KELLI

“Have a good one, Robin,” I said to a customer as I handed her a Bellyful logo bag. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She smiled back at me, accepting her bag. “Yes, you will.”

I snickered as I closed the register and walked from behind the service counter.

“It’s all yours, Shawn,” I said to one of our cashiers. I pointed at him next. “And remember what I told you.”

He chuckled, then licked his lips. “No flirting. Got it. I’mma be good, promise.”

I rolled my eyes while suppressing my smile. “Yeah, okay. Hard to believe when you’re doing the very thing I told you not to do right now. Stop licking your lips, okay? Because why are you licking your lips?”

He tossed his head back in a laugh.

“Valerie,” I called to one of our servers. “You can take your fifteen after you’re done clearing your table, and thank you so much for staying late yesterday.”

“It’s no problem.” Valerie fanned her hand in the air for emphasis. “You know it’s nothing for me.”

“Thank you anyway.” I winked. “You know I appreciate you.”

She smiled shyly.

Once Valerie walked off and I finished scanning the space, noticing nothing that needed my attention, I gathered my long chunky braids up to the crown of my head and secured them in a quick ponytail with the rubber band I kept around my wrist.

It was a sunny Friday afternoon, just after the lunch hour rush, and I was minutes away from heading out.

Bellyful, my home away from home, was the place I spent most of my time. The tiny bistro was more than its size. It was a staple in the community of Rose Hill, New York, the greatest place on the planet.

Well, according to me.

Rose Hill was the place I was born and raised and still lived. And honestly? I never wanted to leave.

“Hey,” I said to my friend Serenity the moment I stepped through the kitchen’s door.

As always, she stood over her butcher block island, kneading dough with her clear gloved hands.

She peeked up at me and smiled. “Hey, girl, hey.”

“I’m heading out now,” I told her as I took a seat on one of the island stools across from where she worked.

Bellyful was her business. Her brainchild. My friend was a genius. She had an idea to open this business and had very little funding, but practically made money grow on trees to make it happen.

The moment she bought this place, she asked me if I would help her manage it.

I didn’t go to school for any of what I was doing. After high school, I worked regular 9-5’s around the neighborhood at the businesses that helped shape our community. To the disappointment of my parents. But I honestly wanted nothing impeding my hobbies. No career would bring me the joy creating pottery ever has. And I knew that from a very young age.

“Ryder gets back today, right?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yup. That’s why I’m heading out. About to throw him a little welcome-back-to-the-condo-you-hate-coming-back-to-every-time-you-leave-Rose-Hill dinner.”

Serenity giggled. “You’re cooking, girl?”

I arched both brows and pursed my lips, maintaining a blank stare with her.

That made her holler a laugh this time.

“If picking up Thai down the block is me making dinner, then shit, yeah.” I smirked. “I’m making dinner, babes.”

She shook her head while getting out the last of her laugh. “You’re so silly.”

“The lunch rush is done.” I hopped off the stool. “Valerie’s going to take her fifteen in a bit, and Candace is starting her shift…” I leaned back in my seat to take a glance out the vista view behind us to see Candace tying the string on her apron around her waist. “Right now.”

Serenity nodded her head, her eyes focused down on the dough. “Got it.”

“Shawn is on register now.” I checked over my shoulder and approached Serenity to speak lower. “I spoke to him about the flirting with the customers thing when he got in. He said he’d be mindful, but I’ll keep an eye on it because I really don’t think he can help it.”

Serenity snorted a laugh. “I don’t think he can help it either, but if he’s aware of it, ain’t much else we can do but see what he does.”

“Exactly.”

Serenity extended her arms to me, and I walked between them.

“Where would I be without my bestie, lawd,” she said as she wrapped her arms around me.

“Still poppin’.” I hugged tight.

We stepped out of our hug, and I sighed. “Let me go. I kind of feel Ryder is gonna return to Rose Hill a little happier this time.”

“Maybe.” Serenity shrugged. “I think so too. I mean, he didn’t win, but he got that album he’s always wanted to record.”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping.”