Page 4 of Lucy Loves Him Not
“Red light!” Olivia said, sending him a red light. “Oh, you forgot to send Amazing Adam a green light.” I watched in horror as she so casually clicked a green light for Adam and the phone lit up announcing a match had been made.
“No!” I squeaked.
My safe, little bubble where Amazing Adam only lived in my fantasies was popped. Meanwhile, my sisters just laughed delightedly and finished their drinks.
Two
Love Local DM
Adam
Hi! Adam here. Can’t deny I got a really big smile when I saw we matched. I’m new in town, was wondering if you could advise on good coffee?
Me
Hi, Adam! My favorite coffee shop in town is Coffees and Commas. It’s also a bookshop (I noticed you’re a fellow bookworm!).
Adam
Maybe I’ll get lucky and we’ll run into each other there sometime?
Me
There’s a good chance, I’m there most mornings!
Iwoke up the next morning to the sound of Olivia’s morning podcast playing through our kitchen speakers and a box ofcereal shaking. My room shared a wall with the kitchen, so I often woke up to the sound of my sister and roommate rummaging around in the apartment kitchen.
I stretched in my bed and so did my cat, Stevie, who had been snoozing on my feet. Stevie was adopted so I wasn’t sure of her breed, but my best guess—and the vet’s—was an American gray shorthair. She was a misty gray, still energetic and playful even at seven years old. She’d found her way to the front steps of my old college apartment. She was a scrappy, hungry little kitten. I’d leave her food. My roommates kept joking, “Lucy and her big ole heart. She’s going to wind up making this kitten her baby.”
Until one day Stevie showed up wounded. I scooped her into my arms and took her to the vet. My roommates were right–I made her my baby. Maybe my heart was too big, but it usually led to good things, like purring kittens.
After breakfast I headed to Coffees and Commas to work, but stopped myself before I walked out the door. What if he was there? I made a quick detour to my room to add a little extra touch to my makeup and fluff my messy, red bun.Just in case.
I held nervous energy while I waited in line, glancing around the coffee shop for Adam. “Hey, it’s one of my favorite customers,” Katie, the coffee shop owner, greeted me with a big smile. “Your usual?”
“Yes, but add one of the blueberry muffins, too,” I said, smiling back at her. Katie had worked here for years before she became the owner. Her presence was as much of the warmth here as the scent of coffee and old books. “How are you and Terrence doing?”
“We’re good. Since the wedding we’ve been planning a big trip to Vancouver so I can see Canada in the summer. Terrence is planning an extensive trip that involves a ferry to Victoria and everything. Now we’re playing phone tag with his family aswe sort it all out.” She punched my order in before brushing a strand of her chestnut hair out of her eyes.
“You have to take pictures for me. I’d love to visit Victoria. I remember the photos from Hawaii on your honeymoon. Travel photography must run in your family; you give Gabe a run for his money,” I said as I handed her my debit card.
“Oh, any of my skills have been taught to me by Gabe. He’s always hooking me up with the best tips and gadgets.” She swiped my card and gave it back to me.
I tapped the counter anxiously as I glanced around the coffee shop, just in case.
“Looking for someone?” Katie asked as she set my muffin on a little white plate.
“Not really.” I laughed it off because I couldn’t say,see any hot guys named Adam lately?
I sat down to try and get started on the summer festival. But every little chime from the shop door sent my pulse racing. I kept twisting in my seat to see if it could be Adam. I opened my message thread with him. Should I reach out?
I closed the thread.Focus, Lucy.I started typing away, but then I heard the door chime again. What would I do if it was him?
Should I go to him and introduce myself? What if he asked me to dinner? Should I say yes? What if this was the beginning of something? Something good.
I shook my head at my own thoughts.I’ve only messaged with the man like two times.I needed to dial it back. Still, I let my eyes pop back over to the door.
No one walked in.
