants to get their coffee here with all this noise. After going through the closing procedures, I take a piece of paper and write temporarily closed on it in big block letters. I tape it to the front door before letting myself out and locking the door behind me.

Looks like I’ll need to close like Bradley suggested, after all.

Heath steps outside while I’m locking the door. “Too loud?” he asks when he sees me.

I nod. “It’s been louder than I expected.”

“We’ll be done with this part and the framing by the end of the day. Tomorrow, Hudson and his friend Toby, will clean up the debris, and we’ll get that door installed. Once the door’s in, the loud part’s nearly done. We’ll add the door casing, which requires a nail gun, but that’s quick. Then we will just need to touch up the paint, and we should be out of your hair.”

“How long do you think that will take?”

“We’ll finish the loud stuff by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. The door’s in the lobby of the kids’ place, so it won’t take long once everything’s set to put it up.”

“Thanks, Heath. I guess I’ll be closed tomorrow, too.”

He frowns. “Sorry. Did they not tell you this would be loud?”

“No, Bradley warned me, but I didn’t realize how loud it would actually be.” Honestly, I didn’t trust him. It felt like he’d wanted me to fail. Another time I misjudged him, apparently.

“Okay. Well, if we’re able to get the noise part done before you open in the morning, I’ll have Bradley let you know.”

“Thanks.”

He nods and stuffs his hands in his pocket. “No problem. Have a good day.”

When I get to the car, I remember Ashlan’s scheduled to come in this evening. I’ll send her a text. My head’s pounding too much from all the noise to talk on the phone. I just want to go home and crawl into bed with my sleep mask on.

I dig through my purse until I find my phone at the bottom. I swipe it and pull up the text conversation with Ashlan to type out my message.

Coffee Loft is too loud. I closed for the rest of the day. Possibly tomorrow, too. Can you let Bexley know as well? I’ll still pay you for your scheduled hours.

There, that should do it. I toss my phone back into my bag and start the car. For the first time in a long time, I’m looking forward to going home to the absolute quiet.

The next day I’m able to open just a few hours later than usual. True to his word, the glass door is in, and Hudson and Heath are finishing up the trim and paint. Ashlan’s here, so I spend my morning in the office looking through applications and setting up interviews. At noon, I decide to step out and grab some lunch. I’m passing by the guys when I overhear part of their conversation.

“Any idea why Bradley isn’t here today?” Heath asks.

Hudson laughs. “Man, you missed it.”

“I did?” Heath asks, confused.

“Apparently, Aurora really doesn’t like Bradley or something. She told him to stay out of the Coffee Loft. He looked like a kicked puppy when he came back to work last week.”

Heath shakes his head. “No way. Aurora is too sweet for that.”

“I absolutely am not,” I say, coming up behind them. Shame threatens to swallow me whole. Of course he’d been upset. He’d done nothing wrong, and I blamed him for Miley’s bad behavior. Again. I’ve got to stop doing that.

“Sorry,” Heath says, blushing.

I laugh. “It’s okay. Bradley and I go way back, and I thought he was a bully when we were kids. When there was a fuss here last week, I asked him to stay away. I’d rather not deal with drama.”

“Really?” Heath asks. “That surprises me. I never pegged him to be the bullying type.”

I put one hand on my hip and pin him with a serious look. “Well, there were some misunderstandings. Elementary school was brutal, and junior high wasn’t any better. I’m fine with him now, but back then, not so much,” I say before walking away to let Ashlan know I’m heading out. Bradley shared with me that he’d never intended to hurt me, and I believe him, but old hurts don’t heal overnight. Even if I want them to.

“Ashlan, I’m stepping out to get some lunch. Want me to bring you something?” Ashlan has stepped into the role of my assistant manager seamlessly.

“No, thanks, I packed lunch today.” She grins. “Take your time, though.”

“Thanks. I think I’ll head home for a while. If you need me, call me.” I grab my purse from under the counter.

