and tapping her foot.
“I can’t believe you just ignored me like that,” she says.
“Sorry, I had to wash someone’s spit off my face. Priorities…you understand, right?” I reply.
“Eww, gross,” she comments, scrunching up her mouth and nose.
“My sentiments exactly. Hence, the face-washing and no chatting.”
“Anyway, I need you to run the café tonight. Monica’s had a family thing and won’t be in. I’ve pretty much got the sales floor covered.”
I groan internally, but I can’t promise a little didn’t seep out for Joan to hear. “Sure thing. Remind me to strangle Monica later, okay?” I joke, making her laugh.
“Not if I do it first. This is like the fifth time this month she’s called in.”
“Oh, it’s been six times. I know because every time she does, I have to work the café.”
Joan laughs. “All right, suit up. You’ve already got customers,” she says, nodding her head toward the back office.
Throwing on the apron, I head out to the café and see Joan wasn’t lying. There’s a line. Taking my post behind the counter, I begin prepping the coffee machine so I can take the first order. It isn’t until I look past the register that I see a familiar face standing in front of me.
“Hey stranger, how’s Lexi?” Kevin asks with a smile.
“She’s still hanging in there,” I giggle. “So, what can I get you?”
“A large pumpkin spice latte,” he replies, pointing to it on the menu.
“Large, huh? Got a hot date tonight or something?”
“Actually, yeah I do,” he answers, surprising me. Has he finally gotten over me and moved on? I swear, Kevin hasn’t dated anyone since he proclaimed his love for me back in middle school. He’s a looker too, which is why I’ve been surprised no girl has swept him off his feet yet.
“Oh, really? What’s her name? Do I know her?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.
“In fact, you do.”
“Do tell,” I reply, pouring the steamed milk into his cup.
He chuckles. “It’s my truck, Valerie. I’m working on her tonight at the shop until the Fall Festival.”
I roll my eyes. “You really had me going there for a minute.”
“Sorry, you kind of walked straight into that one.”
“That I did, sir,” I reply, handing him his coffee. “So, is that all for you?”
“Actually, no. I was kind of wondering if we could talk about Janice.”
“Uhhh…” I’m uncomfortable with the way he just came right out and said that. “Right now might not be the best time,” I say, gesturing to the line of customers behind him.
“Oh, yeah, right…that whole thing,” he answers while peering back. Turning around to face me again, he adds, “I just wanted to say I don’t believe the rumors. I know you had nothing to do with it.”
I want to shush him and stress that we can talk about this later since the conversation is making me feel awkward as balls right now. It’s bad enough people actually think I had something to do with this, but now I’m in a conversation about it in public.
Keeping my calm, I reply, “Thanks, but you’re definitely in the minority with that viewpoint.” I notice how agitated a few of the customers standing behind him are getting. “Can we talk about this later?”
“Yeah, sure,” he responds. “I’ll see you tonight at the festival, right?”
“Oh, shit. I mean, crap,” I correct myself quickly when I see some of the customers giving me dirty looks. “I completely forgot about that. Yeah, I guess you will.”
“Later,” Kevin calls out and I send him a wave.
As I begin to take down the order of the next customer, I can’t help but be distracted that Kevin didn’t seem too torn up about Janice. Here I am, a complete mess over the situation, but he seems reserved. Maybe he’s just doing what a lot of guys do and internalizing his feelings. It’s still kind of weird, though, since the whole time I’ve known him, he’s been quite the emotional guy.
As I watch him leave the store, this tiny bad thought weaves its way into my mind. Is Kevin involved with this? Does he know more than he’s letting on?
Nah. It’d be too easy for it to be him.
Chapter Seventeen
Flustered and a touch rattled later that evening, I hurry into the school’s gym and maneuver through the many rows of booths at the festival to get to ours. I’m running late due to Dad giving me the parental fifth degree. If he reminds me one more time that I’m grounded and on thin ice,