“Something with foam. I’ve been working on my art.”

“Ooh, interesting.” She taps her chin, showing off a plum-colored fingernail speckled with gold glitter. “Can you draw a puppy?”

“Probably as well as I can draw a leaf or a heart.”

Her lips curve into a smile. “I’ll have a puppy cappuccino, please, with a shot of vanilla.”

I’m grateful for the opportunity to turn away from her and focus on the machinery. I need to concentrate on not burning myself on the steam wand and on swirling the milk just right, not on sniffing her honeysuckle shampoo.

Espresso fills the small café with a bitter scent that obliterates the honey teasing my nose, and I inhale deeply. I’m two steps from giving Jasmine her coffee and watching her leave when she says, “Hey, is that a flyer for a Clementine Walker event? How much did you have to beg to make that happen?”

Ah, so we’re back to acknowledging we know each other, then. Okay. “A happy coincidence,” I say, carefully pouring in the milk.

“Well, I’m curious to meet the legend herself. Shame it’s not for another month. I’ll have to put it into my calendar.”

Is she screwing with me? She’s gonna come to the Clementine Walker event? I can’t tell if she’s trying to ruin it for me or if this is a genuine attempt to be friends. But I don’t have time to gauge it because the dad who loved my graphic novel recommendations appears right behind her.

Judging from the bounce in his step, I’m guessing the last round went well.

And Jasmine is going to hear all about it unless I can get her out of here.

“That’ll be $5.26,” I tell Jasmine, pushing her drink forward.

She squints at the top. “That’s supposed to be a puppy? Really?”

Dammit, I forgot to be fancy with the top. Then again, it doesn’t look much different than if I’d actually tried, judging by my earlier attempts. “What, you don’t see it? There’s the nose right there.”

She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything. She hands over her credit card—of course she has her own—which reads Jasmine H Killary in crisp letters. The H stands for Helene. I hate that I know that.

“You draw puppies in the coffee now?” Graphic Novel Dad pipes up from behind Jasmine. “I’ll have one of those too, please. And some more book recommendations if you’ve got ’em! I’m picking up the new Candy Buttons book today, but she goes through these so fast, I have to find something new.”

So much for getting Jasmine out of here.

There’s an unreadable look on her face as she says, “They have Candy Buttons? I may have to go pick up the new one myself.”