Page 27 of Hat Trick
From there on out, besides the occasional text to his mom, I don’t so much as have a second to check my phone for the rest of the evening until after Charlie lays down for the night, and I set it on the nightstand next to my bed. And even then, I can’t seem to muster up the energy to do my nightly doom scroll. Instead, I absolutely pass the hell out.
Auntie Lil is officiallyexhausted.
1 Salt Shaker - Ying Yang Twins
CHAPTER 18
ARE RULES MEANT TO BE BROKEN?
EMERSON
“Do you think she’s bailing?” Dom asks nervously as the two of us stand near the floor-to-ceiling window at the front of the coffee shop. We were supposed to meet Lil ten minutes ago, but she’s still not here yet.
I don’t know why he’s surprised. If he and Lil have spent as much time together as she and I have, it’s very apparent she’s not an overlypunctualperson. Actually, now that I think about it, outside of her work, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her on time to anything.
I’m not entirely sure what keeps that woman from being on time, but what I do know is that she wouldn’t just bail on us.
Checking my phone one last time to see if she texted before sliding it into my shorts pocket, I tell Dom, “Come on. Let’s just order for her and find a table.”
He looks up and down the block out the windowbefore sighing heavily. “Fine. But if she’s not here in ten more minutes I’m going to her apartment. Something could be wrong.”
“How many times have you stormed into her apartment when she was late for something?” I ask as the two of us get in line.
Dom side-eyes me. “More times than I’d like to admit.” I can’t help it. I snort an obnoxious laugh. “Shut up,” he deadpans.
I don’t. I chuckle all the way up to the register because I know he’s a hundred percent serious. Lil usually flies by the seat of her pants, and despite Dominic’s usual carefree demeanor, he’s insanely overprotective, which means I know that him not knowing where she is or if she’s okay probably tests every ounce of his patience.
It’s not that I don’t worry about her, or her safety, but I know how late istoolate when it comes to Lil. She was once twenty minutes late to a movie, and didn’t so much as bat an eye. I’d say it bothers me, but I’d be lying. Honestly, I always like the way she looks when she comes flying in. Cheeks all rosey from being in a rush, and eyes blown wide as she looks for me, only for a full-fledged smile to cross her face once she finally spots me.
But Dom’s not me, and I love how protective he is. So, I pat his back sympathetically as one of the employees starts taking our orders. “What can I get you, gentlemen?” the small blonde on the other side of the counter asks with a smile.
“I’ll take a vanilla sweet cream cold brew,” Dom replies, giving the employee a soft smile.
“And I’ll just take a coffee. Hot. Black.”
“I’m a man and I drink my coffee black,” Dominic mocks under his breath before I jab him with my elbow.
“Can we also get a large hot dirty chai? How many shots of espresso does that come with?” I ask her.
“Two,” she replies brightly.
“Better make it three.”
“Oh,” Dom pipes up, rubbing the spot where I elbowed him. “Could we also get a double chocolate muffin?” He looks over at me. “That woman loves her chocolate.”
The woman rings us up, Dom pays, and I add some cash to the tip jar. “You guys go ahead and find a seat. We’ll bring it out when it’s ready.”
Dom and I find a table big enough for three tucked into the corner of the cafe so we’re far enough away from any prying ears but still close enough to the front windows so Lil can see us when she finally comes breezing in.
As if the thought itself summoned her, the front door swings open, followed by a head of dark strands blowing in the summer breeze. And just like I was hoping, her eyes scan the room before landing on Dom and me. Eyes wide, cheeks pink, and a smile so pure I can feel it in my toes.
She sits down in a huff in the chair beside Dom, the morning sun casting the perfect glow against her sage-green eyes. “I’m so sorry. I severely underestimated how much work watching Charlie all night was goingto be. I didn’t set my alarm because I was sure he was going to have me up at the ass crack of dawn. Thankfully he decided to sleep in a little bit this morning, but that means I did too.OhmygodI need copious amounts of coffee, or I fear I might actually die.” Dom and I both chuckle at the woman in front of us. “I’m going to go order and then we can talk about?—”
“Here you go!” the same woman from behind the counter announces as she arrives at our table. She sets mine and Dom’s coffees in front of us before looking down at Lil. “I’m assuming this one is for you.”
“It is. Muffin too,” I tell her.
She sets both items down in front of Lil. “Holler if you need anything else.”