“Why don’t you just take the rest of the day off? I’ll be fine here. If I’m not, I’ll call you.” She shoos me away with her hands. “Go, relax. You’ll be swamped with people coming in to see the final product once word gets out that the crew’s finished with the noise.”

I glance around the nearly empty space. She’s right. Once people find out the Coffee Loft and Matti's Playhouse are connected and open for business, they’ll want to see it. “If you’re sure.”

She grins. “Absolutely, boss.”

“See you tomorrow, then.”

I’m pulling up to my driveway when I spot Bradley’s truck parked out front. What is he doing at my house? I park the car and get out.

“Uh, hey,” Bradley says, stepping in front of a package on my porch. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”

I shake my head. “At my own house?” I move closer, trying to get a better look at what he’s clearly trying to hide. “What’s that?” I ask, pointing behind him.

“Oh, that,” he says, stepping to the side. “That’s nothing.” He blushes. Bradley Jameson actually blushes.

“Nothing, huh?” I move closer, curious about this mysterious box of nothing.

“Well, it’s not nothing,” he stammers. “It’s just not a big deal.”

I start up the porch steps, when my foot gets caught on the second step and I go flying forward. Bradley jumps into motion, scooping me into his hard chest. A hum of electricity pulses through me. I should be embarrassed about nearly falling, but the only thing I can focus on is how good his arms feel around me.

His breathing stutters as his hold on me tightens. I can’t draw my eyes from his full lips. I’m staring when he clears his throat, breaking the spell.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice barely over a whisper.

“I think so,” I say, getting my balance and forcing myself out of his arms. What was that? Bradley Jameson, the person I blamed for all the mean things Miley and Lauren said and did, caused my brain to go haywire with a little catch? Who am I kidding? He’s been making my brain go haywire since I saw him outside the Coffee Loft and tried to hide on the floor.

“Good,” he says, shaking out his arms a little. “I was just dropping something by. It’s nothing really, but I thought you might like it. Ashlan mentioned you were collecting unique coffee mugs, and I thought you might like some with your logo on them as well. If you don’t like them, I can take them back. Well, probably not, but I can use them at my house or something.”

He’s cute when he’s flustered. I mean, he’s gorgeous all the time, but this side of him reminds me of when we were kids, before everything got so messed up.

He’s so close I can smell his cologne. Woodsy, with a hint of something sweet. Perfect for him. “That looks like an awfully big box. How many did you order?”

He rubs his hand through his hair. “Uh, fifty? I figured you may want some to sell, or give away. I don’t know. Fifty just seemed like a good number.” He shrugs.

“Can I see them?” I step around him to the box on the porch. “Why don’t you bring them inside?” I unlock the front door and swing it open. “Kitchen’s straight back.”

He bends down and lifts the box like it’s a feather. Swoon! His biceps strain his t-shirt sleeves. Who knew arms could be hot? I’d certainly never cared about someone’s arms before.

“Here you go,” he says, setting the box on the kitchen table and opening it. Carefully, he takes a mug out of the packaging and holds it up for me to see.

The Coffee Loft logo is on top of a splash of watercolor. Pinks and teals swirl together, making the logo pop even more. “Wow, they’re beautiful.” I take it and turn it around in my hands. “I think the customers will love these. Thank you!” I lean in and give him a hug.

When I step back, he’s beaming. His signature smirk is in place, and this afternoon it doesn’t bother me.

“I know it’s been a long time since we were friends, but I’d like to take you on a date. A real one, where I pick you up and take you somewhere nice. Would that be okay?”

I think back to sixth grade. How the girls called me Thumper when he complimented my hair. How they laughed and made fun of me when he sat by me, saying he must have felt sorry for the chubby girl. He’d been trying to be nice to me after all. My heart skips in my chest like it’s playing double Dutch on the playground.

“You’re thinking awfully hard, Aurora. It’s okay to tell me no. I won’t like it, but I’ll understand.” Bradley steps back, giving me room to breathe air that doesn’t smell like him and clear my head.

“I’d like that.”

Did I just agree to an actual date with Bradley?

I think I did.