Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush

by Pinder, Victoria

  Putting her hands on his, she squeezed him in support. “Of course. I’ll take measurements.”

  She had a roof over her head. Now she had to buy something to sleep in tonight before she met Sandra.

  Chapter Six

  Miracle Mile would not be in her price range at all. Jay and his high school friends shopped there. Penny sighed. She missed Gainesville a little. At least there she fit in without looking like Cinderella for not jetting off to Milan for the fashion show with her friends. Miami had two sides, not three. The rich, and then the rest of the city no one mentioned. She called up Sandra and asked, momentarily thinking she spoke to her mother and not her rich best friend, “Who has a warehouse membership that we know? I need a mattress.”

  “You are running a mile a minute, Penny.”

  “Right. Sandra. I’m sorry. I’m overwhelmed and looking for a membership card to one of those stores where we buy everything in bulk. I’m just moving back.”

  “Oh. We get gas there sometimes for the car. Stop at my store, take my card, and go.”

  Good. Leaving her stuff and only packing two suitcases meant she had no household goods, not even her measly college stuff. But a clean breakup with no hard feelings was worth the one coffee cup she had owned. Asking Sandra for help with a mattress would be out of the question, but she’d tip someone to tie it on the top of the car. When she left all her stuff to Fernando except her clothes, she hadn’t left much. Used furniture inherited from other broke college students wouldn’t last much longer, and now with a full-time position she could start fresh with everything. Penny liked having a plan. If she had to depend on Jay or anyone else when she could do it herself, then she’d miscalculated what she could do.

  Most places let you set up a monthly payment plan, so she’d stick to a budget and forge into her life.

  Living with Jay, though, pushed her moving date ahead. The wind at her back along with her instincts to stay with the man couldn’t be ignored. He’d changed, and she liked what she had seen so far. Parking her car, she brushed off a little dust in her hair from the earlier ride on his bike.

  Running into the boutique, she stopped short. The customers wore heels and carried designer bags. Her jeans were threaded and ripping at the bottom near the hem, and her old sneakers had no chance of ever being white again. Pulling her shoulders together, she slowed her run to a friendly stroll to the counter.

  Blonde, shorthaired, petite Sandra, with a huge smile for everyone in life, put boxes down and jumped up and down, hugging her when Penny came closer.

  The place was white, bridal, and expensive. Sandra bounced up, squealed, then hugged Penny for a second time. Finally she calmed down and said, “I’ve missed you. How are you?”

  Did Sandra inherit the trust fund before she turned twenty-five, like Penny had remembered? Looking at the diamond earring in her friend’s coiffed look, she could see Sandra was doing well. Penny told her, “I’m good. My life is working out. How did you afford a wedding store here? The competition for the socialites must be fierce.”

  “You’re speaking to a socialite, or so everyone sees. Business is doing pretty well, and I sold my own design a few weeks ago. I’m so excited.”

  “Amazing. I thought your parents were against you designing clothes.”

  “They were and still are. I had my inheritance, plus Jay helped me out with financing. I’m in better financial shape than my competition and making money. Soon my own wedding dresses will be the premiere gown sold in my store.”

  “Jay helped you out?”

  “Yeah. He’s good with finding investors. If you need his help, ask him. He’ll help you, Penelope.”

  She never wanted to ask anyone for help. Looking down to the floor, she fidgeted while she admitted, “I’m moving in with him.”

  “What?”

  Flinching, she hoped Sandra didn’t say anything bad. She eyed the front door to escape before telling her, “Roommates only. He has a girlfriend.”

  “Penelope, he’s changed— Wait.” Sandra’s phone beeped. Looking down, she told Penny, “Had. Jay dated Eva, but they broke up. She’s coming over here in less than five minutes.”

