Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
I help everyone outside and apologize profusely.
This can’t be happening.
The water rains from the ceiling, and I call Jack, the plumber. After talking to him, I call Mitchell, the building owner.
What a nightmare.
I can’t believe this is happening.
As if matters couldn’t get any worse, Petra strolls over from the Gazette building across the street.
“Is everything all right?” she asks me, concern etched on her face.
“I don’t even know. This might take weeks to fix.” I hate the words on the tip of my tongue, feeling a surge of nausea as bile rises from the pit of my stomach. Tremors course through me. “I think Deja Brew is going to have to withdraw from the competition for best latte.”
Petra’s eyes widen with astonishment. “Oh no. No, no. This is not good. I’ve already pitched this story to my editor, and he loves the idea. Maybe you can make your latte somewhere else, and the town can stop by to taste it so they can vote.”
I feel like crying. “I mean, I guess I could rent out a small space.” Ugh, I don’t have the money for this.
A crowd has gathered, and all I want to do is sink into a large pothole. I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“I’ll let you know, Petra. Getting my shop up and running has to be my biggest concern right now.”
She places a hand on my shoulder. “I completely understand. I know this would have been so good for you and your shop.”
My shoulders drop. “I know.”
Water still rains from the ceiling, and Jack has now shown up and gotten to work. They shut the water off to the building, and I’m basically waiting to see how much all of this will cost me.
“Just think about it,” Petra says, walking away to speak with another bystander, watching the madness of my shop overflowing.
“February, everything okay?” Harrison’s voice sounds from behind me, and I really don’t want to turn around and see the look of victory in his eyes.
Only when I turn around, he doesn’t look triumphant at all. Instead, he appears concerned. Like he really cares.
But that doesn’t stop me from lashing out. “Are you here to gloat?”
He places his hand on my elbow. “Gloat? No, I stopped by to make sure you were okay.” He steps closer, dropping my arm. “Are you?”
I will myself not to break down in front of this man. “Define okay?” I give a little laugh even though there is nothing funny about this situation.
Sometimes you just have to laugh. Like a defense mechanism. I think I’m laughing because if I don’t laugh, then I’ll cry.
“Jack’s the best in town. He’ll get it all cleaned up, and I’m sure insurance will cover the whole thing.”
“God, I hope so.”
Petra spots me talking to Harrison and walks back over. “Help me talk February into doing the best latte contest.”
I shake my head. “I wish I could, but I don’t know.”
Harrison’s eyes grow serious. “You have to do the contest.”
I shrug as Jack makes his way over.
“You’ve got a real mess inside. Gonna take a week or so to get it all sorted. You’ll have to stay closed while we work.”
“Closed for a week?” I can’t take this much time off.
Jack is an older man with a gray beard. His pants are a few sizes too large, and when he smiles, he’s missing a few teeth. “Could be longer.”
My eyes widen. “Longer?” I think I’m gonna be sick. I want to cry, but with half the town looking at me, I won’t.
“Sorry ‘bout that,” Jack says, and heads back into my coffee shop.
I shake my head, no words forming in my brain.
Harrison steps closer. “You can use my shop.”
I know he’s not serious. He can’t be, can he? “Use your shop for what?”
He scrubs a hand down his face. “For the contest. To perfect your drink too.”
He acts like he just solved world hunger, and I’m wondering why he wants me in the contest at all.
“Why would you want to do that?”
He nonchalantly shrugs, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I figured I don’t want to win by default. I want to beat you fair and square because I will have the best latte in town. And I want everyone to know it.”
A gradual smile spreads slowly across my face. “So confident.”
He rocks on his heels. “Always.” His broad smile prompts an even wider one from me. The sparkle in his eyes makes me laugh despite the tragedy going on around me.
“You’ve got yourself a deal. I plan on beating you fair and square.”
Petra clasps her hands together. “Oh, this is going to be so wonderful. I can’t wait to get started.”
I stare down my opponent, my eyes narrowing. “I can’t either.”
Harrison and I exchange numbers, so we can schedule a time when I can come into his shop and work on my latte.