Page 14 of Aries

“Sorry, one of the best, I don’t want your ego getting the best of you.”

And he seemed to know me well. I’d never met someone who could read me like that. I stuffed my hand in his and off we went. My face hurt from smiling so wide. There was a teenage excitement in me, it tickled and bubbled through me, like I wanted to fuck Ash right here in the street, or at least behind a dumpster for a little privacy.

“Ok, so you might have been to this place before,” I said, after building up the hype.

“I trust you,” he said. “The only thing that matter is coffee and a good cream cheese.”

“Mhmm, they do that.”

We’d expended a lot of energy yesterday, but it was all worth it.

Burt’s Bagelswas a staple for me. It only took us about ten minutes to walk there. It was enjoyable to walk holding Ash’s hand. It barely even felt like we’d been walking all that time.

There was a little queue, not quite as busy as it was during the morning rush or the lunch rush. Thankfully, a brunch rush didn’t exist, probably because they didn’t offer a sit-down service or mimosas, but if they did, this place would be packed all day, every day.

“What do you want?” I asked him as we joined the customer queue.

Ash stared at the board above. It never changed, at least not in the last five years since I’d set up shop around the corner.

“Bagel, cream cheese, smoked salmon, and—and capers,” he said. “And coffee. Double shot espresso.”

I stared into his eyes, wondering just how lucky I was to have found this guy from staring into my shop. “They don’t have fancy coffee,” I informed him. “It’s just a pot.”

“Then black,” he said, staring at me with wide eyes. “No sugar.”

“Nice to know you know what you want.”

He swung his hand in mine, swaying. “I always know what I want.”

“Come on,” I whispered, eyeing the people around us. “Don’t start something you can finish in here.” And I wasn’t looking to catch a public indecency record from his flirtations.

Ash let out a snicker. “So, what’s your order?”

“I never know until I’m at the counter,” I told him. “I like to explore, I also love getting what enjoy, like smoked salmon, but I’m adventurous.”

“Adventurous,” he said, clicking his tongue. “So, probably avocadoes, eggs, something basic.” Now those were fighting words.

I opened my mouth to say something, but it our place next in line to order. “You’re lucky,” I whispered to him, unable to keep my smiling face from aching.

“Hey, Gael,” the server said, already grabbing a bagel. “What can I getcha?”

“Lemme get a bacon, egg, and avo bagel, and a cream cheese, salmon, and capers,” I said. “And lemme grab two coffees, no sugar, no cream. Thanks.”

“Coming right up.”

Ash nestled his hand in mine, squeezing it. “How long have you been coming here?”

“I already told you, since I set up my shop,” I said. “And you were right, I wanted eggs and avocado.”

Our bagels were ready fast, and our coffees, weren’t for the faint of heart; bitter and scalding. They weren’t a cafe, and if you complained, they’d let you know. We headed outside before people complained about us taking up space in the shop. I was a little apprehensive as I watched Ash take a sip in the street.

“Ooft,” he cooed, his lips recoiling before smacking together. “Now that’s good coffee. Makes my eyeballs wanna pop out.”

“That good, huh?”

“Tastes a little burned, but I low-key like it that way.” He continued smacking his lips. “And how do you—eat while carrying the coffee.” He held the wrapped bagel in his hand, staring at me for an answer.

“Usually, I wait until I’m at the studio,” I told him. “I like to be sat down while I eat.”

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