Johnny:Sure, surprise me. Be safe, okay?
Me:Always. Love you.
Johnny:Love you, more.
“Hey.” I pause before Rosie goes her separate way to her car. “You want to go over that Lit material?”
She shrugs and yawns. “If there’s some caffeine involved, I’m game.”
I smile. “Hop in.” I open the door for her to climb aboard.
I grip the steering wheel firmly on our quick drive to the place I’ve been twice in the last twenty-four hours. Now about to be a third time. It’s strange how I’d never been there in the entire time I lived here, and now I’m frequenting it multiple times in one day. I pull up and put the car into park, hesitating before cutting the engine.
“Wait, is this…” Rosie does a double-take on me and the building we’re stopped in front of.
“Yep.”
“Holy shit.” She relaxes into her seat, allowing me to make the final decision on when we’re going to get out. “I still can’t believe they shook hands.”
“Right? It was unnerving. Like watching someone meet themselves from the future.”
Rosie squints to peer inside. “You think he’s in there?”
I sigh. “It’s possible.”
“Good, I want to see him.”
I reach into the backseat and pull my bag out. If I’m going to be here, I’d prefer to look like I really am studying and not as a total creep. At least this time I’m not alone.
I draw in a breath and grab the door handle, steadying myself for whatever is about to come next. Maybe what I heard last night was a total fluke, and Luciano is simply a café owner and nothing more.
Or there is the very real possibility that he’s the equivalent of Franklin—a no-good criminal piece of shit that deserves to rot in hell.
Here’s to hoping it’s the former. For Johnny’s sake.
Rosie and I walk side by side until we reach the entrance. I hold the door open for her and let her go ahead of me.
She goes straight in, claiming the same empty booth Johnny and I occupied earlier today.
A deep voice sounds from behind me. “We really have to stop meeting like this.”
I turn to see Luciano standing right there, a white towel draped over his shoulder, the same way Bram had done many times before.
I swallow down the immediate nerves that rise and force myself to act somewhat fucking normal. “I blame the coffee. It’s really good.”
Really, Claire? That’s what you decide to say?
Luciano stifles a grin, the same way Johnny does. “What can I say, I’ve spent a lot of time researching and refining which beans we source. I’m glad you appreciate the effort.”
Rosie clears her throat.
Luciano extends his hand. “You must be Rosie.”
To my surprise, she blushes, but takes his outreaching palm into hers. “I am.”
Leave it to Rosie to have the hots for my man’s father. I’d kick her in the shin if it wouldn’t bring unwanted attention my way.
“Well, ladies, what can I get for you? Coffee?” Luciano raises an eyebrow at me.