"Minus one..." I punched in a couple of numbers and hit total.
"A shitload of money," she said. "No matter how you look at it."
"Sad, but true."
"What's true?"
It was Steve. In much better shape than the nervous, scared boythat I saw a couple of days earlier. His black hair brushed backfrom his forehead, his eyes bright.
I noticed a thin spiderweb of tiny scars on his forehead travelingup into his hairline. Because he always had his hair in his eyes,I'd never seen it before.
"We're talking about getting computers for the shop," I said. "Money's tight, though."
Jenn looked at him and then looked at me.
"You can say hi! Steve and I talked over our difficulties," I told her.
The "Hello" that came from her lips wasn't very friendly. She even madea point of turning her back to us while she polished the already immaculatelyclean espresso machine.
"Something I said?" Steve's eyes darkened a bit, his hair spillingdown into his face as he tilted his face down.
"Bad blood, Steve. She'll get over it. What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to know if you were interested in going to the movies withme, tonight."
"Like I said, money's tight. Maybe if we catch a bargain show..."
"My treat," he added, hurriedly. "I want to start making up forthe past."
Later, while eating ice cream sundaes after the movie, Steve said,out of the blue, "I'd like to buy into Mocha Daze, Hugo."
I put the spoon down and pushed the ice cream away from me. This is whatit's all about. The apologies. The dinner. The movie.
"I've come into quite a bit of money," he continued. "I don't haveto work unless I want to. I think it's a good thing to have a job,but I don't want to work for somebody."
"Except me..."
"If I owned half, I'd be working with you, not for you."
I didn't like the way that sounded, but I let it slide and thought abouthis offer.
I wanted the computers.
Needed them, in fact, if I was ever going to finish my repairs,pay Barbra, keep my staff, and take a day off.
But Steve had been flaky for a while now. Could I trust him to bea good partner?
"I can give it to you in cash or check. It's up to you. You'rethe boss."
"Let me sleep on it," I said. "I'll give you an answer in acouple of days."
We shook hands.
"You won't regret it," he said.
In case I needed any more impetus, Barbra's unpleasant voicewarned me that she would be at Mocha Daze in four days for therest of the money, plus the rent for next month.
In the mailbox was an envelope with Greg's handwriting on it. What the helldid that boy want? I held it in my hands, but didn't open it.
I put it down on the table.
I'd look at it, later. I was too tired to deal with Greg's crap tonight.
