Not in the Plan: A totally addictive and consuming lesbian romance by Dana Hawkins

Author:Dana Hawkins [Hawkins, Dana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

CHARLIE’S DRINK SPECIAL: BOOSTED EXTRA-TALL DRIP

“What in the white chocolate mocha hell is going on?” Ben guzzled a cup of water and slammed it into the garbage. “We have like triple the customers than usual.”

“I know.” Charlie scribbled a third sold-out tag over the display case. “It’s bananas.”

But amazing. With every single customer, her stress level reduced. The ordinarily quiet chatter in the shop took on a louder, more festive decibel, and her heart filled. Her vision board, energy work, and crystal rubbing played out in real time. People talking and laughing. The continuous till beeping. Coffee grinding in the background.

She darted to the storage room for more napkins, stopping on the way to straighten out the new area rug she bought to cover the different colored flooring. This weekend, she’d have to buy tape to keep it from slipping.

She returned to her favorite mother-daughter duo.

“Hi, Charlie!” Amanda held out a purple dragon stuffed animal with glitter wings. “Look at my new stuffy.”

“Hey, kiddo. Love the dragon. New stuffy means you finished your summer books already, right?” Charlie smiled. “Proud of you. But I’ve got some bad news. We’re out of chocolate chip cookies. All we have is oatmeal.”

Amanda’s face scrunched. “Eww. Oatmeal cookies are like breakfast. I want my cookie like dessert.”

“That’s fair.” Charlie glanced up. “Hey, Erica. Sorry you guys had to wait so long. No idea if some sort of block party’s happening, and I didn’t get the memo?”

“I’m not surprised.” Erica dug a credit card from her wallet. “You’re internet famous.”

“What do you mean?” Charlie didn’t look up from scribbling their drink order on the cup.

“Have you heard of the author M. Ryder?”

Charlie dropped the Sharpie and quickly snatched it back up. “I do. We’re, um… friends.”

Erica’s eyes widened. “You’re friends? No way! Anyway, she tagged Sugar Mugs in her socials last night.”

Charlie froze. “What?”

Erica held out her phone with Mack’s post displayed. “Seattle’s reputation for coffee house superstardom is rightfully earned. Thanks to #SugarMugs for keeping me warm and caffeinated during my visit.” A link to Charlie’s half-assed website and Facebook page appeared below.

Mack did that? Charlie’s neck turned hot and her smile grew.

For the next hour, Charlie rode an unforeseen high. Mack had brought nothing but good into her life—phenomenal conversation, friendship, and now customers. Were there a gazillion things she had to think through? Yes. Starting with Mack living in New York. Long-distance relationships almost always crashed before arrival. But Mack didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. And her family lived here. And, well, maybe they could figure it out.

One time Jess described Charlie as having the loyalty of a golden retriever. When Charlie was with a woman, no one else existed. When she and Jess first got together, their relationship was all-consuming, addictive, and passionate. Charlie held an immediate, undying devotion to her, thinking how lucky she was to finally find someone who “got her” and was “her person.” Everything revolved around Jess. If Jess was sad, so was she. If Jess was happy, so was she.

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