Page 56 of It's a Brewtiful Day
“Oh-kay.” I split the word into two distinct syllables.
“Just go already, it’s what you wanted, right? So go.” He hopped off his stool and stormed to thedisplay cases, not once turning around.
But I wasn’t sure if that’s what I really wanted. There were so many emotions clouding my judgement that it made it impossible to decide.
I needed time.
“See you around?” But my question was blown away as Cassie ran over in my direction.
“Sage! Oh my gosh, you’re hurt.” Her focus zeroed in on the bump on my forehead.
“It’s okay, it’s nothing serious.”
“I was so scared. When the storm hit, I worried for you, and I couldn’t get in touch with you. I had no idea where you were.” She cupped my face. “Oh, that bump looks terrible. What happened? Maybe we should get you checked out.” Like the mother she desperately wanted to be, she searched for any more bruises or cuts. “You look tired, too. Are you hungry? I can whip up breakfast for you.”
“It’s been a long night, and I just want a shower. Why aren’t you at school?”
“I couldn’t go not knowing where you were after last night.” She pulled me tightly into a hug, and I rested my head on her shoulder. “Then Cougar called on the radio to let me know you were here, but I had to stay over there,” she pointed to the house on the corner, “until they said it was safe.” She gripped me with the strength of a man. “You’re okay?”
“Yeah. I just want to go home.” Tears were building, and I wasn’t sure why. We started toward Cassie’s car when I remembered the list in my hand. “Oh, Nina!” I turned, calling out her name.
She tossed her gaze between her store and me. “Yes?”
“Here’s a list of everything Elliot and I ate. Please let me know the total, and I’ll bring the cash over ASAP. We cleaned everything up, aside from the killer box in the staff room.”
Eyes wide, she stared at the list and then narrowed her eyes when I mentioned the box I tripped over and how Elliot accidentally kicked into my ankle.
The solid lump of sadness grew two sizes in my throat. “Elliot’s waiting inside for you.”
She tucked the paper into her bra, nodded, and left.
Cassie wrapped her hand around my shoulders, guiding me toward her car parked at the end of the street. “Let’s get you home, and you can tell me all about it.”
I glanced over my shoulder, searching for Elliot beyond the bank of windows. If he was there, it was impossible to tell with the reflection.
Chapter Eleven
Cassie and Chad were sitting in the living room watching some ladies talk show when I came upstairs.
“There you are,” Cassie said, reaching for the remote and muting the tv. “Did you have a nice nap?”
The nap was needed, which was highly unusual for me. I came home and fell into bed, crying for the strangest and most unknown reasons until I passed out.
After I woke up, or rather was woken by the start-up of my computer and my bedroom lights turning on as the power returned, I showered with hot water and a loofah full of candy cane-scented body wash. As much as I was feeling physically better, there was still an ache I couldn’t wash away.
I flopped onto the couch opposite where she and Chad were curled up. “I didn’t think I was that exhausted. It was a rough night.”
Cassie narrowed her eyes and a deep v formed on her forehead. “How did you get trapped in there? I thought you were at work and then heading to the high school?”
“I had locked up at the store, but I needed to drop some books and games off at the Coffee Loft. That’s when I realised I’d left my phone back at the shop.” I sat up straight, remembering I didn’t yet have my phone. “Oh yeah, I need to head over to the bookstore and get my things.”
“I’ll take you over in a bit.” Cassie pushed out of Chad’s embrace and took a sip of her drink. Must’ve been a green tea, judging by the colour of the water. “But you were saying? About being trapped?”
I tipped my head back on the cushion and stared at the ceiling. I brought one of the throw pillows to my chest and hugged it tight. “Then the winds picked up in intensity and the lightning cracked, splitting the tree just outside the coffee shop. It ended up sending a giant shard of trunk through the awning and railing, trapping us in.”
“Holy smokes.” Cassie’s eyes almost bulged beyond the rim of her glasses.
I closed my eyes for a moment as a dull ache sat in the center of my chest. “Amazingly enough, the tree was doused from the torrential rain so there wasn’t a fire issue.”