Page 35 of Faking Romance

“See, easy,” Jocelyn states but then her mouth falls open. I follow her gaze and find Gray standing at the door. It’s then that the stupid bell on the door decides to work.

“Hey, I uh, was going to get coffee and decided to see if you wanted any,” he offers.

Fuck me! Did he hear that? Please God do not have let him! He needs to not have heard that!

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure. I’ll take a small latte with vanilla syrup,” I say.

“Vanilla, huh?” he asks with a smirk. God damn it. He totally heard that.

“Yep,” I state as I press my lips together.

“A mocha latte for me,” Jocelyn says.

He turns to Carly. “I’m good. If I drink any more coffee, I’ll be up all night. I’ve had like four cups already.”

“Damn, lay off the caffeine, Maxwell,” Gray teases her.

“I’ll try, but until Ava is capable of cooking her own meals, I sort of have to be wired for my evenings,” she says with a shrug.

“Valid. OK, I’ll be right back,” he says, closing the door and walking across the street.

The latches close and Carly starts laughing. “Fuck. I think he heard that,” she says.

I bury my head in my hands as my face and neck heat with embarrassment. “That is mortifying.”

“Oh, come on. It’s fine. Gray is cool. I’m sure he’ll just tease you about it at some point,” she offers. “I mean, you all seemed cozy at happy hour the other night.”

I wave her off with my hand. “No. I think we just have a truce over the shop’s noise. Which is great and all. Gray and I are just…very different,” I try to explain.

Carly shrugs. “Opposites attract sometimes.”

“I guess. Anyhow, I hope you’ll be able to come to the soft opening.” I change the subject because I think I just reached my quota for embarrassment for the day.

“Wouldn’t miss it!” She looks down at her watch. “OK, off to get Ava. See you all later.”

“Bye,” we say in unison.

“What’s her deal? She’s not married?” Jocelyn asks, nodding toward Carly who is walking down the street.

“No. I think she’s divorced. She mentioned she’s a middle school teacher the other day, but I don’t know much else about her yet. She seems super sweet though,” I say as I go back to my task.

Another knock at the door draws my eyes up to meet Gray’s intense stare.

“I got it,” Jocelyn says, opening the door.

“Latte and a mocha,” he says as he reaches into the drink tray and pulls out each coffee, setting them down.

“Thanks,” I reply as I take the latte.

“Sooo, how are things?” he asks, sipping his drink and looking around the store.

“Good. The soft opening is a week from Monday if you’d like to attend,” I say as Jocelyn mumbles a “thank you” and then makes herself scarce.

“Of course,” he says. I swear he’s smirking at me.

“What?” I ask. I know my cheeks are pinker than normal and I hate my stupid pale-ass skin right now.

“Nothing. I should get going. I have some music to practice,” he says as he starts toward the door.

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