She sent a side glare to the barista, who obviously took no notice, then looked back at Mr. Grumpy. “My name isn’t Hayden.”
He continued to stare, so she did the same despite the number of people milling about them.
“You don’t have to lie. Just say you don’t like what you saw and go.”
Her gaze widened even as her heart pinched. She didn’t even think about her next move. With her treat and cup in one hand, she put the other on his arm and guided them to the side, out of the way.
She needed to get back to the store but she didn’t want him to think something like that.
“Listen, I don’t know who you were meeting and I know my cup says Hayden, but I’m not her. Whoever stood you up is rude and an idiot.”
He still looked like he was having trouble believing her. At that moment, she was grateful she’d given up dating. Who needed this kind of blow to the confidence? If a guy like this was getting ghosted, the dating world was a sad place.
“You’re not Hayden but you’re taking her cup?”
She wasn’t sure if it was amusement or doubt in his tone.
“I’m not her but I’ll be anybody for one of these lattes.” She stepped back. “Good luck.”
He huffed out a sardonic laugh. “Luck has nothing to do with it.” He gave her one more glance then stalked away like she’d actually done something wrong.
Hurrying back to the shop, she was both relieved and disappointed no one was waiting at the door. After letting herself in, she set her cup down on the counter, then attacked the first scone. It never stood a chance.
“What a jerk.” Sure, he’d been stood up, but it was like he’d been waiting for disappointment. Not her fault or her problem. But she wondered if his date would actually show.
Midway through the second scone, she reached for her cup. She picked it up, grabbed a sharpie, and scribbled out the wrong name, wrote her own. And she damn well spelled it properly.
2
The good thing about the jerk next door—hmm, that could be a rom-com title—was it stopped her from going back for seconds. Could she call it seconds if she’d had three?
As she texted her cousin, Piper, the only person she really knew in San Verde, her irritation dissipated.
Piper
What an asshole
Hailey winced. He’d been a bit of a jerk but clearly there were reasons.
Hailey
I guess if he really thought I was blowing him off, that I was really lying about my name, it makes sense.
Piper
You always do this. You’re such a softy.
Hailey grinned.
It’s all the scones. I need to eat more of what I’m selling.
Piper
Shut up! That’s not what I meant and you know it. Seriously, you ok?
Hailey
I am. See you soon? “Book” club Wednesday, right?
Piper
Absolutely!
As she pocketed her phone, intending to double-check some prices for produce suppliers, the little bell over the door jingled. It was Hailey’s new favorite sound.
Two women walked through the door, chatting back and forth—a blonde who was a few inches taller than the brunette, but that might have just been the heels. The brunette wore adorable pink Converse. While they were both very pretty, the blonde looked like an advertisement for the state of California with her sun-kissed skin and oversized sunglasses. She shifted them into her hair.
Hailey smiled while trying to tamp down the excitement she felt when people came in. “Hi. Welcome to By the Cup.”
“Thanks. We were heading to the bakery next door but saw the sign. I forgot a new shop was opening.”
Whether it was the dessert cup or the San Verde Sunshine Cup, she was grateful for that sign. Maybe she should have had a grand opening like Piper suggested. But parties made her nervous. She’d attended so many Hollywood ones at this point that anything she could pull off felt like too little.
“I’ve been open a couple weeks now,” she said.
“It’s a great area,” the brunette said, her voice low. “Your shop is adorable. It’s like a blend of vintage and modern.”
“Thank you.” Her happiness meter soared. It was a great area and she’d been lucky to lease the place. “That’s exactly what I was going for. What can I get you ladies today?”
“Evs?” the blonde asked. Something about her voice was familiar.
“You go first. You’re better at decisions,” “Evs” answered.
The other woman looked up at the menu board. It didn’t make sense for the butterflies to wake up in Hailey’s stomach but at the moment, everything depended on word of mouth and repeat customers. Not only was it the most effective marketing tool, it was the cheapest.