Common Grounds

Chapter 5

As much as he hated to think it, let alone say it, Seth had gotten somewhat used to being famous. He didn't crave it the way some of the wrestling legends did, drumming up drama when their star power was starting to fade, but he was definitely used to being recognized and asked for pictures or autographs. Depending on where he was and what he was doing, he didn't mind taking time out of his day, especially for kids. He had been a fan too, with the posters on his walls and the magazines with the edges worn from multiple readings, so he knew what it was like to run into someone you usually only saw on television.

Most of the baristas at 392 Davenport didn't care about wrestling at all, which was kind of nice. To them, he was just a co-owner of the cafe and one of their bosses and one of the guys who taught at the wrestling school next door. Even the ones who did follow wrestling were more casual fans, and definitely chill about his daily presence. There was something about Becky's reaction, though, that bothered him. She was unerringly polite and jovial, but she still seemed to keep herself at a distance.

Then he had noticed her laughing with and hugging the guy who always drove her to work, and it didn't take much to connect the dots. Of all the baristas at the cafe, she was one of the few in Seth's age range, Combine that with her wrestling history, and she was probably worried about looking like she was there for the wrong reasons. Except Seth wasn't sure how wrong those reasons were anymore. He knew it was wrong to blur the line between employee and employer, and whenever he'd had doubts about a barista, he always made sure either Jay or Jenna—preferably both, the more witnesses the merrier—were nearby so they could testify to what had happened. Until then, it had never really been an issue: the baristas had either been too young or already involved with someone or simply not his type. Two of the three didn't apply to Becky, but now he had to wonder if she was dating someone. Why else would a woman from Ireland with acting aspirations find herself in Davenport, of all places? It wasn't exactly a regular stop on a cross-country tour unless you had a reason—or someone to visit.

"Seth?" Jenna appeared at his side so quietly he almost jumped. She gestured to the back room. "Do you have a minute?"

"Of course." Shaking his head to clear it, Seth gathered his things from his table and followed the manager to the back. He fortified himself with a long swig of coffee before saying, "What's up?"

"Is something wrong with Becky?" she asked hesitantly.

"How would I know? I've only really talked to her here," Seth replied, "and it's usually about wrestling or coffee...."

"No, not like that. I should have been more clear." Jenna sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Do you have a problem with Becky?"

Seth was getting more confused by the minute. "No. Should I? She seems to be fitting in well. None of the baristas have complained about her, at least not that I know of. I've even heard some customers ask about her, so I thought she was fitting in well."

"She is. She's a great asset. She's got enough energy to keep up with the younger baristas, but she also has age and experience. It's a rare combination," Jenna admitted. She sank down into one of the staff chairs. "But I've noticed that whenever you're around, she gets very... formal. Not in her speech or anything, but she's definitely more reserved in what she says and does. Did she upset you at some point or something?"

Shit. In every conversation, Seth had worried about seeming too intense, too interested. It was hard to hold back, because wrestling was his life and she was clearly passionate about it as well; to be able to talk about it with someone who wasn't in the current locker room was a strange blessing, because she had a completely different perspective. Had he overcompensated and made her feel belittled? "No. No, never. I thought we had some great conversations about coffee, and she always seemed happy enough. Do you think I should talk with her to see what's going on? I don't want to overstep...."