Age 18
“Holy shit,have you seriously gotten that far?”
Maddie’s question breaks my concentration. I look up to find her trying to peek over my shoulder, but she’s too short to see anything.
Joking, I slap my hand down over the assignment I have on the counter in front of me. “No cheating, you… cheater!”
“Good one,” she rolls her eyes, “But for real, how are you almost done?”
I shrug, “It’s not like we’ve been busy.”
We both glance around the empty coffee shop, as if to confirm that things haven’t suddenly changed.
Maddie sighs, “Yeah, what a boring ass day. I thought people would be out shopping today.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes, “That’s the day after Thanksgiving, not the day before. Plus it’s not like people will come out to Darling Lake to shop. Even the people that live here go into The Cities.” I pause, gesturing to the empty street outside the shop. “And I doubt the antique shops around here do Black Friday sales.”
“Touché,” she snorts, before letting out an exaggerated groan. “Fine. If you’re going to be all productive and shit I guess I’ll do my Psych homework, too.” Maddie backs away from the counter with a smirk and a nod toward the door. “Guess that means you’ll have to help the hottie that’s about to walk in.”
My cheeks start to heat just at the mention of hottie.
We’re halfway through our senior year and I’m still awkward as hell when it comes to guys. At this rate I’ll die a virgin. Thankfully, Maddie’s just as bad, if not worse, so I won’t die alone.
I’m sliding my homework down to the shelf below when the front door opens and the attached rain stick flips over, filling the space with the soft sound of coffee beans tumbling through a wooden tube.
“Wel-” I start to form the standard greeting – my lungs full of the air needed to form the words – but my eyes lock on the face approaching me and my brain skids to a stop.
The early evening sun is streaming in through the wall of windows across from me, framing the guy – the man – like an angel walking out of the clouds.
Tall. Broad. Unruly locks of hair. Penetrating gaze.
Oh.
Oh, holy shit!
Beckett.
In all his adult glory.
His chin dips down, just an inch, in the coolest gesture I’ve ever seen.
“Hey,” his voice is… deep.
Is it possible that it’s gotten even deeper? Does that happen?
There’s a sparkle in his eyes and I know it’s recognition.
“Hi!” my word cracks halfway through, sounding more like a squeak than English.
He stops directly across the counter from me, a smile tugging at his perfect lips.
I can’t keep my eyes on his. It’s too much. Too direct. So I let them jump around, taking in his height and the shape of his shoulders.
How many muscles does he have? Did he get taller?
I stopped growing when I was like 14 but maybe guys are different.
Remembering that I’m the one who actually works here, I clear my throat and try again.