Page 29 of A Coffee Away

We’d become the best of friends. The connection was immediate.

My chest swelled. She’d known since we met about my crush on Esteban and was certain we’d end up together. Sometimes she drove me insane and was always trying to get us together, making comments in front of Esteban to see his reaction. Now she’d have to suffer a bit before knowing about last night.

I tied the apron behind me. “I don’t know what you mean.” I knew exactly what she meant but started walking toward a table.

“Roberto, get back here this minute!”

I glanced inside the truck.

Esteban focused on the iron. He looked handsome no matter what he was doing.

As if sensing me, he turned around and winked.

“There it is,” she said. “First, that kiss on the cheek, then he winks at you. Spill it!”

I grinned. “We kissed last night.”

“You kissed!” Steph shouted, and I knew I was beet red the moment Esteban and Eva peeked out. “I knew it!”

Eva elbowed Esteban, who smiled widely, then returned to his post.

“You owe me twenty, love,” Steph said to her wife.

Eva blew her a kiss. “That should be enough.”

Steph put her hands on her hips. “Cheater.” She dragged me away. “Tell me it was incredible!”

I let my mind wander to last night. To the passion with which he embraced me. The taste of his strong lips on mine. “It was earth-shattering.”

“And did you do it?”

I gasped. I wanted to die. “Stephany!”

She jumped in place. “Well, did you?”

I shook my head. I wished I hadn’t gone with Andres, that Esteban had been my first instead of him.

She frowned. “Oh, weren’t you on a date with Andres last night?”

I turned at the sound of people arriving. The group was entering the park. Thank God.

“No…you…” She looked at the crowd. “You and I are having a talk after we’re done.”

I wanted to turn the page and start a new one with Esteban. But knowing Steph, she wouldn’t let it go, so I had to be ready for her onslaught when this was over.

I took a notepad and followed her. This would be an interesting day indeed.

Two hours later, we were cleaning up.

“Thank you for everything!” the author said after everyone left. Her flaming-red hair blew with a gust of wind. Her natural smile was sweet, but her stance carried strength.

“Oh my God. The waffle wings were so amazing,” the man at her side said. Behind his reflective shades and groomed beard, I could tell he was confident and magnetic.

Something about them told me their souls connected on a different level. Their loyalty and unshakable trust in each other were palpable.

They asked us to sit with them after everything was over and explained how they became best friends as authors, and she had asked him to interview her for her book presentation. It was a romance about a gay couple in Puerto Rico and the fight to accept one’s identity while being raised in a conservative home.

Anything to do with my reality was pure coincidence, but I couldn’t wait to get my hands on that book.