In addition to the coffee chain, Eric had several business investments going on, but none of them felt like this one. This one would be made purely on emotion. Eric thought back to the moments in their conversation when Olivia had laughed or smiled. He wanted to see her do it again just to see if he was remembering it correctly.
"…sold out of them twice since then." Brandon had been talking to Eric, but he was lost in thought and didn't catch what he said.
"Sold out of what?" Eric asked.
"Those ornaments. People went nuts for them. They give them with gift cards."
Eric nodded and smiled. "Oh, yeah, those sold real well at all the locations," he said.
"People are collecting them," Brandon said. His voice shook when he spoke. He was nervous, not only because Eric was the owner but also just because he was cool and Brandon wanted to impress him. "Did Olivia already take care of you?" Brandon asked, looking at the counter for clues that Eric had been served.
"She did. I already ate lunch and everything."
"Oh, I, uh, had to go down the block and… I'm working open-to-close today, so I had to use my lunchbreak to do some… I had some last-minute Christmas shopping."
"I hear you," Eric said easily, since he didn't need an excuse. "I'm out here doing the same thing."
Chapter 5
Olivia
I moved quickly.
I didn't even look to see what Brandon was doing. I figured he would either come back here to talk to me in the kitchen, or he would talk to Eric. I was nervous about the possibility of finding an investor for my brother, but my nerves translated into focus, and I concentrated all of my efforts into making a good drawing fast. Or maybe I was making a fast drawing good. Either way, I was rushing but also trying my best.
Horses had always been difficult for me, so I went to Google on my phone and found a reference photo of a racehorse at the finish line. I made an outline, and then I traced the outline ten or twenty times, moving off of the original line here and there to change the shape and give the drawing an intentionally messy look. I added more sweeping curved lines in the tail and mane and filled in the darker details of its eyes, ears, knees, and hooves. I held the cup back, taking in the shape of it and the overall look of my drawing. I added small details like some small piles of dirt on the ground. In perfect block print, I wrote my name and number and also my brother's. I incorporated the handwriting into the drawing of the horse so that the whole thing, including the numbers, looked like a cohesive design—a sticker—a logo. It took me about five minutes to get it where I liked it, and I was working quickly.
I loved the overall look of it. I could have taken a lot longer and made it better, but it was pretty good for an on-the-spot job like this one. I was happy with it and even proud of it as I headed toward the front, but my confidence felt more and more shaken with every step.
Brandon was clearly talking to Eric at the bar, and I didn't feel right about just walking up to him and handing him the cup in front of Brandon. I wondered if I could somehow get the cup to Eric without Brandon noticing me. I didn't think it was possible.
But my momentum was already carrying me that way, and I went to join them, trying my best not to second-guess myself. (There was also the little issue of his unpaid check and my mysterious willingness to eat someone's leftovers.) I realized this whole scene would come as a surprise to Brandon, so I tried to seem really casual and normal.
"Hey Brandon," I said, crossing to the espresso machine. I set the lucky cup on the counter in a strategic place so that it wasn't in Brandon's clear sight. Eric made eye contact with me, and I said, "I'm going to make you a cup of tea for the road."
"Mister Strauss, uh, said y-you took care of his lunch," Brandon said. He was more nervous and awkward than usual.
"I did," I said, assuming Eric was letting me take care of his lunch so that I didn't have to ring him up after the fact in front of my manager. This was more than fine with me considering what he was thinking about doing for my brother.
Brandon let out a nervous laugh as he began doing busywork behind the counter—cleaning the top of the ice bin even though it didn't need it.
"I was telling him the ornaments were a hit this year," Brandon said as he scrubbed away. "Especially the little mugs. Everybody loved those." Brandon smiled and stared at me like I should understand exactly what he was saying, but I honestly had no idea.
"Yeah," I agreed since that seemed appropriate. I nodded and held the smile as I dispensed hot water into a cup. I made Eric a cup of decaffeinated peppermint tea, added a lid, and slid the lucky cup onto the outside of it.
Brandon had already stashed his shopping bag behind the counter. He was still standing there and not looking like he was about to leave us alone, so I decided I had to take action. I set the cup in front of Eric with the drawing facing him and not Brandon.
"I have a few things to do in the back before I clock out," I said. "But it was really nice meeting you. My brother's information is on the cup if you feel like calling him. And, I've got all the…" I gestured to the counter where the sandwich had been, letting him know without saying it out loud that I was planning on paying for his lunch. "Merry Christmas."
I was so nervous that I didn't even give Eric time to respond. I just smiled and turned around, headed for the kitchen again.
"Thank you, Olivia," he called from behind me. I turned and glanced over my shoulder at his words, and he lifted his hand and waved at me. "Thanks for sharing your cookies. And for, everything," he said gesturing the same way I had done. "It was nice meeting you. I'll be in touch with your brother." He spoke quickly, but he seemed serious and sincere, and I gave him a smile and a thankful nod, hoping he would follow through—or at least call my brother and check it out.
