Crazy Stupid Bromance (Bromance Book Club #3) - Lyssa Kay Adams Page 0,3
tentative smile. “D-Do you need some help?”
Alexis schooled her face into what she hoped was gentle friendliness and hid the fact that her insides were skipping rope and singing a summer-camp song. “Thank you, yes,” she said, hoisting the box against her chest. “I need more hands.”
The woman reached around Alexis to open the door and then took another step back to allow Alexis to walk outside.
“Chilly today, huh?” Alexis said, bending to set the box on the sidewalk.
The girl let the door swing shut. She pulled her hands inside the cuffs of her sweatshirt as she answered. “Yes. I—I didn’t expect it to be this cold here.”
“You’re not from Nashville?” Alexis crouched to pretend she was looking for something in the box. She wanted to keep the conversation going but didn’t want to be too aggressive. The last thing the women who found their way to her café needed was someone prodding them to talk before they were ready.
“Huntsville,” the woman said. “It’s still a lot warmer there than here.”
Alexis found her gardening gloves and stood, as if that’s what she’d been looking for all along. “I’ve never been to Alabama. How far of a drive is that?”
“Only a couple of hours. That’s why I thought maybe it would be the same weather here.”
Alexis shoved her gloves in her pocket. “We’re just having an early cold snap,” she said, keeping her voice as light and casual as possible.
“Maybe.” The young woman bit her lip.
Alexis extended her hand. “I’m Alexis. I’ve seen you come in a few times, but we haven’t formally met yet.”
The woman swallowed nervously before accepting the outreach. “Candi,” she said, curling her fingers around Alexis’s. “Well, Candace, but everyone calls me Candi.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Candi.” Alexis nodded back toward the door. “Can I make you something to drink?”
“Oh, no.” The girl shook her head almost frantically.
Disappointment silenced the camp song. But then Candi swallowed and said, “I mean, yes. I came for something to drink, but you seem busy, so I can just go to the counter.”
“I’m happy to do it.” Alexis smiled. “And then maybe you can keep me company while I try not to kill these plants.”
Alexis held her breath until Candi offered that hesitant smile again. “Sure. Yes. That—that would be fine.”
“Cinnamon chai latte?”
The smile grew. “You already know my order?”
“Have a seat,” Alexis said, nodding toward one of the outdoor patio tables. “I’ll be right back.”
Alexis kept her gait as natural as possible as she walked back inside. She caught Jessica’s gaze behind the counter. “I need a cinnamon chai latte,” she said with a furtive glance behind her.
“She finally talked to you?” Jessica asked, eyes lighting up as she started to prepare the drink.
Alexis grabbed a muffin and a scone from the bakery case. Food had a way of breaking the ice and giving people something to focus on when eye contact became too painful. Many a secret had been softly revealed to Alexis over a plate of pastries crumbled by worried fingers.
She returned to Candi and set the plate and latte in front of her. Candi pulled a wallet from her pocket. “How much—”
“On the house,” Alexis said, walking back to the box of gardening supplies.
“Oh, I can’t,” Candi rushed.
“Consider it a Welcome to Nashville gift.” She tilted her head. “Have we met before?”
Candi’s eyes widened for a split second before she once again shook her head. “No.”
“You seem so familiar to me.”
Candi blinked. “Familiar how?”
“I don’t know. Something about your eyes, I guess.”
Candi went still. Like a stunned rabbit caught in the act of eating grass.
Alexis grabbed her pruning shears and went after the worst of the potted mums, which had started to wilt from neglect and the growing chill in the air.
Alexis snipped off a deadhead. Waited. Snipped another one. The quiet clink of the mug against the table was the only sound save the clip of her shears.
When the silence dragged on, Alexis finally said, “I want you to know that you should never feel pressured to talk. If all you want is someone to sit with you, I’m here whenever you need me.”
“O-Okay.”
Another deadhead dropped to the ground. “Many, many women just like you have come here looking simply for someone to sit with.”
Candi’s swallow was audible. Alexis lowered the shears into the box and rose. Candi followed her with nervous eyes as Alexis took the seat across from her at the patio table. From her apron pocket, she withdrew a business card reserved