Page 54 of Kane's Awakening
Chapter Sixteen
Ryker
“Love you guys,” I said to the twins as they got out of the car. “I hope y’all have a great day.”
“Love you too, Daddy!” Izzy said before slamming the door.
Theo waved before shutting his and walking toward a small group of other boys.
I was a total dad for a minute and watched them, making sure they were far enough away from the road and within sight of the teachers on duty before school. When a car behind me honked, I glared at them in the rearview mirror before driving off.
I’d called Anna and asked if I could keep the kids last night. It had been in the evening when I’d called her, but nottoolate. My mind had been in a bad place after the ordeal with Kane, and I’d needed their laughter to help pull me out of it.
We’d been running a little late that morning, so I had dropped them off at school before getting my coffee. And I needed coffee bad. Theo had even made a joke about me beingzombie dad.
I drove toward Sweet Bay, and when I got there, I saw the drive through was completely backed up, so I decided to go in and order instead, thinking it would be faster.
It was.
I walked inside and there were two people in line. The aroma of coffee beans and baked goods hit me, and I inhaled it like it was a drug. I supposed, in a way it was. After getting in line, I lightly bounced on my heels and looked over the menu, wondering if I should try something different that time.
My life was one of routine. Maybe it was time to spice things up.
When it was my turn to order, I met Max’s stare.
“Hey, you,” he said, already grabbing a venti sized cup to make the house blend I typically ordered. “Your usual?”
“Good morning,” I greeted. “I actually think I’m going to try something different today. What would you recommend?”
He flashed his amazing, show-stopping smile, and his dark-brown eyes were kind, lacking all coldness and arrogance that another pair of eyes held.
Why couldn’t I go for a man like Max? I’m surehedidn’t have a damn commitment problem like a certain Officer Asshole I knew. He probably wasn’t into guys, though, which was pretty much the story of my life. I’d had three boyfriends in my life, two of them serious. Any guy I’d been into before and after those had been either taken, straight, or a commitment-phobe like Kane.
“I love the cinnamon dolce latte,” Max answered before moving his bottom lip between his teeth.
The action made my pulse quicken. “Great. I’ll have one of those.”
He wrote on the cup before setting it on the counter and typing in my order. “Okay, just give me a few minutes to make it.”
I was confused. “How much?”
“It’s on me,” he said before giving me another smile. “We get free coffees, so I just typed in my employee number. It’s taken care of.”
“You didn’t have to do that. I don’t mind paying.”
“Well, since it was my suggestion, I didn’t want you to buy something you didn’t like. Just in case.”
Wow. He was a damn sweetheart. A sweetheart with a sweet pair of lips, dark hair, and just enough facial hair to be more than a shadow, but still not enough to call it a beard. And he was nice, which I’d sorely missed as of late.
“Thank you,” I said, placing a few dollars in the tip jar before tucking my wallet back in my pocket.
There was no one behind me, so I didn’t feel rushed to move aside. Perhaps it was the heartache from Kane, but I felt more adventurous. Staying in the same predictable routine almost every day needed some switching up. And not only my routine, butme.
Iwas predictable; never taking chances or doing anything that spontaneous. Where had that gotten me? Alone and heartbroken too often. Being taken advantage of and used, like when Kane tricked me the other day by saying he wanted to make love, only to admit later he’d just been trying to get on my good side so I’d fuck him. Routine was boring.Iwas boring. Maybe that was why I couldn’t keep a man interested.
Not anymore.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” I asked without another second’s thought.
