Page 17 of Welcome to Ero-TEA-Ca: We’re Open!

“Correct, Cass. I do not like shopping unless…” She let the sentence hang, hoping Cass would fill in the blanks. If she did, then Cass had definitely begun processing Harriet’s sudden confession.

“Unless it’s food,” Cass whispered, but Harriet heard her. Harriet’s stomach did a tiny roly-poly. Yeah, Cass was thinking about her. She was sure of it.

“Absolutely. I spent way too much money on food.”

Kendal was looking at Cass with a cocked eyebrow. If Harriet had to guess, she picked up on Cass’s insider knowledge and was wondering what the hell was going on.

So, Cass hadn’t told Kendal about Harriet’s visit.

Interesting. Was that because she’d dismissed it and didn’t think it important enough to tell her ex-wife, or was it the opposite?

Hopefully, it was the latter. Harriet had given Cass something to mull over, and she wasn’t ready to share her thoughts yet.

“Why don’t you tell Cass all about it on her break,” Kendal not-so-subtly suggested.

“I’d love to!” Harriet beamed. “What do you say, Cass? Coffee and a chat?”

She almost felt sorry for Cass, who was chewing her lip, looking confused. Her eyes darted from Harriet to Kendal. All Harriet had to do was wait her out.

“Okay.”

One word that made Harriet’s heart leapfrog. “I’ll take a cappuccino then, please,” she said to Kendal, who was grinning like an idiot.

“Sure. Cass?”

“My usual.” The growing scowl was becoming Harriet’s favourite Cass facial expression.

Turning, Harriet headed for a free table. She was having a coffee with Cass. Would wonders never cease?

“I brought you something,” she blurted as soon as Cass’s bum hit the seat.

“Why?”

Chuckling, Harriet lifted the bag of Caramel Cold Brew M&M’s to the table. “Well, Kendal got a teapot, and I thought it only fair you got something too, in light of our new friendship and all. Here, they have coffee in them.”

Cass regarded the bag with suspicion.

“Do you not like chocolate?”

“Pfft, who the hell doesn’t like chocolate?” Cass shot.

“Lots of people, actually.”

“They’re idiots.”

They were verbally sparring again, and Harriet loved it. “I’m sure they’d disagree. What if it’s due to allergies?”

“Then it’s nothing to do with liking chocolate but the inability to consume it.”

“Two coffees,” Kendal said, placing the cups on the table. Harriet hoped she didn’t stick around. She could already see Cass withdrawing. “Enjoy.”

Breathing a small sigh of relief, Harriet sipped her cappuccino. “So, you like M&M’s?”

“Yes.” Monosyllabic or not, at least Cass was here. Progress. “Are…are you ready for tomorrow?”

Ero-Tea-Ca would officially open at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Instead of being consumed by nerves, Harriet felt only excitement filling her body.

They’d worked hard, and the place looked great.

All indications showed they’d created enough of a buzz to have a packed-out place tomorrow.

There was nothing more to be done, and Harriet had to believe it would work out.

“I think so. I can’t wait to officially cut the ribbon and open up.”

“You’ve got a ribbon?” Cass’s espresso was almost to her mouth, causing Harriet to stare for a second too long. Dropping her eyes to stop anyone from getting uncomfortable, she shrugged.

“Nabi and Kevin thought it would be fun. We’ve even got a giant pair of scissors.”

“So, are you having a ceremony or something?”

“Sort of. Whoever is waiting to come in will see it. It’s not like I invited the mayor or anything.” Harriet smiled.

Cass placed her espresso down and nibbled her lip again. “Maybe…maybe Kendal and I could be there. As a show of support.”

If Harriet wasn’t already sitting down, she’d have fallen to her bum. This was huge. Her instinct told her not to make a big deal about it. Cass’s body language was screaming vulnerability and Harriet didn’t want her to retreat.

“That would be lovely.”

“Okay.”

A beat went by until Harriet remembered the CBD conversation with Nabi.

“Oh, I wanted to let you know something I don’t think you’re going to be a hundred percent happy with.

” Cass didn’t reply. She just bored holes into Harriet’s irises.

“So, remember when you accused Nabi of smoking pot in the shop?”

“Yes.”

“Well, she got an idea I support.”

Cass adjusted herself in the chair, sitting up straighter. “Go on.”

“We plan to sell CBD products.”

“Is it legal?”

“Entirely. I need to double-check there aren’t permits or something, but yeah…that’s the plan.”

“Why are you telling me, Harriet?”

Oh, she loved hearing her name slip from Cass’s plump lips. “Because I wanted to be transparent. I told you I’m a forward person. I didn’t want it to cause an issue between us. Not when we’re just figuring our shit out.”

Cass cocked her head. “Is that what we’ve done? Figured our shit out?”

Harriet shrugged. “Sure. We’re friends now, right?”

Another lip bite before Cass answered. The simple act was going to be Harriet’s undoing. “Yes. We’re friends.”

Victory! Cass admitting they were friends was a massive leap forward. Now all Harriet had to do was battle through the seemingly endless layers of scepticism, bullishness, and irritation to get to Cass’s gooey centre. A challenge she happily accepted.

They’d covered some ground today, and Harriet knew it was time to pull it back. If Cass felt pressured, she’d revert to being a spiky asshole. Harriet was learning the ways of Cassandra Beaufort, one conversation at a time.

“So, how’s Mr Whiskers?”