Page 38 of Until Next Time
The smell of coffee drifting into the parking lot is strong. The coffee aroma mixed with the smell of pines from the trees nearby is probably the closest thing to what heaven probably smells like. Which makes me think of mom, and how she would love this place too.
“Holy Shit, Daws! Look! There’s a golden retriever on the patio!” Birdie basically squeals while also grabbing my bicep and pointing at the long haired dog laying at the feet of its owner.
“Told you you’d like it here.” I say smugly, because I know I’m right, even though I can’t really take credit for the golden retriever sighting. But, it definitely bodes well for all intents and purposes.
“Well, I haven’t tried their version of a maple latte yet, so verdict is still out, big guy.”
“Big guy? You haven’t used that one before.” I tease her, and as we approach the door of the coffee shop, I pull it open in one swift motion, and dramatically wave my arm out In front of her, motioning for her to enter first. “After you, little lady.” I say with a wink, and she returns with an eye roll.
That’s my girl.
27
Birdie
I’m having second thoughts about this whole trip. Maybe I should have just asked to borrow Dawsen’s truck to do this alone. By myself. Without him. Yep, that would have for sure been the better option. Because right now I’m kind of freaking out. Like, what in the actual hell. He’s been nothing but thoughtful, kind and vulnerable today. All the things that would make any girl swoon, and I knew better than to subject myself to this sort of Dawsen exposure.I’m a stupid woman, I shouldn’t have come.Alie’s words ring true in my mind. She knew Noah Calhoun was her kryptonite and she just couldn’t stay away. I guess Dawsen is my Noah.
Dawsen is most typically closed off, a little rough around the edges, and, well, I guess he has always been thoughtful. I just never really considered it, or maybe I was just too busy thinking otherwise.
Regardless this trip is putting my ovaries into overdrive because this man has detoured our journey just so that I can go to “my new favorite place” as he so confidently put it. Which means that he planned this. He put thought into this day and wanted to make sure that I enjoyed it. And to think that I was worried this whole errand would be nothing but a burden to him, he is showing me in every single way that he cares about me. I can’t be making this up, can I? I mean, he packed all the salty snacks for God’s sake!
And here we are, and I hate to admit that I think he might be right. Dawsen opened the door and I was immediately hit with the most incredible smell of coffee and sugar. It’s the kind of smell that sweeps you off your feet and sends a shiver down your body. That sweet coffee smell filters through my nose and straight to my brain, and suddenly I’m drunk on this day and the thoughtfulness of Dawsen that I’ve never quite noticed before.
* * *
The barista is a little too excited to greet us as we approach the counter as her eyes linger on Dawsen’s tall, strong frame. I also don’t miss how Dawsen’s focus has remained on me and my rambling on about how much I love when places have real, actual living plants, opposed to those super fake looking ones. The barista is pretty in a very obvious way. She’s wearing hardly any makeup at all, but in that sort of way that almost makes you not like her because of how naturally pretty she is. She’s got dirty blonde hair that’s pulled up in a high ponytail, and bright blue eyes that are piercing into Dawsen’s soul right now.
“What can I get started for y’all?” She asks, her accent is thick with southern charm. Becauseof course it is.This woman has done nothing to me, but we’ve got beef, because she’s lookingat thoughtful Dawsen like she wants a piece of him and I have become very territorial all of a sudden.
“Hey, yeah, I’ll just take a large black coffee, hot please. And then whatever she wants.” He shifts his body so his arm is propped on the counter and he’s leaning against it. He just looks at me and juts his chin up, signaling for me to place my order.
“Hi! Uhm, I will have a large maple latte and one of those chocolate croissants.” I say, tapping the glass pastry case on the counter.
Dawsen reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his leather wallet, and starts thumbing a card out of one of the worn leather slits.
“Will this be together?” The barista asks Dawsen, which irks me, because clearly we’re together, standing here, ordering together. But honestly I can’t blame her. Hell, I don’t blame any woman to shoot their shot with Dawsen. I’ve been thinking it might be about time to shoot my own.
I break out of my thoughts when I hear a low rumble chuckle come from Dawsen as he slides his card across the counter. “Yeah, she’s with me.” He nudges my shoulder with his, and I can’t help the way my cheeks have probably turned bright red.
“She’s. With. Me.”
Once Dawsen finished paying for our order and leaving a very nice tip, we head over to the opposite end of the counter where the drinks are being called out. The coffee shop is the perfect blend of cozy and urban. The exposed brick, accented with large plants and large rugs, warm lighting and bookshelves lining the walls, it’s like heaven.
We’re both looking through the bookshelves while we wait for our drinks to be made, and I can’t help myself. “The barista was into you.” I said, without looking away from the book in my hands.
“Oh yeah?” He offers back, flipping the book in his hands over like he’s about to read the back cover.
“Yeah, and she’s super pretty.”
“She is super pretty.” He says in agreeance, but doesn’t add anything else to this conversation.
“Soo… you should ask her out.” I suggest, unsure of why I keep pushing this.
Actually, I know exactly why. Because in my sick and twisted mind, I don’t trust myself and the feelings I have for Dawsen, and it would just be better if he was completely unavailable. Then maybe I would be able to move on, and maybe actually give Max a fair shot.
I haven’t thought about Max at all today, aside from the time I saw a few text message alerts from him that I quickly swiped away.
Dawsen slides the book back into position on the shelf and turns toward me as he leans his shoulder against the shelf and crosses his ankles in this casual, cool guy sort of way.
