Page 23 of Fly Back to Me
“Anything else besides spilling my coffee and calling me a jerk?” He gestures his chin to the opposite corner of the coffee shop, and I follow his direction. There, a laptop lays on a circular tabletop with a leather coat resting on the built-in bench. “Because even though this wasreally great, I’d like to give the rest of the day a chance to be spectacular.” I return my attention to him, and his eyes pinch with humor as he skates a hand up and down an invisible scale. “I always like to see if I can one-up incredible events of the day. You know? Shoot for the stars.”
Okay, that was kind of a good comeback.
But any sliver of attraction instantly vanishes, and my chin tilts up to level with him. If he wants to be a complete douchebag, then he found his match right here. “Did I say jerk? I meant asshole. You’re a realasshole,” I spit out. Narrowing my gaze, I hold my middle finger sideways to mimic the way he shifted his hand up and down. “Does that land higher on the scale for you?”
I don’t wait for his full reaction before I resume my position on the stool.
Hot fumes swirl inside me, my skin heating with aggravation when his boots pad away along the polished concrete. His woody scent links around me tauntingly, as if to say he won that round. And whether I like it or not, he’s going to rain on my parade this morning.
Looking back, I would’ve opted for a complete shutdown of Smooth Brew over the unfortunate encounter with this prick. I only tried to rectify the situation with an apology and offer to buy him another drink. Surely, he has every right to be annoyed, but seriously, wasall of thatnecessary?
Unable to accept the fact that I could piss someone off over a measly cup of coffee, I pick my phone back up to open my text messages.
Me: I met the biggest douchebag at The Grind in Stardust Cove.
Lauren: Ew, wtf happened?! Spill. NOW. NOWWW.
Me: I accidentally made him spill his drink, and he practically threw a tantrum. It’s too bad his hot coffee didn’t spill all over his crotch instead of his hoodie. I would’ve loved to see him squirm from a burnt dick. Such a shame the stars didn’t align on that.
Lauren: Want me to come there and finish the job? I’m not doing anything right now …
“Kind of, yeah,” I mumble. Lifting my latte in one palm, my free thumb shoots a response to Lauren.
Me: I mean, sort of. But he’s also not worth the time you’d spend in a police car.
Lauren: You won’t have to ask me twice, babe??
Me: It’s a shame though. With looks like his, it’s such a waste that he’s a huge asshole. Oh, did I mention I called him an asshole? My first confrontation. I almost shit a brick, but we made it out alive.
Lauren: WHAT?!!! Olivia, I’m beyond proud! But wait, how hot are we talking?
Me: Blazing inferno. Witty too. Fucker.
Lauren: There’s always a flaw.
Me: Yep. Tragic.
Lauren: I’m sorry, girl! But I promised to go out with you tonight, and you’ll forget this ever happened :)
Me: I’m absolutely holding you to that.
Lauren: I’m not worried. If my anti-social ass is going out, I’ll make it worth it??
I silently chuckle, flipping my phone over to plant it on the bar top. My elbow slides forward across the quartz surface, palm settling on my beanie as I cross one leg over the other. Through the picture window, the bare tree branches lining the courtyard are ornamented with tawny buds.
I take a sip of my latte. As much as my curiosity is shouting at me to peek to that morbid corner of this café, I suppress my instinct. The only thing worse than being scolded by this mystery man is letting him know he’s consuming my mind at the moment.
Damnit, Olivia.
No.
A new season is approaching.
A fresh start.
My gaze scans the cobblestone. I catch the last mound of hard snow nestled between two planter boxes, and another sip of the warm beverage travels down my throat. A tender heat radiates through me, my ankle bobbing until I register the chafing of the silver chain. I suddenly wonder whathewould look like if I ever met him.
My lower belly captures butterflies, their wings fluttering impatiently to burst free. There’re so many unanswered questions that pour into my mind, and I ponder if I’m ever going to be so lucky to be graced with his existence at all. If only for a brief moment, even just for a fleeting second, I’d give anything to look him in his eyes and say all the words I’ve been forced to stow away.