  No way. This couldn’t be happening right now. She needed to get out of Sandra’s shop fast. Eva equaled drama, and Penny didn’t need to look her in the eye right now. She hadn’t told Jay to break up with her. Sandra picked up her phone to text, and Penny begged, “Please, don’t tell her about me. Let me ease into it, after I get furniture and a good night’s sleep. I don’t want to be a part of this.”

  Sandra nodded when Penny’s phone beeped. She glanced down. Meet me at Tiffany’s Treasures. We need to furnish the apartment, and you’ll want some input.

  Texting back, she asked him, If they don’t have anything, do you have a warehouse membership?

  Yes.

  She handed Sandra’s card back to her. “I’ll buy my own membership if I must today. It’s for the best. Thank you, and looking forward to Thursday.”

  “Me too.”

  She hugged Sandra and went back to her rental car. Tomorrow she’d get a car. At least living with Dimples meant she could use her small savings on an auto lease deposit, getting something that could last. When she worked, she’d take a portion to save up another deposit for when she moved.

  Fernando, her ex-boyfriend, had lived off her savings, so not having his bills freed up some cash, too. Jay would never borrow a dime without paying her back, so she’d never worry about him.

  Driving in the Grove was a trip back to another universe. All tourists ever saw would be this part of town and South Beach. Jay likely visited there every weekend too. Maybe the motorcycle was a new, flashy toy he’d grow tired of in a year, though his scar indicated more. Penny shook her head. She couldn’t dwell on him while she found parking.

  While looking at his choices, she’d figure out what sheets she’d buy, and find out how the breakup had gone for him. Eva was an award-winning actress. Jay must have been hit with a shovel of emotions before he walked away. Penny sighed. Jay had been so good to her today; she chewed her bottom lip and hoped he’d cope.

  Finding her sunglasses, she walked into the posh store.

  Chapter Seven

  Looking at the front of the building, she remembered how her mother had drooled in this store countless times, always hoping the next guy she married had more cash. Geneva hated being poor, and talked about some idyllic childhood that had been stolen from her. Without grandparents to ask, Penny had no reason to be suspicious, but the story had never made much sense.

  Lars had kept her mother on a short leash with the finances, much to Mom’s chagrin. Penny smiled knowing how her mother would die if she’d been invited to shop for furniture here.

  Jay waved to her at the door. When giving her a hug, she bumped into his briefcase. Pulling back, she listened to him. “We need to pick out a couch, stuff for my bedroom and my office, and furnish the rest of the place. For your help in picking this, I’ll buy your bedroom set.”

  Her jaw might have fallen to the floor.

  “Add a dining room to the list too. I don’t need much, but we will need to eat somewhere.”

  “Dimples, you can’t be serious. I’m moving out in a month.”

  He ushered her inside the store without batting an eye. “Let’s go.”

  “A bed in here will cost a few thousand dollars.”

  “I have to work. I called ahead and I have two options.”

  What did he want from her? She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Which are?”

  “I’d pay an interior decorator five thousand to do all this. She can be here in an hour.”

  She tilted her head, weighing what he said. “Then why would I be here?”

  “I’d like your opinion either way, as you’ll be living there. Option two is that I buy your furniture or pay you the money in cash. Doesn’t matter what you choose, but I have a situation at work to deal with.”

  Five thousand dollars. H
er mother would say take the money, but she would never. If she picked out a set that matched the rest of it, she could leave it at his place. He’d have bought it anyhow. Nodding her head, she met his eyes and relaxed her shoulders. “I’ll hang every picture, Dimples. I like being busy.”

  His face relaxed, and his blue eyes almost gleamed with happiness now. Whatever had happened to him earlier today had stolen some of his energy. “Thank you, Pen. I want to sit with my computer and not be bothered.”

  “Funny seeing you serious about something.” He walked her into the store as a sales associate opened the door for her. “Makes you sexy.”

  He stopped moving. She waved him in. It took him a few seconds to recover. Odd. Strolling to the living-room section, which was first, she scanned the showroom. Jay’s hand went to her back when the saleslady came up to ask them, “May I help you?”

