fellow small business owner. We have to stick together, you know?”
Eyes wide, words clogged in my throat, I slowly faced forward again.
Jan leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I can think of worse things than getting stuck to that hunk.”
A few minutes later, we’d crept to third and fourth in line as my stomach churned out hungry noises. “I know they’re really busy around lunch time, but this is crazy even for them.”
Jan nodded. “Right?”
“It’s the coupons. Cross-promotion.”
Again, I eased my head around to Kael and his relentless eavesdropping.
He grinned. “When I opened, they handed out coupons for my business, and in return, I handed out ones for theirs today. Free sourdough roll with the purchase of a large bowl of soup. We could do some cross promoting too if you’d like.”
I rubbed my slightly dry lips together for several seconds before rewarding his offer with more than an eye roll. “We own specialty shops. Competitors of sorts. How and why would we cross promote?”
“The why is simple—because small business owners should support each other. We should never think of the other as competition. And the how … well … I’ll give it some thought. I’m not open on Sundays, but I see that you are, so maybe I’ll check out your store tomorrow and something will spark an idea or two.”
“You’re closed on Sundays?” I couldn’t imagine how a specialty store could be closed on a Sunday, especially during the holiday season. Not that I was disappointed … Sunday shoppers would come to my store.
“Yep. I need a day of rest. Like God. I think I heard He took a day off, right?”
“Oh … you’re closed for church? We used to do that too, but during the holidays, it was hard to close one day a week when so many people in Epperly work Monday through Friday and only have the weekends to shop.” I shrugged.
“Church? No. Just rest. I don’t attend church.”
“Are you an atheist?” Jan asked.
“Shh …” I elbowed her. “You can’t ask people that.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What? I’ve never actually met one before. I have so many questions.”
Kael laughed. “I was raised Catholic. I just don’t go to church, and my beliefs are based on experience and observation more than translated scripture.”
“So you are atheist?” Jan’s eyes remained unblinking as she nodded several times.
“Jan, you don’t attend church.” I eyed her.
“True. But it’s not because I don’t believe. I just don’t like the expectations. The accountability. You miss one Sunday, and the following week, everyone gives you the third degree. You know, inadvertently butting their noses into your business. ‘Hi, Jan. We missed you last week. Hope everything’s okay?’ And you can’t just say that you didn’t want to get your ass out of bed and come. Nope, that’s frowned upon like you were too lazy for God, so you have to lie. Isn’t that fantastic? Christians lying because they don’t want to be judged, which happens to be a rule they are the very best at breaking. And don’t even get me started on the snoopiness and shame that comes with passing on the offering plate.” She rolled her eyes.
I tried to hide my grin, but Kael barked a laugh and tipped his head back.
Luckily, I was next to place my order, so I didn’t have to think of any response. As I waited off to the side for my soup, Jan grabbed a seat when a table opened up just as her friend Paula arrived.
“Come here often?” Kael asked with a smirk as he tucked himself next to me in the corner of the crowded cafe to wait for his to-go order as well.
Pursing my lips, I tried to hide my grin, keeping my eyes focused on the busy employees prepping orders. “That sounds like a cheesy pick-up line, but I know you mean it very literally. So, yes. I come here a lot.”
“Nope. I totally meant it as a cheesy pick-up line.”
“Stop.” I shook my head and let my grin have its way, but I still didn’t let my gaze get anywhere near his face. “I’m a little too old for you.”
“You mean you think I’m a little too young for you.”
“Same thing.”
“No. It’s only for me to say if I think you’re too old for me. Which I don’t. So for you to say it, it’s just your backward way of saying I’m too young for you.”
“How can you say you don’t think I’m too old for you when you