Pieces of Me by Erica Cope Read Free Book Online Page A

see a woman glide in through the front door. Her blonde hair is cut short in a modern pixie style and she's wearing a rainbow colored poncho and cream-colored skinny jeans with huge silver circles dangling from her earlobes. She throws her arms around Holden and kisses his cheeks. “How has my handsome boy been?”
              “Fine, Mom. This is Aria Watkins, our new employee that Mason hired in your absence.” Holden gestures toward me.
              Our new employee? I quickly try to hide the notebook and books I have sprawled out around me—not exactly the best first impression to impart on my apparent boss.
              “Aria Watkins? Your name sounds familiar. Is your family from around here?” she asks with a perplexed expression.
              “No ma'am. I'm just here for school. My family is all back in Kansas.”
              “Ah, I see. Must just be one of those names,” she replies thoughtfully.
              “I guess so ma'am.”
              “Well, it’s nice to meet you Aria. I'm Suzi Whitmore, owner and founder of this fine establishment.” She holds out her hand to me.
              “Nice to meet you too, ma'am.”
              “Oh sweetie, please, call me Suzi. We'll have none of that 'ma'am' nonsense here.”
              I blush and nod. “Yes, ma'am. I mean, Suzi.”
              She smiles affectionately before turning her attention back to Holden.
              “Tell me everything I've missed.”
              He fills her in on how Mason is handling his new-found responsibilities as assistant manager and tells her about school. I try not to eavesdrop but I can't concentrate enough to study now with Suzi here so I try to keep myself busy. I wipe down the countertops and restock the creamers and sugar over on the condiments counter.               Business is dead at the moment, so of course it's quiet which makes it impossible not to catch bits and pieces of their conversation. I learn that Holden's a senior pre-med major and his classes sound a million times more intimidating than mine.              
              She makes herself a cup of coffee while listening to Holden talk. Something about his demeanor has changed since her arrival. I notice right away that he seems almost on edge when usually he's so open and friendly.
              “Have you talked to Meredith?” she asks quietly, and it's not entirely my fault that my ears perk up. Who's Meredith?
              “No.”
              “She's supposed to be in town this week so I assumed she would call. That's odd that she didn't.”
              “She did.”
              “But you said—”
              “I said I hadn't talked to her, I didn't say she hadn't tried.” His tone is biting and it's pretty obvious that whoever this Meredith chick is, she's a pretty hot topic and not one that Holden wishes to discuss.
              “I think it's time you forgive her honey.”
              He busies himself with the espresso machine, not even bothering to look back up at his mom. She finally sighs in defeat.
              “Well, I better go see what Mason has done to the books in my absence. Good to meet you, Aria.” Suzi holds up her coffee in a toast before taking a sip and heading to the back.
              When she's out of hearing range I turn to Holden. “So your mom is the owner?”
              “Yep.”
              “You work for your mom.”
              “That would be correct.”
              “Is that weird?” I ask, thinking about how I can barely stand to talk to