Page 15 of Love You A Latte

“So, is that a yes? To the flirting?”

Addison lifts a shoulder. “I guess it’s my attempt at it.”

“Good, just wanted to be sure,” I say, then I drop into the seat next to her and stretch out my legs, sliding one between hers under the table. She startles at the contact, then turns her wide eyes to me.

“Why do I intimidate you?”

“You, what?” Her voice is higher than usual, signaling her discomfort, but if we’re going to move forward she can’t be scared of me.

“You said I intimidate you, what about me makes you uncomfortable?”

“No, you don’t make me uncomfortable,” she says, and I pin her with a look, silently demanding the truth. “Okay, but not in a bad way. You’re just, so…”

She waves a hand in a swirling motion in front of me.

“Soyou,” she concludes.

“And that means…”

“That you’re, you know. All confident and put together. You always know exactly what you want and who you are and how to do everything. You’re successful, I mean, you own a freaking business.” At this, she swipes both arms out to her sides as she gestures around us. I look around, taking in the space I practically eat, sleep, and breathe for. “Plus, you’re Everly’s best friend. Isn’t that, I don’t know, kind of forbidden?”

Well that was more than I was expecting. She certainly puts me on a pedestal, we’ll have to remedy that at some point. If anyone belongs on a pedestal, it’s her.

“Right, so you’re intimidated because I own a tiny coffee shop in the middle of nowhere Arizona, I know how to pretend like I have my shit together, and Everly is my best friend. That about right?”

“Well.” She gapes at me. “That’s not really—”

“Addison. I’m just a person. Sure, I’ve known that I’m nonbinary since I was little, and when I see something I want, I go for it.” At this, I pause to give her another pointed look. She pinches her lips between her teeth. “I don’t know how to do everything, in fact I’d say I know how to do very few things, and of those, I only do a couple well. And Everly?”

I scoff, shaking my head. “She’ll be thrilled. Her best friend and her sister? I bet she’s going to screech about how happy she is that two of her favorite people are together. I’d put money on it.”

Addison blinks at me, dark lashes fanning over wide blue eyes.

“Us?” she says, her voice soft and hopeful. “Together?”

“I’d like there to be an us, and an us,together.”

I cross my fingers under the table for luck, even though I’ve never been superstitious for a single other moment in my life.

“I’d like there to be an us together, too,” she says. I reach across the table to free her bottom lip from her teeth with my thumb, and her beaming smile could light up the room.

“Good,” I say with a nod.

Her smile doesn’t abate as she turns back to her bag. Under her breath, Addison starts to hum along with the music playing in the background as she finishes packing up and stands. I rise with her, and to my surprise and delight, she leans over and places a sweet, soft kiss on my cheekbone.

“See you tonight,” she says, hips swaying as she saunters out my front door.

My grin is unstoppable.

CHAPTER SEVEN

FRANKIE

I’m walking through the front doors of the grocery store, mentally ticking off items I’d like to buy for tonight’s dinner with Addison, when a body steps into my path. I scowl when I focus on the ruddy face of my least favorite person, Derek, the owner of our local grocer.

He steps into my space, far too close for comfort, and I try not to inhale the reek of cigarette on his breath and clothing. I take a step to the side, attempting to go around him.

“Excuse me,” I say, trying to be polite.

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