“That you can.” Amber got up, said her goodbyes, and left.

Truth be told, Lou was glad for some time alone at a table in the Pink Bean. It gave her a chance to get used to being in the same space as Mia, without having to talk to her.

She delved in her bag for her book, but instead of opening it, the book drew her mind to Annie and her shop again. This, in turn, made her glance over at Mia, who was deeply focused on whatever she was doing on her laptop. Maybe she was working on a plan to save Annie’s shop at that very moment. Most likely she was working on the idea she was slated to pitch to Kristin.

“Hey.” A voice came from the other side of Lou’s table. A voice she vaguely recognized.

Lou turned away from Mia and stared into Meredith’s face.

“Can we talk for a minute?” Meredith asked. “Can I get you a coffee? I owe you for dinner.”

“You don’t owe me a thing.”

Meredith pulled back a chair and sat down unbidden. “You won’t reply to my messages, not even the ones I’ve sent through Robin.”

“That should make things loud and clear.” Instinctively, Lou leaned away from the table they were now both sitting at.

“I’m really sorry about having to rush off like that last Sunday.” She paused while her glance skittered away, then landed back on Lou. “I really, really like you, Lou.”

“How did you even know I was here?” Lou didn’t like the urgency in Meredith’s tone.

“Your schedule is online. I figured you’d be here between classes. This is where everyone hangs out, isn’t it?” She tried a smile. If she was going for disarming, it wasn’t working.

Lou felt ambushed. She didn’t want to talk to Meredith. She hadn’t given her much more thought. It was a done deal for her.

“Look, will you go out with me again? We can just go for coffee. Just… let me prove to you that I’m not that person. We had chemistry. You can’t deny that.”

“I would like you to leave,” Lou raised her voice only a fraction.

“Everything okay here?” Out of nowhere, Mia had appeared next to their table. She fixed her gaze on Lou. “Are you being harassed?”

“Harassed?” Meredith said. “We’re just talking.”

“Seems to me Lou doesn’t feel much like talking.”

“And who are you?” Meredith hissed, then narrowed her eyes. Maybe she recognized Mia from her Tinder picture and from seeing her at the cinema. “Are you two a thing now?” she asked. “Is that what all the misplaced chivalry is about?”

“I can handle myself, thank you,” Lou spoke up. Oh, the irony of having Mia come to her rescue. “I would like you both to leave me alone.”