AllFreeNovel
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“You’re running a camp?” Hannah squeaks it out.
Savage’s gaze moves down to her hands, sweeps up her arms, and comes to a halt on her face. “Yes.”
I pour the coffees, put lids on them, and then hand them over. Savage pays me and leaves with a wave. Hannah watches him go.
“Those are snug jeans,” she murmurs.
“You perv,” I say, and tap her on the arm. “When are you going to ask him out?”
Hannah gasps. “Ask him out? He’s— You’re kidding, right? He doesn’t even know I exist. He didn’t even say my name. He?—”
“Hannah, you’ve spent years going to the same potlucks as the guy. He’s practically part of the family,” I say. “That was no innocent look he gave you.”
Hannah tucks back strands of hair that have escaped from her messy bun.
“He’s Cash’s best friend. I think Cash would murder both of us if anything happened, not that it ever could. He would have tolikeme first. And I’m not sure he does. He sort of glares at me any time he sees me. He gives me real ‘go away, kid’ vibes.”
“You’re not that much younger than him,” I say. “You’re twenty-eight, and he’s?—”
“Thirty-eight. Let’s change the subject.”
The door to the diner opens, and Jesse strolls inside in his uniform. He waves at people in the diner, and a few of them wave back. He saunters over, greets Han, then leans across the counter and plants a kiss on my lips that sends heat through my core.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hello, Angel,” he says. “How’s your morning going?”
“Good,” I say. “I mean, apart from the lack of customers, it’s good. Did you come for your coffee?”
“Coffee?” Hannah pulls a face. “Since when do you drink coffee, Jesse?”
“What do you mean?” I ask her. “He comes in here every morning and orders coffee.”
“That can’t be right.” Han tilts her head to one side. “Jesse can’t drink coffee. He gets the runs.”
“Really, Hannah?”
Jesse grabs her around the shoulder, pulls her in, and gives her a decidedly teenage noogie, messing up her bun so badly it droops to one side.
Hannah squeals. “Hey! You asshole. It took me forever to get this style right.”
“That rat’s nest?”
“You can’t drink coffee, Taylor?” I ask.
He clears his throat. “Yeah.”
“But then why?—?”
“Just wanted to see your face,” he says, and sits down at the counter.
But Jesse hadn’t started ordering coffee after our fake marriage. He’s been ordering it for literal years, since I took over from my father at the diner. I stare at him, perplexed.
Jesse gives me a sheepish grin.
My phone blips under the counter. I need the distraction.
I check my notifications, hoping it’s a text message from our group chat. I’m desperate to find out what Lily’s been up to. It’s so secretive, and if she’s making a big career move, I’ll be super excited for her.
