“Mom.” I poke my head into the kitchen. “Mr. Yeo’s here.”
“He’s early.” She looks at me, surprised.
“Yep.” I sigh and grab a mug for his coffee. My foot taps against the floor in a quiet beat to the radio Mom insists on having on in the background as I make the hot drink. I carry the mug across the café and set it in front of Mr. Yeo. He gets his paper out and lays it on the table.
“How are you, my dear?” he asks.
“I’m okay, thanks. How’s my favorite customer?”
“Favorite customer? There’s favoritism?” Isla Stevens cries as she walks through the door. “Well I never, Roxy. I thought I’d be your favorite!”
“No, that would be me,” her twin sister, Marie, pitches in, patting her graying hair. I laugh and lead them to the counter.
“Now, ladies no need to fight. How about we make you my favorite female customers?”
“Hmph. I suppose we can share that,” Isla mutters.
“Goodness me, Isla. We’ve shared a womb, clothes, a house, and you’re fussing over a favorite customer title.” Marie shakes her head and leans toward me. “She always was the fussy one.”
“You forgot boyfriends,” Isla adds. “I believe we shared a few of those back in the day.”
I raise my eyebrows and move to the cake section of the counter. “I’m not sure I want to listen to any more of this conversation.”
The twins laugh. “Oh, dear,” Isla giggles. “Not like that.”
“Like that? I didn’t say anything.” I plate up the two slices of carrot cake and set them in front of me.
“No, but you were thinking it. After all…”
“…We know what you young’uns are like these days,” Marie finishes her sister’s sentence. “All that trashy television.”
“Which you enjoy.”
“Shush, Isla. Don’t tell everyone.”
I smile. Isla rolls her eyes. “Dear, Marie. Anyway, Roxy.”
I look up from the register and freeze when I see the glint in her eyes. “Um, yes?”
“We’ve heard something,” Marie taps the counter.
“That happens when you have ears,” I respond, tapping mine.
She looks at her sister. “She thinks she’s funny.”
“They all do,” Isla replies. I grin.
Marie looks back to me. “We’ve heard a bit of gossip. About you, dear.”
Well, isn’t that a surprise.
“Enlighten me,” I say dryly.
Isla leans forward, pressing her chest against the counter. “We heard,” she whispers. “That that hunk of a boy, Kyle, is your boyfriend.”
The twins look at me expectantly, both with excitement shimmering behind their hazel eyes.
I snort loudly and slap my hand over my mouth. “Uh, ladies, there’s a reason things are called gossip. It’s because they’re not true.”
Their faces drop. “Oh, damn,” Isla mutters. “Those would have been some pretty babies.”
“Right you are, Isla. Very pretty. And Cam would have approved.”
“The only male Cam ever approved of me dating was a Hollywood star – and even then he had to be on screen,” I remind them.
“Well, it’s still a shame,” Marie murmurs, taking her plate. “We could do with a bit of juice around here these days. Nothing exciting ever happens anymore.”
“I agree…” Isla nods as they both walk over to their table. I look at them hopelessly, shaking my head, and the bell from the kitchen rings for food. I walk in to get Mr. Yeo’s waffles.
“I’m sure I just heard the twins,” Mom says, wiping the side down.
“You did. Being their usual crazy selves.” I grab the plate. “Gossiping.”
She laughs. “You wouldn’t think they were in their fifties. More like their fifteens, if there were such a thing.”
“I think there is. It’s reserved just for them.” I leave the kitchen and give Mr. Yeo his breakfast.
I’m wiping the counter down when the door opens again. I swear, if this is Louisa early, too…
“You look like crap,” Selena announces.
“Gee, thanks. You look amazing yourself.”
She sits at the counter. “I’ll have a lemonade with a dose of what the freaking hell was wrong with you last night?”
I purse my lips, grabbing a glass and filling it with ice. “I have no idea what you’re on about.”
“Of course you don’t.” She sighs as I put the glass in front of her and lean on the counter.
“Really, I don’t. I can’t remember much.”
Her lips twist up on one side. “You mean you don’t remember Kyle claiming he was your boyfriend? Oh, this is awesome.”
“He did what?” I glance over her shoulder at the Stevens sisters. “You know what? My morning suddenly makes sense.”
“He pretended to be your boyfriend to get you away from that Tom guy you were hanging with.”
“Why the hell did he do that?”
“You were too drunk, and Tom was too grabby.” Selena shrugs. “He pretty much dragged you from my house.”
“Asshole!”
“Yep, you mentioned that a few times to him last night apparently. He called me when he’d taken you home.”
“I can’t believe he did that,” I grumble. “He’s not my damn keeper!”
“You need one,” my cousin’s voice says from the doorway. I look up, spying her black hair as she strolls toward me.
“Oh, don’t you start as well.” I stand and grab a mug for her first coffee.
“I’m just sayin’, Rox.” Louisa holds her hands up, her laptop bag slung over her shoulder. “You think you’re good, but you’re not.”
I catch her eye, and my heart sinks when I catch her meaning.
“Please tell me the reason you were at the B’n’B on Friday night wasn’t what I think it is.”
“Shut up,” I hiss under my breath, glancing at a suspiciously silent Isla and Marie. I put Louisa’s coffee in front of her. “I’m not talking about that here.”
“That’s a yes.” My cousin sighs. “God, Rox. You really have to-”
“Give it a damn rest,” I snap. “I’m not a child.”
“You know he wouldn’t have wanted you to act this way,” Selena says softly.