Kiss Me (You & Me 3)

n he politely asked her to wait a few minutes while he helped out his crew through another rush. There was an easy symbiosis to the team as two people took orders at the registers and passed the orders along to the three people making drinks and calling out names. This place clearly prided itself on a quick, in-and-out service, which would be critical in this particular environment.

Katherine watched the line of men and women in fancy business suits, each of them holding a phone in their hand or against their ear as the line moved steadily along. Her eyes drifted around the interior of the coffee shop. It wasn’t anything like a Starbucks. There wasn’t any folk music playing. Instead, there was more relaxing piano music playing. She smirked again. They were catering to the more refined class of people that frequented the shop, not the millennials with their facial hair, beanie hats and their laptops.

There were a few business meetings taking place around her. Each table was set far enough apart from another to give an element of privacy. The lighting was bright, and the soft gray walls gave it a more conference room feel, than a coffee shop that encouraged patrons to hang out and settle in on a comfy couch.

Once again, she found herself watching the employees working behind the counter. They were a seriously well-oiled machine and they looked like they were having fun. She focused on the friendly smiles and the cashiers automatically knowing what each of the suits wanted. Every customer seemed happy, at ease and didn’t have that harried look she had come to expect from people that rushed into a coffee shop.

She smiled and nodded her head. She could really like it there. It was a busy place, which would make the time fly by. Talia would be missed, but Katherine was confident she could make new friends.

Her mind was drifting when she heard her phone beep in her purse. She had forgotten to put it on silent. She dug it out, expecting a message from Ben asking about the interview. She quickly put the phone on silent before distractedly pushing the envelope that would reveal the text. Her eyes were on Bruce moving back and forth. She didn’t want to appear impatient by checking her phone.

She glanced down and felt everything stop. The sound of the espresso machine whirring and whip cream being sprayed on top of every cup faded to a buzzing noise in the back of her brain as she stared at the text message on her screen. It was Tim.

Divorce papers? Really? You must think you’re really something special, Kat. But, guess what? You’re nothing but a little slut and I’m going make your life miserable. I’m not signing the damn papers. I’m coming after that new boyfriend of yours. What’s his name? Ben? I’m going to sue him for every penny in his bank account for breaking my fucking nose. I’m going to make you sorry you ever ran away from me. I’m going to ruin his life and yours. And it will all be your fault. You fucked with the wrong man.

Her mouth was dry, and she struggled to suck in a breath. She’d known this was coming. She knew there was a good chance he would do this. Tim would never sign the divorce papers and let her walk away. Meredith had insisted she demand half of his net worth. Katherine didn’t want a penny of Tim’s money. Meredith told her it was part of the process. They would settle for far less, but the pain and suffering and the giving up of her own dreams were worth something. Ben had agreed.

Katherine couldn’t stop staring at the message. He was going to sue Ben. Everyone was going to sue Ben because he had defended her. What kind of messed up world did they live when the hero had to pay a hefty price for saving the girl? It wasn’t fair. It was bullshit. She’d brought all this on Ben. He was a good man only trying to do the right thing. He didn’t deserve any of the drama she had dumped in his lap.

“Hi!” Bruce said, sliding into the seat across from her.

Her eyes darted up, feeling guilty at being caught with the phone in her hand. She put on her best smile, knowing it probably looked as fake as it felt.

“Sorry, I was just putting this on silent,” she said, her voice a little higher than normal. Her hands were shaking as she moved to slide the phone back into her purse.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She had to get through the interview. She needed a job—assuming she would be around here long enough to show up to her first scheduled day. Her stomach was rolling and fluttering and making it difficult to sit still. Her foot was nervously bouncing up and down under the table. She forced herself to stop fidgeting.

“That’s fine. I’m so sorry to have made you wait. Mondays are always so unpredictable,” he said, taking a long breath.

She nodded her head, trying to pull herself together. “They are. Mondays and Saturdays were always our busiest days,” she said, doing her best to sound friendly.

He chuckled. “Saturdays are dead around here and Sundays we’re closed altogether. Mondays and Fridays tend to be our busiest days. This entire street turns into a bit of a ghost town after about eleven on Saturday. You have those workaholics that pop in for a few hours and then disappear.”

Katherine was nodding her head, trying to appear like she knew what he was talking about. She had no idea. This was not her scene. This was Ben’s scene. Tim’s scene. What the hell was she doing trying to fit in? The little niggle of doubt and the general feeling of being unworthy began to blossom before she recognized it for what is was and tamped it down. That was the work of Tim. He had a way of making her feel like shit, like she didn’t belong in his uppity world of million-dollar earners.

“How many people do you generally have working?” she asked, wanting to satisfy her own curiosity and appear as if she were truly interested in working at the shop. She was, but in the back of her mind, she knew the risks of being close to Ben and having Tim show up again.

He shrugged a shoulder. “We try to keep it around five or six. Our number six just went on maternity leave and the other one,” he shook his head and waved a hand through the air. “Let’s just say he doesn’t work here.”

“I understand.”

Bruce seemed friendly enough and she really wanted to relax and let herself enjoy the moment, but Tim’s text had thrown her for a loop. She couldn’t get his threats out of her head. Every single time she thought she was moving forward and really putting him and his horrible ways behind her, he showed up again.

“Would you be interested in full or part time work?” he asked.

“Um, I would prefer full, but I would be okay with part time as well,” she replied, demanding her brain focus on the present.

He smiled again. “Great. We’re looking for someone to work around thirty hours a week for now, but that could always change. Tell me about your experience in the world of coffee.”

Katherine knew she was about to blow the interview and managed to summon the strength to push Tim’s message to a back burner in her brain. It could simmer for now. She inhaled a cleansing breath through her nose and looked Bruce directly in the eyes before launching into her spiel, doing her best to make herself sound like the best choice for the job.

Bruce was nodding and smiling, making her feel like he was really listening to her. She instantly liked the man. They talked a bit more about the business and their unique clientele. Katherine smiled and did her best to appear enthusiastic.

“You have an amazing place here,” she complimented.

“Thank you. I know it’s a little different than the average coffee shop, but that’s what we pride ourselves on.”

“Is there a uniform?” she asked, taking in the black slacks and polos everyone was wearing.