  “We need to furnish our new place. I hope you have a few hours.”

  “You were both smart to come in here. Is there a budget I’m working with or is the sky the limit?”

  “Penny will keep me honest. She’s making the decisions. Would you mind shopping while I connect to the Wi-Fi to work?”

  “You have something important.” She nodded her understanding and hugged him, then told the saleslady, “Let’s get started.”

  Jay found a seat near the door and opened his tablet, staring intently. What business did the man have? Investors and a financial company made sense, but something else was driving him to be that focused. She’d never asked, but for the place to crash while she settled her affairs, she’d shop. Sleeping on a bed for a month from Tiff’s would be heavenly.

  The salesclerk pointed out hand-carved foreign chairs that would not be comfortable to sit on. Penny preferred a level of comfort, and Jay needed a place to relax. She found a light tan leather living-room set with one of those chaise lounges she’d seen in magazines all her life. She peeked at the price tag—for this place, the number sounded normal. Jay didn’t operate in her limited world, but it was far from the most expensive item.

  For the dining, she went more modern, streamlined, keeping that under what she expected. The saleswoman pointed out strange table designs complete with hammered-in monkey arms holding up a glass table, but Jay would prefer simple. For his office furniture, she remembered the three times she’d ever been to his bedroom in high school to collect a book or him for something. He had a dash of purple, knowing it was royal. She picked out teak, but found a desk set that he’d like.

  She glanced over at him. He didn’t blink at anything going past him except his tablet.

  Following along, they reached the bedroom section. In bedroom furniture, she saw something she loved. She’d be the princess in any fairytale in that set. For him, she picked out something more boxy and masculine.

  When they finished, they returned to Jay. He stared, engrossed in a spreadsheet. “Dimples, we’re ready for you.”

  His eyes stared up but his mouth fell open. “You finished shopping already, Pen?”

  “Of course.” She nodded then told him the news. “Issue is they cannot deliver until tomorrow, and you’re paying.”

  He took her hand to help stand up before he let go. In his future life Jay would make any socialite a perfect husband. He let her make all the house decisions, and she’d be there for a month. While waiting for the salesgirl to put the receipt together, Penny told him, “I’m surprised you’re not engaged to one of the Miracle Mile women, Dimples. Your mother must have pushed you on the yacht club at some point.”

  “I’m a member. We’re going with those people on Friday, remember.”

  Fun. He handed over the card. “I don’t want to go back to my mother’s.”

  “Don’t. Stay.”

  She laughed. “Are we camping without furniture for the night, then?”

  “I suppose.” Moving would be a long process. “I do have camping bags.”

  “Won’t Michael miss you?” He lived with Sandra’s brother, though that combination made no sense in her head. Michael generally despised everything he saw, looking down his nose at the world.

  “He’ll be relieved I’m not coming back. Is there anything else we need to buy?”

  She rolled her eyes. Furniture hardly made a house a home. “I still need to buy sheets, pots, pans, lights, bathroom hangers, etc. I have stuff in my car to get us through short-term, though.”

  “I have an idea.”

  “Another one?” The racing of her heart told her she’d not be offended.

  “We’ll stay at the place. Tonight will be bonding. Too bad we don’t have marshmallows to roast on an open fire.”

  Biting her second finger in her hand for a second, she asked a question, with a lilt in her voice. “Does the camp gear have an air mattress?”

  “Yes.”

  Smiling, she joked, “You’re not a nature/hunter type like we went to school with.”

  “That was Wyatt.” He signed the receipt and took his card back. Glancing over, she saw she’d spent more than she thought. Lowering her nose, she asked, “Where did the extra four thousand come in?”

  “Delivery and setup,” the salesclerk told her. “You won’t lift a finger. Everything will be perfect, and if you need any furnishings, we’re associated with Christina’s Collectibles. I can call ahead to ensure someone is ready to help you with everything you two might need.”

