"What time do you finish work?" He asked, keeping a close eye on Robin.
"I should be done by four or five," I replied. "And I can just pass through to get Robin if you prefer."
"Or I can pick you up after work?"
That took me by surprise, but I was grateful for the offer. I was in danger of falling for Michael already and didn't need any more reasons to cement that feeling. I had seen Michael without the hard armor he sometimes wore, and I couldn't help how I felt about him. To top it off, how he was with Robin made me imagine a future with him, raising our son.
"I'd like that, thank you," I replied.
When I got to work, Jordan had no trouble appreciating the dress I had worn for Michael. I had swept my hair to the side and left it down, just like he liked it.
"You didn't have to dress up just to sort out menus with me," he said with a wink.
I felt my face heat up at the teasing, which was a welcome distraction from my thoughts of Michael. This, I could handle. However, I didn't have a manual for my budding feelings for my son's father.
"I take my job around here very seriously," I replied with a serious expression, tugging at my denim jacket as if it were a suit.
"You won't hear me complaining, only complimenting."
I shook my head with a smile and sat down, sorting through all the work we had to do. I spent the day mostly alone since Jordan was working in the cafe, but he would come in to check on me occasionally. I sorted through different menu combinations and the different designs for the signage, only resting when I had my final pick. It was something that Jordan had already done, but he just needed an unbiased second opinion before moving forward.
"I come bearing gifts," Jordan announced as he walked in, carrying a tray with a muffin and a cup of coffee.
"You are a godsend," I said gratefully as I took a sip of the hot beverage.
For a second,Jordan looked at me like he wanted to say something important but decided against it. I couldn't decipher the look on his face as he looked at me. I cleared my throat and tapped on the pile that I had selected with my chosen designs.
"These are for signage,and I've emailed you my menu selections. You already had many great options; I think this will be your best one yet."
"Thank you.It's what I'm banking on and will give me a chance to revamp the other outlets once I see how well the new one does."
He sat downand went through my signage selection. His smile widened as the pile became smaller, and he looked up at me as if I had discovered chocolate.
"This is almostidentical to the options I had chosen," he said in wonder.
"Guess that saying istrue then; great minds do think alike," I replied with a chuckle.
"You were meant for this,"he said with another look that I couldn't understand.
Jordan had always supportedmy dream to have my own pastry shop one day. It was one of the things that had attracted me to him in the first place, his unwavering belief in me. Right now, that dream seemed so far away with all my responsibilities, but it was nice to know that Jordan's opinion hadn't changed. I had missed that.
"Only becauseIhad the best teacher," I said with a playful wink, then took a bite of the muffin to avoid talking.
There had beenthis weird energy between us lately, and I didn't know what to make of it. Jordan and I had always been so comfortable with each other, like we had known each other our whole lives. That easy friendship now felt like something else, especially with how Jordan looked at me. He finally looked away and finished going through the pile while I ate.
It was almost five,and sure enough, when I looked at my phone, I had a text from Michael saying he was almost there.
"My ride is almost here,"I said as I tidied up.
"Tammie?"He asked as he took the tray.
"Michael and Robin,"I replied, placing my coffee cup on the empty muffin plate.
"Oh,"was Jordan's only response.
He left the room while I put everything away, and I only walked out when Michael texted me that he was waiting outside. Jordan stopped me just as I walked out, and I turned back to face him.
"Sorry,I forgot to give you this," he said, handing me a flash drive. "The revisions on the layouts, just let me know what you think."