Page 109 of Angels & Whiskey
“Every day after work, my ex buys a coffee from there.” She pointed toward the shop and I turned around to get a good look because my back was facing the door.
“Why’d you break up if you don’t mind me asking?” I asked when I turned back around.
“Josh would rather spend time with his friends than me.” She shrugged.
“And you still want him back?” I took a sip of my ice water as I waited for her reply.
“We were together for two years. I still love him, and if he thinks I moved on then maybe he’ll realize what a hot commodity I am.” She smiled.
Women and their games. Sure this plan of hers might work, but if this dude let her go so easily, he didn’t want her. Men fight for what they want or who for that matter.
“What do you want me to do when we see him?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know? Flirt with me.”
I smiled. “I can do that.”
She looked down at her phone. “He should be getting off now.”
We waited a few minutes and the moment her eyes became huge, I knew Josh was walking behind me. I grabbed her hand, holding it with mine and ran my thumb across her knuckles. She smiled, blushing as she looked down at the contact. I didn’t know if she was playing her part or was really embarrassed in front of this guy.
My thumb continued to brush against Liz’s skin and all I could think about was Autumn. Everything felt wrong as I sat holding Liz’s hand. I wasn’t looking into Autumn’s familiar hazel eyes. I wasn’t smelling the warm vanilla sugar I loved.
I let go of Liz’s hand and her eyes dropped down at the loss of contact. My head wasn’t in the game, but I needed to be on point and get it over with. I could see the end of the tunnel and it felt as if each minute was the equivalent to five.
“I think it worked. You should’ve seen his face when he saw us sitting here.” Liz looked back up at the coffee shop’s door and smiled.
“Not my first time.” I stood and moved my chair next to hers. We waited, both of us not speaking until I saw Josh exiting. I leaned into Liz and whispered into her ear, “Is he looking?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
I looked up, and through the veil of Liz’s strawberry blonde hair, my gaze fell on the multicolored eyes I wanted to look into forever.
“Fuck,” I murmured.
“What?” Liz asked through clenched teeth as she continued to smile.
I didn’t respond. My stare didn’t leave Autumn’s as she stood, Brandi’s passenger side door’s handle in her hand. I didn’t know why she and Brandi were here, but it wasn’t going to turn out good for me. The look on her face broke my heart into a thousand pieces.
I should have told her sooner, but everything had happened too fast. I needed to explain myself, but I didn’t have the time at the moment because mydatewas questioning what was happening.
“What is it Gabe?” Liz asked, her stare still on the coffee shop.
I broke my gaze from Autumn’s briefly and leaned away from Liz. “Nothing, I’ll be right back.” I went to stand, but Autumn slid into the opened door of Brandi’s car. “Fuck!”
“What’s going on?” Liz questioned.
I didn’t know what to do—I felt as if I were trapped in a Plexiglas box with no way out. “Sorry. Is he still here?” I asked, looking toward the coffee shop door. Josh was staring at us, so I sat back in my chair and whispered in her ear, “The girl I want to start a relationship with just saw us. She doesn’t know what I do for a living and I need to cut this date short and run after her. I need you to start laughing like I’m telling you funny shit then lean your head down like you’re blushing. You help me out and I’ll refund you your money.”
She lifted her head and our gazes met. “Are you serious?”
I looked over at Josh and then quickly back to Liz. “Yes, he’s still standing there so just pretend I’m whispering sweet nothings into your ear until he leaves. I bet he’ll call you tonight.”
“You think so?” she whispered.
“Well, he’s still standing there.” I reached into the pocket of my leather jacket and grabbed my cell phone. I wanted to go after Autumn, but a text would have to do for the five minutes I needed to finish thisdatewith Liz.
“And he’s staring at us,” she murmured and looked down at my hand that held my phone. “You need to call her?”
