Page 47 of Stay With Me

Today, I’m breaking those barriers down and pushing through the wall of self-doubt.

Chapter Ten

Magnolia

Ilove working at the retreat because it’s a constant flow of customers who tip exceptionally well for coffee and muffins. The guests beam about my cute little setup, and the staff comes for an extra special treat to break up their week.

When I got approved for a small business loan, I bought an old horse trailer and hired a contractor to help me build it out. After months of researching, I had a vision board and knew exactly what I wanted—white and bright with blue accents and lots of greenery vibes. Some of the final touches were adding fairy lights through the vines secured above the wheel hubs and adding a turf wall to the trailer door with a neon sign of my business name.

It screams cottagecore single girl aesthetic who makes frou-frou lattes, and that’s exactly what I was going for.

In the summer, I could wear cute sundresses or rompers each day and keep fresh flowers on the counter. Now that the weather is cooling down, I wear leggings with boots and long sweaters to stay warm.

Just as I shove half of a muffin into my mouth, I hear someone approaching and turn around to greet them. I nearly choke when I see Tripp…andonlyhim. He never comesby himself.

“Tripp, hi.” I cough, forcing myself to swallow the food down without tasting it. “Came alone today, huh?” I scrub my hands down my apron, wiping off the crumbs.

“Yeah, Landen’s stuck at the stables gettin’ his ass whipped by Summer, so figured I’d come to see you and get a caffeine boost.”

My gaze scans the length of him, always looking like a Southern dessert—tight jeans, scuffed work boots, and a white T-shirt under a plaid flannel—with a metaphorical flashing “no eating” sign across it. He’s not wearing a hat today, but the top of his head is messy like he’s been threading his fingers through his hair.

“That okay?” The lingering in his voice snaps me out of my obvious staring.

“Great. Perfect. Your regulars?” I stammer, grabbing two cups.

“Actually…what do you recommend? I’ve yet to try anything besides coffee.”

“Oh.” This is new. “What’re ya in the mood for?”

He shrugs, and I almost direct him to the menu, but I like having all of his attention on me.

“What’s your favorite?” he asks.

I feign an exaggerated gasp. “So cruel. That’d be like askin’ me to pick a favorite child.”

He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Well, it’d obviously be Chattanooga Tennessee.”

My face gets impossibly hot as my heart thumps faster.

That’s how he’s going to bring it up after not responding to my texts?

“Of course. How could I forget our beloved firstborn, Chatty?” I smirk, swallowing down the nerves from how flirty he’s being today. But then tomorrow he’ll be closed off and ignore me. His MO since I was in high school. “But if you insist I choose, I think you’d like the Hot Mess Express Latte.”

His head tilts with a cocked brow. “That’s an interestin’ name.”

“It might’ve been self-inspired.”

He laughs. “What’s in it?”

“White chocolate and tiramisu syrups with coffee bean powder on top of whipped cream.”

“That sounds delicious, actually. I’ll take that for me and Landen’s regular for him.”

“Did you wanna add a muffin? Today’s special is Razeberry Delight.”

“Raze-berry?”

“Raspberry and blackberries. I wanted to give it a more fun name than just mixed berries or whatever,” I explain.