Page 39 of Defensive Desire

The bell over the door chimes again, and Lucy bursts in, cheeks flushed from the cold.

"Emma! I've been calling you all morning! How was the date? I need every detail, and—" She stops short, noticing Melanie. "Oh. Hello."

The temperature in the café seems to drop ten degrees.

Lucy and Melanie have a complicated history. They were friends in high school until a disastrous homecoming incident involving Melanie's then-boyfriend and Lucy's punch bowl.

They've maintained a frigid politeness ever since, like two cats circling each other.

"Hi, Lucy," Melanie says coolly. "Love the hair. Very... bold."

Lucy touches her recently dyed ends. "Thanks. Love the baby. Very...expected."

I close my eyes and pray to a higher power for this madness to end.

"Does anyone want coffee? I have coffee. Lots of it. Fresh coffee."

"Actually, we should go," Melanie says, already gathering Maddie's coat. "I promised Mom we'd stop by before lunch. But don't forget—birthday dinner, Saturday at seven. Dad's grilling steaks." She leans in, lowering her voice. "And seriously, Emma, bring the hockey player. It would really freak Mom out, and I'm totally there for it."

She says this like it's an enticing offer, which, to be fair, it kind of is.

"Bye, Auntie Emma!" Maddie chirps, chocolate mustache decorating her upper lip.

After they leave, Lucy collapses onto a stool. "God, every time I see your sister I feel simultaneously underdressed and overexposed."

I laugh, finally relaxing. "You're not alone."

"So," Lucy wiggles her eyebrows, "hickey, huh?"

I grab a dish towel and whip it at her. "One more word and you're banned for life."

She just grins. "Worth it. Now spill everything about last night or I swear I'll call Melanie back in here."

I lean against the counter, the warmth of last night's memories finally flooding back unhindered.

"He kissed me, Luce. Like, really kissed me. In the snow. It was... perfect."

Lucy clutches her heart. "I knew it! Connor owes me twenty bucks. He said Logan would chicken out."

"You guys bet on my love life?!"

"Of course we did. And I just won. Now tell me everything, and don't skimp on the details!"

As I recount last night's date, the sting of my mother's call and Melanie's visit fades away. Chapter & Grind fills with the scent of fresh coffee and cinnamon, customers come and go, and I find myself checking the clock, counting down the minutes until Logan's practice ends.

Let my family keep their expectations and disappointments.

I've built something real here.

My café, my friends, and now, maybe, something beautiful with Logan.

For once, I'm exactly where I want to be.

Chapter Ten

Logan

The ice feels different today. Too hard under my skates. Too slick. Like it’s trying to trip me up on purpose.