Page 35 of Suits and Spark Plugs

“I’ve never seen her before in my life.”

I handed him a menu. “She’s very beautiful.”

“I didn’t notice,” he said while looking down at the menu.

I scoffed. “Uh-huh, sure. Do you want me to get you a drink while you’re looking over the menu?”

“Hot cocoa.”

“Hot cocoa?”

He looked up at me. “This is the part where the waitress gets what the customer asks for.” His tone was a little grumpy, which I found intriguing.

“I’m sorry, but I was caught off guard by your request. I wouldn’t have guessed you were the type of guy who drinks hot cocoa. Do you want marshmallows with that?”

“What type am I, then?”

“The type who eats breakfast with the beautiful women who hit on him at the local diner.”

“Proof you don’t know me at all. I’ll be ready to order when you get back with my cocoa. No marshmallows. Marshmallows are for wimps.” He looked back to his menu, effectively dismissing me.

I walked back toward the front where another couple had entered. “Hot cocoa for your new smarty pants best friend in booth five,” I called to Kelly as I passed the counter. “Extra marshmallows.”

“Got it,” she replied.

I picked up a menu and gestured for the couple to follow me. I got them situated with their menus, took their drink orders, and made my way back to the counter where Kelly had left a steaming mug of cocoa for me to take to Connor. There were at least fifteen marshmallows floating on the top, making a small mountain. It made me happy.

I put the mug down in front of him and waited with anticipation for him to see what I’d done. It had been childish, but I didn’t really care. He’d made things tense between Blaine and me, and this was the payback moment. When he finally dropped the menu and looked down, it was all worth it. His face got slack before his eyes slit and he looked up at me.

“You’re kidding with this, right?”

“Nothing’s too special for our best customer,” I chirped.

“When are you going to stop pouting and come back to the shop to study?” he asked.

I was caught off guard by the change of subject, still unused to the workings of his mind. He reallywouldbe at home with Kelly and me, not that I’d ever open that door. “I’m not pouting. Would someone who’s pouting go to the effort of getting you fifteen of the puffiest marshmallows we have?”

“You’re pouting.”

I harrumphed. “I came and cleaned already this week. That’s all the time I’ll be spending at the shop.”

“You’ll fall behind in school.”

“Rule number one, we don’t discuss my private life.”

He rolled his eyes. “But, really, when are you coming back?”

“The word I’m thinking of starts with N and ends with ‘ever.’” I pulled out my order pad. “Are you ready to tell me what you want?”

“Are you going to sabotage my order?”

“Nope.”

“I’ll have eggs Benedict, a side of bacon, and a fruit bowl.” He handed me the menu back.

“Excellent choice on this cold morning. Do you need extra napkins to wipe the marshmallow off your upper lip?”

“I wouldn’t mind a new waitress.”

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