Chapter 40-1

“Surprise!” Chad shouted as he lifted the cover of the metal tray. On it was a slice of blueberry pie. Claire stared at it for a few seconds before she looked up at Chad. “Thanks.” He noticed her flat tone. “What’s up? You don’t like it? I think we have some leftover macaroons if you’d prefer that instead.” “No. I’ll eat this. Thanks.” She said before accepting the tray from her friend’s hands. Chad stared at Claire with curious eyes as he watched her fork a piece into her mouth. “Why’re you so happy anyway?” she asked to distract him. Easily, he lost interest in her mood. “What do you think about a coffee shop?” Claire took another bite of the pie as she raised a confused brow. “What about them?” “Do you like them?” “Sure.” Chad nodded in agreement. “Right? Who wouldn’t?” She waited for him to continue, but it looked like he suddenly got lost in thought. So she asked, “Why’re you suddenly asking about coffee shops?” He grinned at her. “I’m thinking of opening one.” Claire blinked in shock. “You’re leaving Bishop Lodgings?” “Oh? That’s the first thing you think about?” he smirked. “You’re going to miss me, aren’t you?” “Finally! I was getting sick of seeing your face every day.” Chad looked offended and Claire snickered to herself before reassuring him, “I’m just kidding. So when do you plan on leaving?” “You really do want to get rid of me, don’t you?” he muttered to himself before replying. “And I’m not sure. I’m still looking for a place and then I have to think about the renovations and all that other complicated stuff.” “So that means you’re not leaving in a matter of months?” “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to give the boss a letter of resignation when I eventually have everything sorted out. Then you can start preparing the farewell party.” He said sarcastically, making her chuckle. “Why a coffee shop though? Shouldn’t you put your skills to more use?” After all, Chad was a chef, not a barista. He grinned and stretched his arms over his head. “I think it’s time I settled down.” Claire gave him look of incredulity. “You’re twenty-six.” “I’ve found the woman of my dreams, what’d you expect?” Chad was still grinning like an idiot. Probably because he was and had been thinking about Elli. The idiot was so love struck, it was sickening. “But that means you won’t see Elli as much anymore.” She pointed out, wondering what he was going to do about that. Chad shrugged. “Well, I’m trying to convince her to come live with me and-” “What?!” Claire shouted, and her voice almost echoed in the empty hotel lobby. She quickly lowered her voice, but the shock was still at the same level. “You’re going to live together? You haven’t even been dating for a month yet!” “We’ve known each other for years. We’ve liked each other for years. I think it’s finally time to do what we’ve always been meant to do. The sooner the better.” Chad nodded affirmatively. Claire didn’t know if Chad was being confident, or just delusional. “You said you’re trying to convince her…does that mean she doesn’t want to move in with you?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s thinking just like you. She says it’s ‘too early for that.’” “Probably because it is.” Claire muttered. Chad looked straight into her eyes as he leaned on the reception desk. “So you’re telling me that if the boss suddenly proposed to you, you’d say no? Even though you two have known each other for only a couple of weeks?” “That’s ridiculous. Heath wouldn’t propose to me.” “Then what the hell is this?!” Chad slammed something on the counter as he shouted, and his voice really did echo in the hotel lobby. But Claire didn’t care about that because there was suddenly a box in front of her. A small, black box that would fit into the palm of her hand. Immediately, her throat closed up and she felt light-headed. “You two must’ve finally got down in bed on the top floor, didn’t you?! I knew it! I should’ve known! The boss looked like some happy little kid when he was picking this out!” Claire was too shocked to question Chad. Instead, she reached out her trembling hands and touched the velvety black box. Only after she traced the golden threading did she notice that it spelled out her name. Claire Sparks. She picked it up into her hand and slowly opened it. Inside was a golden band with a small, pure diamond on it. It was so simple, but so beautiful. On the inside was an engraving that read, Love H. Bishop. Chad was still raging about something like how Heath had beat him to the punch, but she no longer cared about her friend. The only person on her mind now was Heath. And the fact that Chad had something like this must’ve meant he had come back while she was busing working. Immediately, she stood up and shouted over her shoulder to Chad. “Watch the front desk!”