Wow.
揢h, are you guys okay??I venture.
揘ever better,?she says.
As I watch them, I realize having a nice hot slice of man might not be half-bad. Someday.
But I抣l settle for my caf?first.
Is it too much to ask the universe to deliver a lickable husband who抯 just as crazy about coffee as I am and wants to open a little shop where we can live our dreams?
Back in reality, no guy has ever looked at me remotely like Lincoln gazes at his wife. He抯 so lost in her it抯 almost indecent.
I mean, someone tried once.
Someone who lied brutally well.
Whatever. There抯 a reason I stick to coffee over dating.
Dakota pulls away from her husband and gazes at him with moony eyes, until she remembers I抦 still here.
揙h. Linc, tell Eliza what you told me about corporate interview negotiations.?
Lincoln meets my eyes, this hulking bear of a man who always looks intimidating, even when his intentions are pure. 揌ey, Eliza. Didn抰 see you there.?
Yeah, no wonder.
If Dakota wasn抰 one of my best friends, I抎 be revolted by their lovesick show, but instead, I just grin.
揙kay, corporate negotiations…？he says, pondering for a moment. 揑f a CEO is taking time out of their day to meet with you, you can always get more than they offer. Always ten percent, sometimes twenty.?
揅ool. I had no idea,?I say.
He nods thoughtfully. 揃y the time you抮e meeting the CEO, you have the job. It抯 a given. Someone would have weeded you out long before then, otherwise.?His face glows when he looks back at Dakota and she passes him the baby. 揂m I done? Evermore has a hankering for Paw Patrol and so do I.?
揙h, fine!?Dakota beams at him.
He leans in and kisses her again before retreating inside their mansion with the munchkin.
揥hen you two are together, it抯 intense. Like, a little scary intense. I抦 afraid of getting trapped inside your bubble,?I tease.
She just shrugs happily and sits on the outdoor couch. 揂re you going to do it then??
揟he interview??
She nods.
I groan. 揑 think I have to, now. Who knows when I抣l get an opportunity like this again? I抦 almost short on rent. It抯 not like I can turn down the cash.?
揇o you need a loan??Her eyes glow with concern.
揂nd have you hate me because it抣l be the year 2100 before I pay it back? No thanks.?
揈liza, I know you. You don抰 like this sort of thing, but I could just give you the money. The only reason I didn抰 offer is because you haven抰 liked me asking in the past.?
揟hanks, but I抳e got this. I抦 just going to have to make the Grumpfather an offer he can抰 refuse.?
揟hat抯 the spirit. Go interview, get the job, and then call me ASAP. We抣l figure out how much you need to save to be out of there and running Liza抯 Love in six months to a year.?
I hold back a frown. She makes it sound too easy. But if Dakota could do it when she started in a similar spot to where I抦 at now…
I can抰 say never.
揥hen I get my own place, will you write cutesy quotes for my cups??
揧es, and a full poem for the large size,?she promises.
We both laugh.
Fine. Decision made.
I抣l chisel off a piece of my soul for Wired Cup Inc. and later梬ho knows how much later梐fter I抳e made a clean break, I can catch up on penance.
For now, I just need all the prayers before I lock horns with that snorting bull in a suit again.
4
Double Shot Of Dare （Cole）
揅ole? Goddamn, it抯 been a century and a half. Can you hear me, boss??Troy抯 tanned face fills my screen, his large sunglasses pulled low over his eyes and a messy smile hanging on his lips.
My Chief Operations Officer looks like he抯 just rubbing it.
If only I could抳e handled sourcing overseas and let him take the Seattle role with its dreary weather. Then I抎 be the one hanging out on beaches with a perpetual golden tan, and he could stay chained to a desk while rain washes out his windows.
Never mind the accident and the stew of bad memories.
There抯 a lot of travel with his role. Jetting around the Pacific and South America wouldn抰 have been any way for Destiny to grow up, especially after Aster died.
揑 can hear you,?I say, hating that I still go tense when I hear his voice.
I used to love hearing from this man.
About as much as I enjoyed his friendship.
Now, his very existence stirs up this sick dread inside me, and I抦 not sure why.
Maybe it抯 the sun. The pristine beach behind him with its lapping waves in the background. The too-bright tropical drink in his hand, that neon-pink POG juice梡ineapple, orange, and guava梐nd probably spiked with a splash of rum even when he抯 on the clock.