Luna
I pushedthrough the door of Drip at the tail end of the afternoon rush, that lull that hits about 3:00 when you need a boost to get you through the rest of the day. I’d timed it that way intentionally so Monica wouldn’t be slammed when I came in.
Sure enough, the place was practically empty, with the exception of two or three customers who’d already been taken care of, and the second that bell tinkled like musical chimes her head came up and her eyes narrowed, nothing else to focus her attention on but me. Standing tall from where she’d been leaned over, counting receipts, she braced her hands on her hips and spat, “I was wondering when you were going to show your face.”
My mouth pulled into a cringe. “I guess you talked to Cheyanne already?”
“You damn well know I did. That’s why it’s taken you three days to come in here and see me after confessing the truth to her, because you knew she’d filled me in and thought I’d be mad.”
I pointed at her pinched face. “And you are mad, so I had every right to worry!”
“Damn right, I’m mad,” she cried, smacking her hand down on the countertop. “You’re one of my closest friends and you didn’t feel like you could come to me?”
“I wanted to fix my own mess,” I stated pathetically as I hefted myself up on one of the round, vinyl covered stools in front of the counter.
“I get that, and that’s not why I’m mad. I’m mad because being there for someone you care about isn’t all about solving their problems for them. At the very least, I could have just listened as you got everything off your chest. I could have been a shoulder for you to lean on. But you didn’t give me that chance.”
God, I really did have the very best friends a woman could possibly have. They were the family I got to choose after being stuck with one who was less than ideal, to put it mildly.
“I’m sorry. Looking back on it, I wish I’d come to you and Chey sooner. I know I should have, and I regret that. All I can do is say I’m sorry and I’ll try to do better the next time my world is falling apart.”
The hard, drawn line of her mouth wavered as one corner trembled with a smile she was trying desperately to hide. Finally losing her battle, she cracked a full grin at the same time she rolled her eyes. “All right, fine, drama queen. I’m not mad anymore. After that apology, I actually feel bad enough for you to make you a coffee on the house.”
I did a little jig right there on my stool and giggled. “Yes! Then my plan worked. I figured if I’m pathetic enough, I can start getting stuff for free. Tell me if you think this face will work on the people at the electric company.” I made an exaggerated hang-dog face and batted my eyes.
She pulled back in a cringe and laughed, “Dear God. Do yourself a favor and don’t make that face in public ever.” I snorted as she started my regular order, a nonfat caramel latte with an extra shot. “Besides, you shouldn’t feel special right now,” she said as steam shot from the machine before it started whipping the milk into a creamy, feather-light froth. “Yours isn’t the first coffee I’ve given away today.”
“What, are you trying to go out of business?” I teased. “You can join the club I started. I’m the president, but you can be my VP.”
She snickered and slid my steaming drink in front of me. “Georgia and Dezzy’s son and granddaughter showed up here earlier.”
My eyes went big. The news of the Warren’s prodigal son returning after years had been the talk of the town for weeks now. Not only because Whitecap didn’t get new residents all that often—mostly just those on vacation during tourist season—but because everyone on town loved the Warrens and were over the moon at how excited they were for their only child’s return. The fact he came with his own offspring was just icing on the cake.
“Wow, really? That’s big. I’m surprised this is the first I’m hearing about it. I bet Georgia and Dezzy are beside themselves. I don’t know two people more fit to be grandparents.”
“Yeah, well, I wish them all the luck in the world,” Monica said in a way that made my chin jerk back in befuddlement.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“She’s a teenager.” Monica shrugged casually. “At least I hope that’s the reason for her acting like a spoiled little brat while she was here.”
My eyes bugged and I nearly spit out the sip of coffee I’d just taken. “Are you serious?”
She shook her head ominously. “Wish I was. Nate’s been gone a really long time, so I’m not a hundred percent sure how he turned out, but the grandkid, let’s just say the apple fell pretty far from the tree.”
Bracing my elbows on the counter, I cupped my chin in my palms, eager for a taste of the town gossip. “What happened?”
Even though the coffee shop was empty, Monica’s gaze darted around cautiously before she leaned forward and lowered her voice, just to be safe. “Well, from what I gathered, the move was most definitely not her choice, because she was already fit to be tied when they got in here, and it was obvious the two weren’t exactly getting along. Anyway, she waltzed in like she owned the place with this sour look on her face, and the first words out of her mouth was how the décor looked cheap and like it came off the set of Golden Girls.”
I sucked in an offended gasp. “No, she didn’t!”
“Oh, honey, she absolutely did.”
Now pissed off on my friend’s behalf, I smacked my hand down on the counter. “Okay, first of all, the décor here is awesome.”
“I know!”
“Secondly, do not diss the Golden Girls.”
Monica nodded. “That was exactly what I thought when she said that.”
“I can’t believe she actually had the nerve to say that to you, and that he didn’t stop her.”
“Well, in his defense, I’m pretty sure he didn’t realize I heard her. She’d tried to mutter it, but she wasn’t as quiet as she thought she was. Then, she was all up in arms about wanting oat milk in her coffee. When I told her I was out and only had almond, you’d have thought it was the end of the damn world. She ended up saying she didn’t want anything, and I think Nate was feeling the embarrassment then. He just got a black coffee, shoved a ten in the tip jar, then dragged her out of the door.”
My jaw dropped. “Wow. That’s just... wow.”
“Right? It’ll definitely be interesting to see how things play out.”
She could say that again.