Page 195 of Double Daddies
I freeze, my cheeks heating up. “I’m... not really looking to date right now,” I confess, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Oh, come on,” Elijah persists, leaning closer. “One date. That’s all we’re asking.”
I shake my head, a nervous laugh escaping my lips. “It’s not a good time for me,” I explain, fiddling with the hem of my apron. “Besides, I’m sure there are plenty of other girls who would be more than happy to go out with you.”
Ezra watches me, his eyes sharp and discerning. “You’re right,” he agrees. “There are. But we’re only interested in you.”
The air between us thickens, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. It’s been so long since someone has shown this kind of interest in me, and it’s both thrilling and terrifying. But I remind myself that this isn’t what I need right now. I’m in no position to start something new, not with the weight of my past still clinging to me like a lead weight. Not with the secrets I hold close.
“Listen,” Elijah says, his tone softer. “I know we are asking a lot. You don’t know us, and we’re asking you to date us both, but to be honest, we think you're worth it.”
I bite my lip, my resolve wavering. A small part of me wants to say yes, to see where this could lead. But the rest of me is too scared, too cautious. “I don’t know,” I murmur, looking down at my hands. “It’s just... I'm not ready for anything serious. And dating two guys at once? That’s a lot.”
They exchange a glance, and I can see a hint of disappointment in their eyes.
“Okay,” Ezra finally says, his voice gentle. “We respect that.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card, sliding it across the counter toward me. “But if you ever change your mind, or if you just want to talk, here’s our numbers.”
I hesitate for a moment before picking up the card, turning it over in my hands.
“Thank you,” I murmur, tucking the card into the pocket of my apron. “I-I’ll think about it.”
They nod, finishing their drinks in contemplative silence. The air is thick with things unsaid, with possibilities and uncertainties.
“Have a good day, Wren,” Elijah whispers as he leans over the counter. His smoked leather cologne fills my senses and makes me dizzy.
I watch them go, their figures receding into the afternoon sun. A part of me wants to call out, to stop them and tell them I’ve changed my mind. But the fear is still there, a tight knot in my chest, holding me back.
The door closes behind them with a soft chime, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I stand there, my heart racing, my mind a jumble of emotions. The card in my pocket feels like a promise, a temptation I’m not sure I can resist.
I let out a breath, my hands shaking as I return to the counter. My mind is racing, my thoughts a tangled mess of confusion, doubt, and, if I’m being honest, a flicker of excitement. Their proposition hangs in the air like a question without an answer, and I find myself repeating their words over and over in my head. The thought of being involved with the twins is like nothing I’ve ever considered. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once, like standing at the edge of a cliff, wondering if I should jump. But then reality sets in, and thoughts of Richard bombard my mind.Can I even trust anymore?
As the day wears on, I find myself reaching for their card, tracing the letters of their names with my fingertip. Ezra and Elijah. The twins. A pair of enigmas wrapped in tailored suits and shrouded in mystery. I’m not sure what to make of them, but I know one thing: they've stirred something in me that I can't ignore. A longing, a curiosity, a need. But it’s more thanthat. It’s the possibility of something I’ve never allowed myself to imagine. Something that feels dangerous and thrilling all at once.
But another part of me is scared. Scared of the unknown, of what it might mean to open myself up to two men. To trust not just one person again, but two, with my heart and my body.
I shake my head, trying to clear my mind. I have a life to live and a job to do. I can’t let myself get swept up in fantasies, no matter how tempting they might be. They might as well be on a different planet from me. I’m a simple barista, living paycheck to paycheck, while they’re... well, they're everything I'm not. Rich, successful, powerful.What could they possibly see in me?It's probably just a whim, a passing curiosity that will fade as quickly as it came.
The coffee shop is quiet now, the lunchtime rush having come and gone. I’m wiping down the counter, the soft hum of the air conditioning a calming backdrop to the chaos my life has become. Wyatt is in the back, doing inventory, leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts.
I try to focus on my work, but their faces keep drifting into my mind. The intensity in Ezra’s eyes, the warmth in Elijah’s smile. The way they looked at me, as if they could see past the coffee shop counter and into the depths of my soul. It’s unnerving and exhilarating all at once.
By the end of the day, I’m exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I lock up the shop and trudge upstairs to my tiny apartment, the card still a heavy presence in my pocket.
As I collapse onto my bed, I pull it out and stare at it, the gold lettering stark against the black-colored paper. Their numbers are there, just a call away.
All I have to do is reach out.
I bite my lip, my fingers tracing the edges of the card. I could just text them, I think. See what they have to say. Maybe thisis the distraction I've been needing, the adventure I've been too scared to seek. I could make a new life for myself and forget the pain of the past.
Before I can second guess myself, I grab my phone and type out a quick message to a group chat with both of the men.
Wren:
Hi, this is Wren from the coffee shop.
I hit send before I can talk myself out of it, my heart pounding in my chest. The seconds tick by, each one feeling like an eternity, before my phone buzzes with a reply.
Elijah:
