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“So,” Bodhi said, stretching out his legs under the small table and placing his hands behind his head. “Who was that guy? You know, the one who seemed so angry, especially when you kicked him out.”

“Oh.” I glanced down at my hands and started fiddling with my fingers. I didn’t like to talk about my past if I could help it. “My ex-boyfriend.”

“Really?” He seemed surprised.

“What, that I dated a white guy?” I clenched my fingers into tight balls. I didn’t like thinking about Mark if I could help it.

He made a face. “No,” he said. “Actually, I was going to say I’m surprised that you dated someone as volatile as he seemed to be.” He looked at me for a long moment. I hoped he couldn’t see my blush. It was rare when I wished I didn’t wear my hair in a ponytail, but this was one of those times. My hair was long and jet-black and I loved using it to shield my face when I was embarrassed or uncomfortable. “You know, you seem to jump on my case about racial stereotypes.”

I didn’t respond. He was right.

“Is there a reason you’re so defensive?” he continued. I was surprised by how gentle his voice was when it really didn’t have to be. This was the second time I’d made an assumption and, like the last time, it blew up in my face.

“I’ve dealt with it all,” I said quickly. I was glad Penelope was on her iPad, in the corner of the room. She made a big scene about how she couldn’t be at the same table as we were. Bodhi seemed to have some sort of idea what was going on, but I definitely didn’t and I didn’t want to ask. “It’s just easier to assume the worst, rather than the best.” I finally picked my eyes up to look at him. “That doesn’t make it right. I know.”

“The thing is,” Bodhi said, “if you just gave me a chance, I could show that I’m really not that sort of guy.”

“Listen, I barely know you,” I said. “I’m not keen on getting to know you…”

“Based on your judgment of me?” he asked, raising his brow. I knew he was trying to make a point and I let out a huff.

“One dinner.” He bent his knees and leaned forward, resting his arms on the surface of the table. “One dinner. At the bar. Let me at least introduce myself and let me show you we can be civil neighbors. I feel we started out on the wrong foot. Maybe you think I might poach some of your customers, but I’m not trying to do that. Truth be told, I didn’t even want to run the bar.”

My brows furrowed upon hearing this. I took a sip of my nearly-full hot chocolate. It was starting to get cold. The drink was too sweet for my preferences.

“You didn’t?” I asked. I could not help but be intrusive after this bit of information. I didn’t want to ask but I felt compelled to. There was something about Bodhi that made me more curious about him than I should be. “Someone put a gun to your head and forced it on you, then?”

He gave me a level look. “Obviously not,” he said, a wry smile on his face. My heart fluttered when I saw it, and I was annoyed at my reaction. I did not need him fluttering my heart or anything of the sort. “My dad owns his own company, okay? He wanted me to follow in his footsteps and do the whole nine-to-five, suit and tie thing. That’s really not my vibe.”

“I got that.” I felt my lips quirk up despite themselves. “Surfer, right?”

He smiled. “Right.” He shrugged. “Anyway, I came down here for a surfing competition. I think I ended up sixth out of the fifty competitors? I don’t know. But I liked it down here more than I expected. It’s peaceful. Not tons of people and the weather is decent.”

I nodded my head even though he hadn’t asked me a question. I was surprised to find myself actually agreeing with what he said.

“When my dad found out, he sent my brother to fetch me,” Bodhi said. I could hear the derision in his voice clearly. “Max came down, reminded me I still needed to do something with my life even if I refused to come back. He bought me the bar…okay, bought the bar for me to run, I should say - and even he’s coming down to live here. And that’s the end of my sordid life story.” He picked his head up and forced a smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “What about you?”

“Me?” I was surprised he asked. Not that I thought he was terribly conceited, but I had been so wrapped up in his story, I forgot about the potential of him asking about me. “My parents came here for the American Dream, and that was this café. I was born here, raised here. Didn’t expect to be running the café, but when my grandmother became sick back in India, they left me in charge.”

“We’re almost in the same boat,” Bodhi said.

“Almost,” I agreed.

Before I could say anything more, Penelope ran up, iPad in hand. “It’s time! You said remind you when it’s one thirty!” She danced around a little bit. “Come on! Isla’s going to be waiting for us,” she said. She glanced at Norah. “She’s going to do my hair. And then she’s going to let me play with hers.”

“Oh, right.” He stood quickly and nearly tripped over the chair. I had to bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing. “So tonight then? The bar?”

“Isn’t this your first official night?” I asked, standing up. I needed to get things ready for the three o’clock rush before we closed.

“Bodhi!” Penelope tugged him away from me and towards the door.

“Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know, doing bar things rather than being on a date?” Not that I wanted to call it a date. It was definitely not a date.

He gave me a charming grin and my heart skipped a beat once again. “That’s the best thing about running a business,” he said. “I can do whatever I want.”