  “That’s across the street,” Jay said. “Can you handle shopping there while I finish with my report? Then we can go out to eat and relax. It’s been a long day.”

  Helping him made her happy and lifted the guilt she’d be crashing at his place. She nodded. “I’ll be like that my first day on Monday. Walk with me.” He opened the front door of the place. “Did you like your sheets at your parents’ house?”

  “I’ll like whatever you pick.”

  She raised her eyebrows to joke. “I could pick pink flowered bedsheets.”

  “You won’t fail me like that, cutie, and get your stuff too. Consider the sheets part of the set. You’re taking care of the details.”

  “The business deal you’re working on is a big deal for you.”

  “Biggest one I’ve been associated with so far.”

  Opening the door to Christina’s, he nodded while finding a seat near the door. The salesclerk came over. “Did you walk over from Tiffany’s?”

  “Yes. I need to get furnishings.”

  Jay smiled, then stepped back to let her make the calls. “You and your boyfriend came to the right place. Let’s get started.”

  Penny put her bottom lip under her teeth for a second. She didn’t correct the mistake. Spending his money like she was, the mistake was honest. Penny never dared to believe it, and Jay didn’t act like a boyfriend. He was a dear friend, and that was what she needed at the moment.

  Chapter Eight

  Walking out of the store with the promise everything would arrive tomorrow morning and be unpacked, Penny stood next to Jay, who closed his tablet the second she did. Not the first time he’d done that. “What kind of business did you start?”

  “It’s online mostly, but I’m financing businesses and taking over failing ones if I can turn them around.”

  “Turning sinking ships around. Sounds good. Financial stability has always been on my list of accomplishments in life. You have no idea what it’s like growing up with a fiscally irresponsible mother. I don’t want to subject any child of mine to being the adult.”

  “You won’t.” He put his tablet in his briefcase.

  Living with him for a month meant she wouldn’t get too attached, but spending time with Jay sounded tempting. They’d never work out and her little crush would be one-sided. He had options way beyond an old friend, and she had a new life to begin. “With getting a new place in a month, buying a car this weekend, and student loans, I’ll be on a budget for the rest of my life.”

  “Not tonight.”

  “Every night.”

  Reaching out, he
touched her shoulder, reminding her of a friend. Her muscles relaxed. She needed friends more than anything else anyhow, and needed to set her head right for the next month. Glancing away, she hid her shiver when he said, “Look, you did most of the work today. Let’s drop off the sleeping bags then head out to someplace near our new home for dinner, where we can talk. I’m buying.”

  She had to set boundaries. “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “Relax. I’m hungry and I owe you. Today has been a long day for both of us.”

  She shrugged, then he walked her to the parking lot. “Okay. Tomorrow will be busy too. Furniture moves in, and I need to go car shopping. I’m afraid that will take forever.”

  Looking at her purse, she fidgeted to find her keys, when he told her, “I’ll go with you. It’s mostly the financial deal that holds everything up.”

  He stared right at her and she couldn’t meet his gaze. “You’re busy.”

  “Free Wi-Fi is available everywhere. I’ll talk to them to speed up the deal while you shop. Shouldn’t take long.”

  Pulling away, she gazed out the window, “You don’t have to. I already need to ask you a favor.”

  “What?”

  Friends helped, and she’d do this for anyone. Looking back at his blue eyes, she lowered her voice. “Do you think you can follow me to the airport to return the car? Moving home from college, the post-college part-time work started to take a toll on me. I’ve not stopped moving in days.”

  “I can see you’re on overdrive, cutie, and I’ve been working. Don’t worry about it. We’re friends. And tonight, we should relax, talk, and get to know what happened in the five years since we spent time together.”

  “Cutie” had been what he called her all the time. It hadn’t been a big deal, so why did her pulse race? She forced herself to walk slow and not let him see how he affected her when they walked out of the store. “Perfect. Plus we should lay down a few ground rules and signals. I don’t want to interrupt any important date you have. Meet you at the condo?”