“It means we include them in our assignments,” Professor Madison says. “You may open your envelopes now. I want everyone to come up with a subject for their assignments by Friday.”
We all open our envelopes. Ricky Pope fist-bumps the air and shouts, “ESPN!” The rest of us glower at him as we turn our papers over because he already took the one we all wanted. My paper reads Cruz Media. It’s Milly and Roberto Cruz’s company. Is it a coincidence that I was chosen to intern at my parents’ friends’ and my ex-boyfriend’s company, or is this a setup? I don’t want my peers to know the connection, so after class, when everyone else goes back to their workspaces, since we all work for the newspaper, I decide to ask Professor Madison.
“Mildred Cruz requested you,” he says. “Their editor has an idea for you to work on. If you’d like to use it as your assignment for this course, you’re free to do so.”
“Okay. Maybe I will.” I nod slowly as I walk away from him and head to my computer.
I’m grateful for the opportunity. Milly Cruz has always been like an aunt to me. She doesn’t know about my summer fling with her son, so she has no reason to feel any type of way about me. I emailed her, letting her know that I received my assignment, and was told she had something in mind for me to work on. Then, I search some more about the drug scandal in my school and talk to a couple of my peers about it. Before I know it, it’s time for me to go to work at the coffee shop. I pack up my things and check my email one last time before logging off. When I see one from Milly, I click it quickly and read through it.
Misty,
I’m so happy you’ll be interning for us.
We have something in mind for you to work on. Your contact for this assignment will be Valerie, who works out of our Chapel Hill office. I looped her into this email so that you two can figure out when a good time to meet would be, and she can explain the assignment. I’m excited.
Big things ahead for you!
Xo,
Milly
Chapter Two
I’m still smiling when I step into the coffee shop. My coworker, Archer, is mid-conversation when he spots me and raises an eyebrow.
“Don’t quit on me now, Misty.”
I laugh. “Why would you think I’m here to quit?”
“Because you’re smiling. That means you either got enough money for your fancy little shoes, or you got the internship you’ve been waiting for.”
“If you must know, I did get the internship.” I smile wider as I walk behind the counter and clock in on the computer screen. I glance over at him as I finish up. “But I’m not quitting.”
“Good.” He places a hand over his chest and breathes out a relieved breath. “I don’t know what I’d do without my employee who’s always late but also always willing to pick up extra shifts.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes but keep smiling. Archer Roth has quickly become one of my favorite people with his dry humor and infectious smile. His family moved here two years ago from New York, and his parents rapidly opened up a slew of businesses, including Night Owl Coffee. Mr. and Mrs. Roth are in here a few times a week, but they’ve let Archer take the reins in many ways, so I kind of view him as my boss. My boss and friend. Soleil doesn’t understand that concept. She says there’s no way anyone can remain just friends with someone as good-looking as Archer.
Soleil likes to hang out here all day sometimes, using the excuse that she’s doing homework, but I know she’s just trying to get Archer’s attention. I’m pretty sure he knows it too. I just don’t understand why he’s not making any moves. He’s definitely good-looking if you like fair-skinned, tall, skinny guys with light brown eyes that match their hair and an easy smile. The quintessential boy next door, if you will. From an outside perspective, one look at Soleil, with her mile-long legs and a sex appeal that oozes out of her, would have you thinking she’s nowhere near his playing field. Still, once you get to know her, you realize that underneath the bombshell is a colossal nerd that’s compatible with Archer. I think he only sees the bombshell, though, and is blinded to how much she’s attracted to him.
“So, what’s up with the internship? Who’d you get? ESPN?”
“Cruz Media.” I shoot him a look. “Two people got ESPN, though, so they were participating this year.”
“Damn those people.”
“Yes, damn those people.” I laugh. “It’s fine though; Cruz Media personally requested me, and they’re pretty amazing.”
“Personally requested?” Archer raises an eyebrow. “Is this your ex-boyfriend’s family’s company?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think he requested you?”
“No.” I frown. “Of course not. They’re family friends. We go way back. They don’t even know he was ever a boyfriend.”
“Hm.”
“Hm, what?” I place a hand on my hip. “I’m telling you, he had nothing to do with it.”
“What’s your assignment?” He brushes past me when the door opens, and a new customer walks in.
“I don’t have one yet. I’m waiting for the person in charge of the Chapel Hill offices to contact me.”
“Either way, I’m sure it’ll be exciting,” Archer says, pausing to smile at Ms. Roberta, who’s a regular here. “Espresso with a shot of oat milk?”
“You know it.” Ms. Roberta winks and looks over at me as she taps the cardholder to pay. “I haven’t seen you in here on a Monday in a while.”
“I was only working weekends.” I move to fill up the cup in the espresso machine and push it in, clicking the button. I wink at Ms. Roberta, who’s already moving to the other side of the counter. “I’ll be here all week now, though.”
“Oh, what happened? Did Austin quit?”
“Yeah right. Like Austin would quit as long as Misty’s working here,” Archer says with a chuckle.
“He’s still pining over you? Girl, give him a chance!”
“He’s not pining over me,” I say, unable to keep the smile from my face even though this conversation is ridiculous.
“He’s absolutely pining over you.” Archer shoots me a look.
“Whatever. The point is, Austin still works here and I will be here all week,” I say, emphasizing that last bit.
“Most of the week,” Archer says. “You don’t work Friday.”
“True. There’s a rager on Friday that I don’t want to miss,” I say to Ms. Roberta, who blinks at me, shaking her head.
“You do you, honey. You’re only young once.”
I grin as I tap the milk container on the counter, waiting for it to set, and start pouring it in slowly, in the shape of a leaf. It’s something I mastered from Archer, who can create almost anything. We have a few little stencils we can use to draw with cinnamon powder, but using milk is definitely a favorite of mine. It’s greatly satisfying to see the shapes come to life, even knowing they’ll disappear the moment the customer takes a few sips. The smile on their faces, though, is priceless. Ms. Roberta rewards me with a big smile as she takes the mug and thanks me, walking away to her usual table in the corner.