Page 90 of Hot Summer Nights

“When’s your break?” I try.

I know she has a break coming up unless she’s already taken it today. There’s been a couple of times when we’ve come that Bianca has been on break or our girl is just coming back from her break.

We’ve only caught her on her break once and she spent the entire time giving us brief answers while she texted someone else on her phone. I wanted to rip the phone out of her hand and see who she was texting. When she smiled down at her phone, I saw red and almost did rip it out of her hands to see who was making her grin like that. Was it another guy? I wanted Flynn and I to be the ones who made her happy. The ones who made her light up like that.

“It’s now.” Bianca pipes up before Aspen can say anything.

Aspen’s eyes shoot up to look at her friend and I see her give her a what the fuck look. Bianca just smiles back at her.

“I’ve got this Aspen. You go ahead.” She says as she shoos Aspen away and turns to take the next order.

Aspen has an annoyed look on her face but she hangs up her apron and then heads for the back door. We head outside and around the building, past the dumpster to see Aspen sitting on her usual milk crate. Her phone is already in her hand.

“Who are you texting?” I ask. I can’t take it anymore and I need to know.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” She replies primly.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” I blurt out.

We probably should have asked her this a month ago but maybe that’s why she’s been turning us down. Although if that was the case, then why didn’t she tell us sooner?

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” She says again.

“Aspen. Please.” I beg. I just need to know.

She studies my face and I don’t know what she sees but she finally answers me.

“No, I don’t have a boyfriend.” She says before she goes back to her phone.

“Then why won’t you go out with us?” I ask. I’ve always been the more direct of the two of us.

“I-”

Aspen’s phone goes off and she stands to head back from her break.

Flynn reaches out and grabs her hand.

“Let us take you out, Aspen. Please.”

“I-I have to go.” She says before she darts back inside the coffee shop.

Flynn and I both let out frustrated groans as we watch her disappear inside. We push off the wall and head back to the car. Flynn has a meeting this morning with a new client so he’s just dropping me off at the office before he heads out.

“I’ll see you this afternoon.” He says as I get out of the car. I just nod as I slam the door shut and head into my office.

I’m going to do something that I should have done weeks ago. I pick up the phone and call a private investigator that I know.

“It’s Roman. I need everything you can find on an Aspen. She works at Southside Coffee but that’s all I know.”

“Got it. I’ll get back to you.” He says before he hangs up.

I lean back in my chair and try to focus on work all morning but I’m too anxious to learn what my guy finds out.

Finally, around noon, an email pings in my inbox with the subject line, ASPEN PARILLA. I open it and start to read.

Personal Details

Name:Aspen Ann ParillaEyes: Blue

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