Yes & I Love You (Say Everything #1) - Roni Loren Page 0,38

Blues, and that won’t get us anywhere.”

Mr. Melancon made a humming sound like he was pondering and then cleared his throat. “That’s probably a wise plan of action. Let’s put our best foot forward with the launch video. Take the next six weeks and work on your video presentation skills. I want upbeat and fun, but don’t lose that signature snark. Miz Poppy is your wry best friend telling you about what’s worth seeing and spending your money on. Keep that brand. Don’t try to match that blue kid’s over-the-top enthusiasm. I don’t want a goddamned cartoon character.”

Thank God for small mercies.

“Right. Got it.” She swallowed hard. “And thanks for the opportunity, Mr. Melancon.”

“You’ve earned the chance,” he said firmly. “The new position will be effective once the reveal goes live. I’ll email you with the specifics. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.”

The phone call ended before she could say goodbye.

She watched her phone screen go dark and then put her elbows on her desk, her face in her hands. Reveal herself on camera. Be on video. Be a freaking vlogger.

He may as well have asked her to build a spaceship and land it on Mars.

She sat there in a panicked, wallowing spiral, not planning to move for a while, but her phone dinged and had her lifting her head a few seconds later.

She glanced over at the screen.

Jasper: Handsome decafs are back in stock. U want?

The sight of Jasper’s name on her screen made her belly flutter, but the breath she’d been holding released—some odd combination of relief that he was back and anxiety…for the exact same reason. Ugh. Brains were weird.

Her brain was weird.

She picked up the phone, pondering how to respond.

Lucinda had used a rotation of temps to cover the coffee bar over the last two weeks when Jasper had been out recovering from surgery. The coffee had been nearly undrinkable. Hollyn had texted Jasper once, two days after surgery, and he’d responded with enough typos to make her suspect he’d been blitzed on pain meds. But she’d at least confirmed that he was okay. She hadn’t had the guts to text him again, though. The longer he was away, the more it felt like he was a stranger again, like their whole interaction had been some kind of waking dream. She’d mostly convinced herself that the night in the hospital had just been a glitch in the universe, and now everything would be set back to normal.

But right now, she could use a coffee and a pastry and maybe a glimpse of that friendly face of his. So instead of following her first instinct—to text her order and hide—she typed a quick response.

Hollyn: Welcome back! Heading down. I’m starving and need to get out of this office.

Jasper: Your pastry and awkward small talk await.

She smiled, a warm, tingly feeling moving through her and chasing away some of the panic over her new job assignment. Jasper remembered their conversation. That was something. She rolled her chair backward, ignoring the notes she’d taken on the traumatic phone call, and headed down. She had bigger things to worry about than being awkward with the cute barista right now. Suddenly, talking to Jasper seemed like child’s play compared to what she was facing at work.

Chapter Ten

Hollyn was feeling relatively confident about seeing Jasper until she got to the bottom floor and stepped out of the stairwell. She had a brief moment of alarm when she saw Jasper leaning on the counter and laughing at something Andi said. The last time Hollyn had made this walk, she’d embarrassed herself. And had he been this hot when he left? Her memory must’ve fogged the level of hotness, some built-in mental protection from the intense attraction. Maybe she wasn’t ready for this. Jasper and Andi looked so at ease and comfortable. Maybe she shouldn’t interrupt.

But then Jasper turned and caught sight of her. His face lit with an open-mouthed smile, and Andi waved her over like she’d been waiting for her to arrive. Hollyn took a deep breath, smoothed the front of her black capris, and headed over.

“Look who’s back!” Andi announced and swept her arm out like she was presenting Jasper as the prize on a game show.

Hollyn could feel her nose twitching, but she smiled to counteract it. “I heard.” She turned to Jasper, bracing herself for the full impact of her small-talk nerves. “How are you feeling?”

Jasper put a hand over a spot on his lower

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