Page 1 of Love You A Latte

CHAPTER ONE

ADDISON

I’m giddy with anticipation, even though this might be the most low-key “vacation” I’ve ever taken. House-sitting for my sister and her boyfriend while taking care of their dog? So chill, but it’s exactly the escape from reality—ie. work, my toxic ex-girlfriend, and my annoying ex-boyfriend—that I need. It could not have come at a better time.

What could be going better though, is this rental car situation.

“What do you mean my reservation wasn’t confirmed?” I ask, trying not to let the irritation slip into my voice. “I have it right here.”

I flip my phone around and rest my forearm on the cool counter, showing the email confirmation. My toes tap the tiled floor impatiently.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but there must have been some sort of glitch. We don’t have a car for you,” says the young man behind the computer.

I fist my hand, hidden by the counter, and take a deep breath.

“That’s fine, forget the reservation. I’ll take whatever you have.”

“It’s… well, sorry, I mean,” he stumbles over his words, looking ready to cry. “We don’t have anything left.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I ask.

“Well, we’re booked, so we don’t have any available carsfor you to rent. I’m so sorry.”

I glance first to my right, then left, but the lines for the other rental car companies don’t look promising.

“Do you have any way of telling who else might have some cars available? Seeing as how I have already paid for one?” I try not to speak through my teeth, I really do, but I don’t think I’m successful.

“Let me grab my manager,” he says, and ducks away.

Unfortunately, the manager isn’t any more helpful, leaving me stuck in the Phoenix airport over an hour away from where I need to be with no car. This isnothelping my abandonment issues.

I phone my sister, Everly, though I’m not sure what she’s going to do since she and Asim left for their trip last night. They’re probably laying on a sunny beach sipping mimosas right now.

“Hey Ad, what’s up?” Everly says.

“Hey, so I guess my rental reservation didn’t go through and they don’t have any cars left so I’m kind of stuck at the airport.” I’m grumpy, and my brusque tone shows it.

“What? How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not sure what to do.” I sigh as I pull my luggage behind me and trek over to a bench. I switch the phone to my other ear as I sit down and plop my carry-on bag next to me. “I already tried three different rideshare apps and no one’s willing to drive all the way out to the middle-of-nowhere Stone Ridge.”

“Well, that’s annoying,” Everly says, and then Asim speaks up.

“You could call Frankie, they’d come get you.”

I splutter in protest as my face turns red just hearing their name. “I hardly know Frankie, that’s such a long drive, why would they—”

“Oh, good idea! They wouldn’t mind, want me to call for you?” Everly asks, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

Do I want to spend over an hour in a car with the person I’ve been hard crushing on since we flirted during a drinking game, but then rejected my kiss a few months ago? Someone who I have neither seen nor spoken to since? My gut clenches.

No, I absolutely do not.

Unfortunately, I don’t seem to have any say in the matter.

“Okay, I just texted them and sent them your number. I’ll text you theirs, too, so you can coordinate. If anything else comes up, just let me know!” Everly is far too happy about this situation, but I guess a tropical vacation will do that to a person. “Talk later, bye!”

She hangs up before I manage a desperate, “Wait…”.

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