Page 51 of Terms Of Un-Endearment
“Nice to meet you,” I say. “Can I get an espresso?”
“Double shot? Or triple?”
“Double, please. And I guess an elbow-shiver? Britta said I should order it.”
“Able-skeever,” Diva repeats slowly—I think she does this a lot. “Mitzi’s already on it.” She flashes me a smile, then turns to Archie. “Your usual, Mr. Boring?”
“I prefer Mr. Knows-What-He-Likes,” Archie replies.
“I’m sure you do, Mr. Boring.” Diva turns her back to him and goes to the espresso machine.
I stifle a laugh. I like her.
While Archie stays at the counter, bantering back and forth with Diva, I wander through the crowded café, checking out the pictures hanging on the walls. I stop at one of Archie, Dex, Rhys, and Frankie, all together—an old Surf City photo not much different from the ones at the beach house.
I look back at Archie just as he carries our drinks toward me.
“I guess I should expect to see pics of you everywhere I go,” I tease, trying to ignore that he’s close enough for me to smell whatever cologne or body wash he’s used.
He leans over my shoulder to study the old, framed photo. I ignore the shiver his breath sends up my spine. “Not everywhere, but around here, yeah. It’s embarrassing.”
I take my drink from him and check my watch. “I’ve got a little time. Should we sit for a minute?” I’m not ready to leave the calm, friendly vibe here for the sterile, unfriendly one that seems to be standard at Valente.
Archie moves to a table, and I take the seat across from him.
“Before I left for New York, your picture was all over the place out here.” I pick up my espresso and blow on it. “Especially when the show was on—I’d see your face more in magazines than in person. I guess I forgot, living in New York, what a big deal you guys are around here.”
Archie’s face flushes, and he shakes his head. "I’m not a big deal. Dex and Rhys are. Frankie too. I’m nobody beyond the guy who’s friends with or related to them."
I look at Archie—really look at him. This isn’t his usual self-deprecation. Does he really believe that his value comes from who he knows? Who he’s related to? Not just from being who he is?
That makes me kind of sad. No one should feel like that. But I’m not sure how to say that to him. Anyone else, I’d know exactly what words to use; but not Archie—there's still the deed between us and...something else. Past resentments, maybe? Lack of trust? I’m not sure, but we circle each other as though we’re holding spears.
Yeah, he can be a total jerk, but he can also be really sweet. As much as Archie teased, bullied, or ignored me when I was a kid, I still saw hints of a tenderness in him back then too—a sweet side. Especially with Frankie. He was protective of her in a way I always envied. I wanted a brother or friend like Archie who was aware of my needs. Not just physical needs like food and shelter and clothes, but emotional needs. Someone who could see when I was hurt. Someone who would stand up for me.
As much as I love Mom, that wasn't her. Her goal in life has always been to keep us as comfortable as possible.
But there's no way to avoid discomfort. It's a part of life. And I've had to figure out how to get through hard things by myself. I'm still figuring out how to do that.
I sip my espresso and smile. “This is delicious. How long has Britta owned this place?”
“Almost a year now.” He glances at a server with beautiful black, curly hair who sets something in front of us that looks like donut holes covered in powdered sugar. “Mitzi, this is Piper.”
“Hi,” I say. “I love your hair.”
“Thank you! I heard what you did to Archie’s.” She sends him a sly grin.
“You’re on her side, too?” He glares at her, but there’s no real anger in it.
I chuckle as Mitzi walks away. I like this place.
“You must spend a lot of time here. They all seem to know you really well.” I use my fork to cut one of the donut things in half and lemon curd spills out. “Oh! I wasn’t expecting anything inside.” I pop it in my mouth for another surprise. “I was expecting a donut texture, but it’s closer to a pancake.”
“Yeah. You like it?” Archie’s grin makes me glad I’ve covered my mouth with my hand, so he can’t see my own smile fighting to come out.
If he knows he’s made me smile, he’ll think he has an advantage.
“Ebelskiver is a Britta addition, but this coffee shop has been around for as long as I’ve been in South Bay. It used to be called Annie’s, after the lady who ran it. I practically lived here then. Dex, Rhys, Frankie and I all did.” Archie sips his coffee, then runs his tongue between his lips, snagging my gaze along the way.
