Chapter 12
Dane made sure he looked busy, rushing around behind the counter, from counter to kitchen and back. At one point he picked up his inventory clipboard. He had one of his baristas take a free coffee refill to his parents, who were sitting in a booth, trying to catch his eye. He even sent over a couple of all-chip oatmeal cookies for them despite knowing they weren’t going to touch the damned things.
Eventually, though, he had to give in and go over. Much longer and it looked like his mother might get up and ask him to come over. He grabbed a mug of strong coffee, still tired as hell, and dragged himself over to the booth.
“Hey,” he said as his mother scooted over for him to sit next to her. Dane crouched at the end of the table instead, resting his cup of coffee on the surface
