Page 28 of Beneath the Midnight Sky
She let out a breath and a small laugh. “I know what you’re trying to do. It won’t work. I want to know what you think—really.”
I rolled my eyes; happy she couldn’t see me. I knew she’d hate this, but she asked. “Honestly, I think it’s a horrid idea because he’sterrible. He’s terrible to you, and he’s terrible in general. However, I want you to be happy, and if that’ll do it, I support you.”
She was quiet for a few minutes. “He’s just going through a lot with his dad and shit…I know what you’re thinking, Aspen. I do love him though, and he loves me.” I felt her shrug her shoulders, but I didn’t respond. Nothing I said would change her mind, so I wasn’t going to.
“I’ll be here no matter what you decide, babe. Why don’t we go down to the bakery and grab some breakfast?” I said, eager to change the subject. We looked at each other and couldn’thelp but giggle. The bakery down the block from my apartment was called Buns of Delight. They had coffee, homemade bread, bagels, donuts, the works. The owner, Ember, was around our age, and I don’t know how she did it all by herself, but her bakery was the best.
“Oh, yes, please. I could totally go for one of Ember’s jalapeño cheddar bagels with her veggie cream cheese. I had one the other day, and it was literally heaven,” Ivy said while she pulled on a pair of jeans and a clean tank top from my drawer and then tossed her hair in a messy bun.
“You went to Buns of Delight without me?! Seriously?” I asked, shocked. “With who?”
“Myself! I needed a treat, and you were off pouting about your man,” she said.
“That’s insane. First, he isn’t my man yet. Two, I can’t believe you went without me.” I slid on a pair of leggings and a band tee, throwing my hair into a ponytail. Ivy stopped putting her shoe on and stared at me, a huge smile on her face. “What?” I asked.
“You said he isn’t your manyet,” she said, enunciating the last word.
“Yeah, well…shut up. Let’s go,” I said, a smile on my face because she was right. I did say yet, and I meant every single syllable of it.
A few minutes later, we walked into Buns of Delight, and Ember was behind the counter. I glanced around the shop happily. Three of the walls were made of old wooden planks, and the wall behind the counter was painted a bright white. She had wooden shelves along the white wall that matched the rest of the wood where she’d decorated with art, pottery, and little to-go cups for the coffee. There was an espresso machine and a little sink for dishes from the fancy coffees she made. The counter itself was mostly made up of a giant glass case where she displayed whatever delicious goodies she’d made that day.
“Well, hello ladies!” Ember said. Her smile lit up the place even more than the fairy lights she had draped along the open-beamed ceilings did. “What can I get you two today? Bagels? Croissants?”
Ember was one of those stunning women who had no idea how stunning she was. She was a little shorter than me, maybe five foot five. She had stunning, pin-straight, strawberry blonde hair with a red undertone, chocolate brown eyes, a splattering of freckles across her cheeks, and the cute little button nose every girl wanted growing up.
“Do you have any of the jalapeño bagels you made the other day?” Ivy basically pleaded with her from across the countertop. “I need it like I need the air in my lungs, Ember.”
Ember giggled at my best friend's dramatics. “I actually do. I made a batch this morning. Do you want the vegetable cream cheese again?” Ivy nodded, clearly eager as hell. “Got ya. What about you, Aspen?”
“Everything bagel with cream cheese, please. Oh, and a coffee,” I added.
“Normal way? Chocolate creamer with whipped cream and cinnamon?”
I smiled. “You are a goddess sent from the heavens above, Ember. Has anyone ever told you that?”
She blushed and cleared her throat. “Nope, just you two. I’ll get your stuff together for you.”
We paid for our breakfast and sat down. Ember had set up the rest of the shop with small round tables and cute metal chairs scattered throughout. Each had a small plant on it, and then she had greenery hanging from the ceiling with the fairy lights.
“We should find her a man,” Ivy whispered. I stared at her, eyes wide, and then laughed.
“Oh, yes. All the gods above know just how much luck we have in that department. Why not spread it around?” I said.
Ivy leaned back in her chair pouting. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll shut up.”
Thankfully, Ember chose that moment to bring our stuff over to the table before she had to go back to the counter and help more customers. We walked back to my apartment, bagels and coffee in hand, and I made a mental note to look for someone spectacular for both Emberandmy best friend.
13
I HAD A KEY
Rowan
I had hita new level of certifiable—truly. Stalking her from afar was one thing, but this was just…well, not great. I was sitting outside of her apartment, it was one in the morning, and I couldn’t get her out of my head. Even though she agreed to go out with me tomorrow. I’d literally see her tomorrow evening—less than twenty-four hours from now—so I should just turn around and leave, right? Right.
I stared out of my windshield, debating and trying to talk myself down off this ledge I seemed to have walked out on. I should leave. I looked down at my keys and decided to ignore my logical,“normal guy”brain. Instead, I chose the figurative devil on my shoulder that was whispering obscenities into my waiting ears. Yup, I was going in.
I jumped out of my truck, locked the doors, and jogged across the street toward Aspen’s apartment. Letting myself into the building, I casually walked up the stairs and unlocked her apartment door—as if I’d done this a million times. Honestly, atthat moment, I was happy I had a key made. Never knew when you’d need to get into your future wife’s apartment after all.
