Page 39 of Until Next Time
“She’s not really my type, Birdie. But thanks for the suggestion.” His voice almost has a soft edge to it now.
“You sure left her a nice tip for not being into her.” I hate myself for how jealous I just sounded as that rolled off my tongue so quickly.
He raises an eyebrow at me, speculatively as a small smile appears on his lips.
“I work in the service industry, I always try to tip other service workers well. I know it can be a thankless job, so I just try to do my part.”
“Oh, well that’s really nice of you.” I say, finally looking up at him as I hear our drinks being called out on the counter.
“…and a chocolate croissant to go.” The barista adds as she slides the brown paper bag across the drink bar.
Dawsen strides over and grabs our order and offers the baristas his sweet tight lipped smile and nods, then he turns toward me and we head towards the door.
* * *
“Looks like a storm is rolling in. We better get back on the road.” Dawsen says as he surveys the dark clouds that seem to be moving in at an animated pace.
He follows me around to the passenger side door and I pick up my pace to try to beat him to it. I feel his arm reach past me and grab the handle just as I’m about to reach for it. “Nice try, tweety.” I roll my eyes at that absolutely terrible nickname that just won’t die.
I let out a groan, and he just laughs, because Dawsen and River know that I absolutely despise that name.
I hop up into the cab of the truck and stash my purse on the floor board by my feet and turn to Dawsen who is standing there between the cab and the door, impressively holding both of our drinks in one of his big hands.
“Okay, sorry, no tweety. I promise.” He holds out his pinky finger, and I roll my eyes at him and reluctantly wrap my pinky around his.
“Consider this a peace tweaty.” He can’t contain his laughter with that one. “Ugh, you loser! Give me my drink. Let’s go.” I groan at him as I reach for my large latte which looks small in his big hand.
He keeps laughing as he closes my door and rounds the front of the truck to his door. He slides in and sets his drink in the cup holder. He tosses the pastry bag into my lap and says, “check it out!”
I reach for the bag and turn it around to see the name ‘Sarah’ written in black ink and a phone number beneath it.
“Oh my gosh, unbelievable!”
Dawsen throws the truck in reverse and starts to back out of the lot. He’s laughing at me when he says, “What?! Isn’t that what you were trying to set up in there, Iike five minutes ago?”
“Well, yeah, but it’s different because we both know that ‘we’ aren’t a thing.” I say, signaling between both of us, “but she doesn’t know that. In fact, she has every reason to believe that we are very much a thing and she still was hitting on you!” I say, sounding a little too flustered.
He’s just laughing, looking so relaxed, almost like he’s enjoying how annoyed this has made me.
“You’re right. When you put it that way, it’s pretty messed up.”
“Exactly!” I say, throwing my hands up.
He looks over at me and just smiles, and takes a sip of his plain black coffee.
“How’s the latte?” He asks, jutting his chin up at me.
“I’m a little scared to try it.Sarahprobably spit in it.” I say bitterly.
“Kind of sounds like you might be a little bit jealous, Birdie.” Dawsen says smugly, narrowing his eyes at me for a moment.
“Ew, no, what?” Real clever response, Birdie.
“Ew? Okay, I hardly think I’m “Ew” worthy. I mean, Sarah definitely didn’t think so.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean that, nevermind. Can we stop talking about this now.” I say, folding my arms across my chest, annoyed at every action I’ve taken and every word I’ve spoke over the last fifteen minutes.
I see a smile spread across Dawsen’s face. “Whatever you say, Birdie.” He takes his hand and does that thing I love—rubs it across the stubble on his cheeks and then runs it along theback of his neck before returning his hand to the wheel. I sip the best latte I’ve ever had, and crunch my croissant the rest of the drive into Munsen while we listen to a playlist that I made with incredibly too much Bon Iver, but this rainy weather demands it.
