Page 61 of The Closed Off Captain

“Well, I’m honored.” I pull out a chair at the table and take another long sip of my coffee. “This is really good coffee. Thank you.”

“They’re the best,” Grey agrees.

Gunner slides a wrapped sandwich towards me. “It’s a gluten free bagel with vegan cream cheese and strawberry jelly.”

My eyes widen. “Really? They have that at this coffee shop?”

Grey snorts, and Gunner elbows him. My eyes narrow, and I glance back and forth between the two of them. “What?”

Greyson opens his mouth, but Gunner shoves his sandwich at him. Grey pulls back, laughing. “What am I missing, Coftman?” I ask. Two heads turn to me, and I realize the name works for both of them. I arch an eyebrow.

“We went to five breakfast places this morning before we found what he was looking for,” Grey blurts out.

I blink and turn to Gunner. “You drove to five different places? Why? Why wouldn’t you just call?”

Grey leans forward. “I’ll let you in on a little secret about your fiancé.” My eyes dart to Gunner’s, but he just takes a bite of his breakfast sandwich, looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “He hates being on the phone.”

I look to Gunner for confirmation; he doesn’t deny what Greyson’s saying. “So you drove around to five different places because you didn’t want to have to call those places?”

Greyson nods. “Yep. He hates phone calls, especially calls to people he doesn’t know—like stores, restaurants, etc.”

I tuck this information away. “So, you never call to place an order for like pizza?” I ask him. He shakes his head and takes another bite. “Well, how do you order stuff? How did you order that pizza the night I was at your house?”

He swallows his food. “Online order.”

I study him. “You really never call places?”

“Not if I don’t have to.”

“What about talking to people like your mom or somebody close to you?”

“That’s what email and texting is for.”

My mouth drops open. “Coftman, please don’t tell me you email or text your mom but don’t call her.” He takes another bite, finishing his sandwich. “Do you?”

He meets my eyes. “You told me not to tell you that.”

I groan. “Gunner, that’s terrible. But that doesn’t explain things. Grey, why didn’t you make the calls?”

“I was driving,” he argues.

“You could have called in between stops,” I point out.

“I was busy plotting the next trip across town.”

I study the two of them. “How do either of you get anything done if you don't talk on the phone?”

Greyson grins. “It’s an online world.”

“I can’t even with you two, but thank you.”

“Better try your bagel before you thank us,” Gunner says with a nod at my sandwich. I pick it up and unwrap it. It looks and smells really good.

“I cannot believe you found a place that does gluten free bagels and has vegan cream cheese.” I take a bite and close my eyes. “Oh, that’s good.”

“Is it really, or are you just trying to be polite?” Grey asks, frowning at my bagel like it personally insulted him.

“It’s good. Here, try it.” I tear off a piece and hand it to him.

---