Page 40 of A Forever Love
“The feeling’s mutual,” Carter replies as we step inside the bakery.
“Merida, hey!” June, a member of the bakery staff, waves at me as she walks around the counter. “Are you looking for a table, or are you planning to take your order to go?”
I glance at Carter, who raises an eyebrow before answering with a smile. “We were hoping to eat here.”
“No problem.” Swiftly, June guides us to a quiet corner table in the partially occupied bakery. “I’ll be back in a few moments to take your order. Feel free to look over the menu, and if you want something that’s not on it, just give me a heads-up,” she adds in a hushed tone.
As she walks away, Carter’s voice lowers. “Why are you receiving such special treatment?”
“Because I’m Clementine Hawthorne’s daughter.”
“Ah.”
After we’ve ordered pancakes, a coffee for Carter, and a cinnamon latte for me, my attention goes back to the man before me. “Shawn Hades seemed pretty intense.”
“He’s a real pain, but his antics won’t amount to much. He’s wasting his time with this silly competition. I’m not taking the bait.”
“What if he pushes you into a corner?”
“No one forces my hand, mittens. In every moment, I have a choice. It’s my own actions that relinquish control. But ultimately, it’s always my decision.”
* * *
Carter’s words linger in my mind throughout my workday, intermingling with the events of this morning. His stern expression when he discovered me in his bathroom. His words at the café, resonating about the power of choice in our lives.
“Why are you thinking so hard?”
I grin upon hearing the familiar voice.
“Brandon! You finally made it.” I rise from my chair and pull my best friend into a hug.
“Believe me, I’m just as surprised. I can’t believe I left my internship at Stanford for this small town.”
“You won’t regret it, I promise. The internship program at Elixir is fantastic.”
“If your programming skills weren’t so top notch, I’d have considered placing you in the marketing department, Merida.” Kristy strolls over to my desk with a wide grin lighting up her face.
“What can I say, I love it here.”
“And I love hearing that. Starting next week, we’re kicking off our first coding boot camp. There’ll be an assessment at the end that will contribute to the interns’ final scores. Since Brandon joined a bit late, I’d like both of you to team up. Can you help him catch up so he’s fully prepared for next week?”
After Kristy leaves, we don’t waste any more time. I dive into showing Brandon what we’ve gone over so far. After high school, he and I attended the same university. Our common grief in childhood and then a mutual love for programming deepened our friendship.
Soon, lunchtime arrives, and I lead him to Steamy Beans Café, located just across the street. We order our sandwiches and find two vacant chairs by the window.
“The fall season is just so beautiful.” I sigh, my gaze drawn to the vibrant trees adorning the streets. “I think I’m really falling in love with this town more and more each day.”
“Perhaps I’ll share your enthusiasm once I’ve sorted out my living situation,” Brandon responds. “Elixir Inc. has provided me with one week of accommodation, and in that time, I need to secure my own place.”
“Don’t worry, people in Cherrywood are really cool. I’ll also ask Clementine. She has lots of friends here who might be able to help you.”
“There’s no empty apartment in your building? It would be fun to drive to work together every day.”
“I’m already seeing enough of you,” I reply, forcing a smile even though my heart hammers with apprehension. I need to steer clear of discussing my apartment, especially before Brandon discovers who my new neighbor is.
“Hey, I’ll be the ultimate next-door neighbor. I’ll bring you breakfast every morning, handle the grocery shopping, and even try to act like your K-drama boyfriends,” he teases.
I snort. “No, thank you. Besides, all the apartments in my building are currently occupied.”