I was thinking about the whole encounter moments later as I stared at a spot in the bottom of the sink. There were a ton of dishes, and I had promised Brandon I would take care of them before I left. I hated to leave the handsome stranger, but I was nervous talking to him after Brandon came in, anyway.
In all honesty, Brandon seemed jittery. I had no idea what he was talking about with the whole ornaments and mug thing. I remembered it all absentmindedly as I rinsed the dishes clean and loaded them onto the dishwasher tray. I had only been doing that for a few minutes when Brandon opened the door. I glanced that way to find that he was staring at me with wide eyes.
"Did he say anything about me not being here?" was the first thing he asked.
"Who?"
"Eric Strauss," he said. "What are the chances that I would leave you alone for thirty minutes and he would show up? He never comes to our store."
He seemed distressed about it, so I said, "What's the problem? Why does it matter? I was fine."
Brandon shrugged. "I guess it was fine," he said. "If he didn't say anything. I just hate that I wasn't here. Do you think everything was clean enough? Of course, I noticed that display over by the sugar station. Some kid turned all of the granola bars upside down. Do you think he noticed? I'm sure he did, but there's nothing we can do about it now."
Brandon was officially saying the weirdest things I had ever heard him say.
"Is he gone?" I asked.
"Yes," Brandon said with a long sigh.
"I need you to ring me up for some food and drinks once we count out the tip jar," I said.
"I think we only have about twelve dollars each in there," Brandon said.
"Well, I'll just end up putting it into the register," I said. "I probably owe some, too."
"Dang. Somebody's hungry," he said, teasing me since we got half-price food and drinks.
"It's not for me. Not all of it, at least. That guy's lunch and mine. He's thinking about calling my brother to talk about some horse. I told him I would buy his lunch because of that. You know, in the Christmas spirit and everything."
"You told what guy you'd buy his lunch?"
I nodded. "The one you were talking to. Eric."
Br
andon laughed. "Oh, you're buying his lunch?" he asked, nodding. "How sweet of you." He sounded extremely sarcastic, and I shot him an offended look as I continued to rinse and stack.
"You don't have to ring it up," I said defiantly. "I'll just take it for free if you want me to."
Brandon laughed again.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"You," he said. "Getting into the Christmas spirit by giving away free meals."
"You don't have to be so jaded about it," I said. "And I wasn't trying to give it away. I was trying to buy it."
"Oh, you're being serious? I—I thought you were joking around," Brandon said.
"I don't know why I would joke about that," I said, still washing and wondering why he was being so weird.
"You must not know who he is."
I glanced at Brandon and he continued.
"Eric Strauss," he said. "The owner and founder of Roxy's."
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "This Roxy's?" I asked, my voice sounding hoarse.
"Yes, this Roxy's. All the Roxy's. His family owns this whole building, and about twenty other buildings down here. Why do you think there's a big S on the top of it? Strauss Towers, Strauss Arena? Any of this ringing a bell?"
My stomach fell. My face felt flush.
"Are you sure?" I asked. My expression was so confused that it caused Brandon to laugh.
"Yes, I'm sure. That was Eric Strauss, plain as day. Haven't you met him before?" His expression changed to a thoughtful smile as he regarded me. "Did you seriously tell him you were going to buy his lunch?" he asked, looking like he was trying to hold in his laughter.
"Yes," I said. "And he let me do it. He didn't even tell me who he was. He didn't tell me he gets to eat for free. Does he?"
"Of course he does," Brandon said with a disbelieving look on his face. "He can come in here and start hauling the flippin' furniture out if he wants to. He's the owner. He owns everything in this store. His dad owns this whole building. Literally."
I continued to wash dishes as my thoughts began to run wild. The first emotion I processed was excitement for my baby brother. If this guy was as rich as Brandon said he was, then he was probably being serious about investing in the horse. I could not stop a smile from spreading across my face as I thought about that. What if it worked out for Jude? What were the chances that I would mention that investment to someone who happened to be loaded and capable of doing it? I would officially be stunned if it worked out.
"Now you see why I was worried about the store? And about not being here. Do you think he felt any sort of way that I wasn't here?"
"No," I said. "He didn't care. He was really nice. I can't believe he didn't tell me who he was, though. I wonder if he would have paid for his food if I didn't offer to buy it for him."
"He probably thought you were just offering to cover it to be funny. He probably thought you knew who he was."
"I don't know," I said, trying to remember our exact conversation. "I'm pretty sure he knew that I thought he was a regular customer."
"He's not, though," Brandon said, being serious.
"Well, now I know that."
"I thought for sure you knew who he was," Brandon said. "With the way you were flirting with him."
"I wasn't flirting," I said, defending myself.
"You made him a lucky cup," Brandon said. "And thought you were buying his lunch. Plus, he was staring at you. You guys were both doing it."
"What? No. I was, we were, my brother has this horse. He wants to buy a horse, and I was talking to him about… we weren't… I wasn't… we already had a whole conversation about other things. Horse things. That's why I made a lucky cup. I was giving him my brother's…"
I sighed as I trailed off, reaching up and using my forearm to get the hair out of my eyes.
"I was putting him in touch with my brother, that's all. I wasn't flirting—at least not because he was the owner. I had no idea who he was."
