Page 52 of Wicked Love

He does a little shimmy and she beams, handing him the solar latte that already has his name on it in decorative letters. The patrons cheer for him. What fresh torture is this?

“That’s how it’s done,” Clara says, nodding at me.

Weston and Penn walk in together and pause when they see me standing there like a lump.

“Hey, man,” Weston says. He hugs me.

“Welcome back,” I say.

“Thanks.” He grins. He motions for me to go ahead. “You got your coffee yet?”

“Gotta dance for it,” I grumble.

“Come again?”

“You heard him right,” Clara says. “Dancing for the coffee. I’m ready for spring and the weather isn’t cooperating. This is the next best thing.”

Penn grins. “You got it, Clara.” He does an elaborate break-dancing spin I have no idea how the hell he pulls off, but he does and the place erupts in cheers.

Weston laughs. “Show-off.” He takes off his jacket and does a boy band move, which makes everyone go crazy.

Rhodes walks in to the cheers and thinks it’s for him. He struts his shit without even being asked and Clara hands him the coffee, which earns more cheers.

“Your turn, Bowie,” Clara says.

Marv gets tired of waiting and cuts in front of me, doing the Cleopatra and Walter folds his arms over his chest, but walks over, shaking his ass slightly.

“I coulda broken my hip,” Marv says, pointing at Clara.

“But you didn’t,” Clara sasses back.

I tilt my head back and groan, but even I am smiling by now. Clara lifts her eyebrows at me, waiting.

“Fine, but it’s not gonna be pretty.” I go robot with it and the place goes wild.

“You’re good!” Clara cries.

“Don’t quit your day job,“ Walter says.

“You’re lucky I love you, Clara,” I tell her.

“I love you too, Bowie Fox. And you’ll be back,” shesays, grinning as she hands me the coffee. “I can’t wait to see what you do next time.”

“So cheeky,” I grumble.

She just laughs.

“Next time, try jazz hands,” Marv says.

I raise my cup in a mock toast and head back to our room. The noise barely quietens when we close the door and Weston laughs.

“Clara’s feeling good today,” he says.

“So are you, by the looks of that tan. You trying to compete with me?” Rhodes asks, holding his arm up to Weston’s.

“A week more in paradise and maybe I could’ve gotten there,” Weston tells Rhodes.

“You look good,” Henley says. “Rested even. How was your honeymoon?”

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