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Chapter Nine

Emma

The warmth of last night's memories lingers like a cozy blanket I'm not ready to throw off. Logan's kiss in the snow, his hand in mine, the way he looked at me under the glow of streetlights like I was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.

When my fingers finally locate my phone, I crack one eye open, expecting… no, hoping … to see Logan's name.

Instead, " Mom " flashes across the screen.

My stomach tightens as I sit up, running a hand through my sleep-tangled hair.

Shit. It's too early for this. It's always too early for this.

"Hi, Mom."

"Emma, dear. I tried calling the café but it seems you're opening late today." Her voice carries that familiar note of disappointment wrapped in sugar-coating.

I glance at the clock.

It's not even 7 AM.

Chapter & Grind doesn't open until 8.

"I'm right on schedule, actually, Mom." I swing my legs over the bed, immediately searching for my slippers. "Just about to head downstairs and get the heater started for the day."

"Well, that's something, I suppose."

The soft sound of china clinking comes through the line. I picture her at the breakfast nook, Dad's newspaper folded beside her untouched toast.

"I just got off the phone to Melanie. She mentioned she saw you with one of those hockey players yesterday. The large one? The fighter?"

Of course Melanie told her.

I close my eyes, counting silently to three. "His name is Logan, Mom. And yes, we had dinner."

A delicate pause follows. "Well, I suppose it's... adventurous of you. Just like your little coffee shop."

The way she says "little" makes it sound like I'm running a lemonade stand rather than a thriving business.

"Chapter & Grind is doing really well, actually. We're in the running for—"

"That's nice, dear." Her voice turns crisp, dismissive. "Listen, I've got to run. The garden club is counting on me for centerpieces today. I was just calling so your little excursions with the hockey team don't make you forget Melanie's birthday dinner next weekend."

The line goes dead before I can respond.

I stare at the phone, the warm happiness from last night cooling at the edges like espresso left too long.

"Nice talking to you too, Mom," I mutter to the empty room.

I force myself out of bed, pad to the shower, and let the hot water wash away the familiar sting of inadequacy.

As steam fills the bathroom, I try to recapture last night's magic.

Logan's fingers laced with mine, his smile, that perfect kiss.

But now I'm mentally rearranging my weekend schedule to fit in Melanie's birthday dinner, wondering if I should bring a plus-one, and trying to prepare for the inevitable questions about "where this little café experiment is headed."

Dammit, Emma. Don't let her in your head. Not today.

My phone buzzes again as I'm toweling off, and I steel myself for Round Two of the Cynthia Carter Morning Show.

But this time when I check, it's Logan.

Morning, gorgeous. Slept like a rock thinking about you. Practice at 9, but coffee after?

Just like that, warmth floods back through me.

I type back quickly: Yes please. I'll save you a muffin. The good kind.

His response is immediate: You're the good kind.

I press the phone to my chest, ridiculous smile on my face. Logan had looked at me like I was his entire world last night.

For once, that feels like enough.

***

The morning rush at Chapter & Grind is in full swing when the bell above the door chimes. I glance up from the espresso machine, expecting to see Mrs. Henderson for her daily latte, and nearly drop the portafilter.

My sister Melanie glides in, looking Instagram-ready in a cream cashmere sweater and camel coat. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail, not a strand out of place despite the biting wind outside.

Behind her toddles four-year-old Maddie, bundled in a pink puffer coat, while baby James sleeps against her chest in some kind of designer baby wrap.

"Surprise!" Melanie sings out, weaving between tables toward the counter. "Look who came to visit Auntie Emma!"

I paste on a smile, handing off the vanilla latte I've just finished to a waiting customer before turning to my sister.

"Hey, Mel. This is... unexpected."

"Well, Mom mentioned she spoke to you today, and I thought, why not swing by?" She hoists Maddie onto a stool. "One hot chocolate for the princess here, and just a tea for me. Still watching the baby weight."

She pats her completely flat stomach, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes as I grab a kid-sized cup for Maddie.

"So," Melanie leans across the counter conspiratorially, "I saw you yesterday. Dating that hockey player from the festival, huh? The big scary one?"

I focus on pumping chocolate syrup into the cup. "We had one date."

"One very successful date, according to that hickey you're trying to hide with your scarf."

My hand flies to my neck, and Melanie cackles.

"I knew it! Oh my God, Emma, I haven't seen you with a hickey since... well, never! You've always been so proper about dating." She says "proper" like it's a terminal illness. "Well… is he a good kisser? He looks like he'd be... intense."

I glance meaningfully at Maddie, who's thankfully distracted by the sprinkles I've just handed her.

"Can we not discuss my love life in front of your children?"

"Fine, fine." Melanie sighs dramatically. "But you're bringing him to my birthday dinner, right? Mom's already told everyone about your 'hockey friend.'"

I nearly spill milk all over the counter.

"I—what? We've been on one date, Mel. I'm not subjecting him to the Carter Family Inquisition yet."

"Oh, come on. It'll be fun! Dad will grill him about sports, Mom will passive-aggressively ask about his career goals, and I'll show everyone his fight compilation videos I found on YouTube."

"Absolutely not."

"I'm kidding! Mostly." She bounces baby James gently. "But seriously, bring him. I need someone interesting there besides Grandpa Walt. And the thought of listening to Brad's golf stories for another three hours makes me want to stab myself with a salad fork."

I hand her Maddie's hot chocolate, carefully topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

"I'll think about it."

"I know that means no," Melanie sighs.

"It means I'll think about it," I repeat, but we both know she's right.

The thought of Logan sitting between my mother and Melanie's husband Brad while my father lectures about proper investment strategies makes my skin crawl.

I've worked too hard to keep my family and my business in separate corners.

And right now, Logan belongs firmly in the "Chapter & Grind" category of my life, not the "disappointing daughter" section.

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.