Chapter 6
I couldn't decide whether or not to call my brother and tell him about Eric. I didn't want him to get his hopes up, but I was excited and I thought there was a real chance that it would work out.
But Jude stood to gain a lot more from this than I did, and I hated to mention it if it wasn't a sure thing. I called him, and even as the phone rang, I couldn't decide whether or not I was going to mention it.
"Twice in one day," was how Jude answered the phone.
There was noise in the background.
"Are you driving?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm on my way to the stables. One of Jordan's friends wanted a tour. I'm taking him over there to show him around."
"Oh, I'm sorry, is he in the truck with you?"
"No. He's following me. I'll go back to Uncle E's, but he's leaving from the stables."
"I just got done with work, so I was checking in."
"Oh okay, Because I thought you were about to tell me you found someone who wanted to give me thirty thousand for that horse."
"What? Oh, uh…" I let out a little nervous laugh. I hadn't decided whether or not, I was going to tell him about Eric, and the mention of the money made me speechless.
"I'm messing with you," Jude said. "I was just saying that because Aunt Rhonda made me pray earlier."
"What?" I asked.
"Earlier, when I was talking to you on the phone," Jude said. "Aunt Rhonda overheard us talking."
"Oh, goodness."
"I know. And she asked me about it. She asked if it was something she and Uncle E could look at helping me with—you know like giving me a loan or whatever, but I told her I didn't want to do that after everything they…" Jude trailed off. "Anyway, I explained why I hoped to figure it out on my own, and she gave me a big speech about asking God for help and trusting Him and stuff. Then she asked if she could stand there and pray for me—pray for some kind of miracle."
My heart pounded.
I knew that Eric Strauss was my brother's miracle. I was speechless about it, though. I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud. It seemed too unreal.
"You probably will get somebody," I said, my voice shaking. I was on the verge of laughing or crying or both—full of emotion. "I'm sure you will," I added, begging myself not to tell him.
"I know," he said. "And if I don't, it won't be for lack of trying. I already mentioned it to some of guys on the team. Alex Holbrook said he would talk to his dad and see if it's something they'd be interested in."
"I mentioned it to a customer, too," I said, unable to hold it in any longer.
"You did? Who? Where? At the coffee shop?"
"Yeah. Just now. Like thirty minutes ago. He's my boss. I didn't even know it when I was talking to him, though. I told him about it, and I gave him your phone number. He seemed pretty interested."
"What'd you tell him?" Jude asked.
I could instantly hear the hope in his voice, and I cringed, feeling like I needed to make a disclaimer. "I'm sure I didn't tell him enough. And I don't think he knows much about horses. We were talking about Christmas presents, and I mentioned you and this horse you had told me about. I told him I'd buy it for you if I could, and he said he was interested in, you know, investing. I told him a little about you and that you'd be taking care of it, and he seemed to understand. I don't know if anything will come of it, but he did seem interested. He took your number."
"That would be unreal," Jude said. Then he added, "We'll hey, I'm pulling up at the stables."
"Okay, yeah," I said. "Just… his… he might not call right away since it's Christmas and everything."
"Okay, no problem. Yeah, I'll be right there." That last statement was directed toward whoever was waiting for him. I told my brother goodbye and let him get to his business.
It was eight o'clock that evening when Jude called me back.
I was at my roommate's parents' house, but I happened to be holding my phone, taking a picture of her and her dad. I declined the call so that I could snap the photo, and I e
xcused myself and called my brother back within minutes.
"What's up?" I asked when he answered.
"How in the world did you do that?" Jude asked.
"Do what?" I asked, smiling.
"Your friend called me," he said.
"Who?"
"Eric Strauss."
I knew he would say that, but my heart sped up when he actually did.
"He wants in," Jude said, sounding pumped.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I can't believe it, but yes. Where are you?"
"Jillian's parents'."
"It's noisy," he said.
"They're playing a game," I said, walking further down the hallway. "What happened with Eric? What did he say?"
"He just introduced himself and told me he had already talked to you about investing in a horse. He was super easy-going. Everything I said, he just agreed with and said it was no problem. You must have done a good job of explaining it to him because he had no problem or questions with anything whatsoever."
"So, did he already agree?"
"Yes. He wants to cover the full amount. He said his bank would be in touch with me and then Justin. It was basically no questions asked. The only questions he asked were the excited ones. Tell me about the horse. What's his name? What color is he? Do you have a picture you can send?"
I let out a muffled squeal of excitement. "So, what happens now?" I asked.
"I gave him Justin and Lindsay's number. He's going to work it out with their farm. He said he'll wait until after Christmas but that he would have someone call and take care of it."
"Oh my gosh."
"I know. And I believe him. I like him. We talked for about an hour, and he's cool. I'm stoked to meet him."
"When are you meeting him?"
"I don't know for sure," Jude said. "He did say he wanted to come down here. He mentioned talking to you about that."
"He mentioned talking to me? What did he say?"
"Oh gosh, here we go, Liv."
Me & Mister Everything: A Romance (Tanner Family Book 4) Page 4