Mia had to laugh at Jo’s earnest face, but she couldn’t say anything else. She had made her own bed years ago, and she would have to lie in it alone.

“Feel free to take your break.” Jo actually put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll even pour you some coffee and bring it over to you. Put your feet up for a bit.”

“Thanks, Jo. I’m fine. I’m a woman. I can take it.”

“Hear, hear,” Jo said, and poured Mia a cup of coffee anyway.

Whilst they were chatting, Mia had missed Amber and Lou approaching. Then they stood in front of her.

“I’ve got it,” Jo said. “Mia is feeling a little off today. Feel free to sit with Amber and Lou if you like,” she said to Mia. “Take a load off.”

Lou and Amber didn’t say anything, so Mia quickly said, “That’s fine. I don’t need a break.”

“What’s up with them?” Jo asked after she had brought Lou and Amber their beverages. “Have you all synced your cycles already?” She went quiet for a few seconds while she wiped the counter. “Did something happen last night when you went to Glow to help Amber and Micky out?”

Mia wasn’t sure if she would be able to keep her relationship to Lou a secret from Josephine, after all. The woman was too damn observant. Spending four and a half hours together crammed behind a coffee shop counter will do that to you. She would need to say something just to get Jo off her back. But she didn’t know Jo all that well yet. They’d met barely a week ago. She would need to be firm and vague at the same time.

“Look, Jo, something did happen, but it’s not something any one of us is going to talk about, so I’m going to need you to give it a rest.”

Jo draped her dish towel over the sink, then turned to Mia. “This is the Pink Bean. You can try to keep a secret, but from my years of experience in this place, I can tell you it’s probably not going to work.”

“I’m sorry, but I really can’t tell you more. And I would appreciate it if you didn’t quiz Lou and Amber about it. Just leave it be.”

“Okay.” Jo nodded. “That bad, huh?”

Mia contemplated asking Kristin if they could start the hiring process for a morning barista sooner, so she wouldn’t have to do the morning shifts anymore. Then she thought about giving her notice again. She’d be out of a job, but would that really be so bad compared to having to walk on eggshells around here every single day? She’d only been here a couple of hours this morning and already it was proving so hard.