Page 13 of Love You A Latte

“Yeah,” I say, tipping my head back.

The moment is broken, and when I check my phone, I have my sister to blame.

CHAPTER SIX

FRANKIE

I’ve never been so irritated with my best friend as I am in this moment. Did she have to callnow? Addison jumps up and grabs her phone, shooting me an apologetic look as she does so. I swipe a hand through the curls on top of my head and take a breath as I overhear her reassuring Everly that everything is going fine and she has nothing to worry about.

“She was only checking in, guess she had a bad feeling or something,” Addison says after hanging up. She walks back over to me, a small smile turning up her lips.

“So…” she says, and I love the look of mischief in her eyes. It sparks an answering desire in my own. “About that date.”

“Yes?”

“I hear you’ve got a great view upstairs.”

“You trying to get me to invite you up, sweets?”

Her cheeks pink and she bites her lip before answering. Her eyes are lit up, practically burning, and I know she’s feeling the same way I am, but she slowly shakes her head.

“Not tonight, I don’t think,” she says.

I don’t like the uncertainty that passes through her features. It speaks of past hurts, of wounds not yet closed, and I want to peel back her layers to see everything she isn’t telling me. I don’t have that right though. Not yet, so I nod.

“How about that date first,” I say, biting back the words I want to let loose. Words likewhat happened,andwho hurt you, andhow can I fix it?

Addison nods, her features lightening again, and I tell myself to take it easy. There’s something between us, and I don’t want to mess it up by trampling her. I’ve already hurt her once; it won’t do to be careless now.

“Tomorrow night? How about dinner? I’ll cook. You can get that peek upstairs you were hoping for, no strings attached.” I shoot her a playful grin, delighted to see a blush staining her cheeks.

I walk Addison out as we finalize our plans for tomorrow evening. She drove Everly’s car here, but when she opens the door, she doesn’t get in right away. Instead, she turns toward me and leans against the side of the car. I smile, knowing she’s wondering about a kiss. I decide to do my best romancing, so for tonight, I lean forward and drop a barely there kiss, the softest I can manage, right on the corner of her mouth.

Addison’s lips part and she sucks in a short breath, her blue eyes wide as she watches me lean back. I put my hand on the small of her back, urging her into the car.

“Goodnight, Addison,” I say, closing the door behind her and stepping back.

It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

~~~

I stomp around the kitchen the next morning, practically throwing pots and pans at the sink as I remember the water turning Addison’s shirt transparent last night. Jaime and Tori are both working today and they give me a wide berth, shooting questioning looks at each other behind my back. I know exactly why I’m grumpy, but that does nothing to ease the feeling.

I don’t want to wait until tonight to see Addison.

I huff a frustrated breath, mostly annoyed with myself for how I’m feeling, and stride back through the door into the coffee shop. Then I halt in my tracks, blinking at what I’m sure is an apparition, but it doesn’t go away.

There’s an ethereal angel sitting in my coffee shop. An angel with glowing, light brown hair haloed by the sun streaming through the windows. Sun that shines straight through her sheer pink shirt to the tight, burgundy-lace cropped top she’s wearing underneath. A laptop open in front of her barely registers on my radar as her elegant fingers tap away.

The moment breaks when she glances up and her eyes meet mine. The smile that breaks over her face, I swear to all that is holy, causes singing to rain down from the heavens. Probably straight through that beam of sunlight highlighting her.

I blink, and she tilts her head, as though asking if everything’s okay. I blink again, then force my lips to curve in response. It doesn’t feel real, and suddenly I’m no longer frustrated or annoyed. Suddenly, everything feels right in the world.

I slip behind the counter to dump the handful of utensils I was planning to restock, and Tori’s voice snaps me back into reality.

“You good, boss?” she says, and I nod.

My gaze slides back to Addison, her attention focused on her laptop again. God, this girl must be a witch. The hold she has on me after only a couple days. Did she slip me a love potion? I know I’m being ridiculous, but she’s fried my brain. It’s the only explanation.

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