She was quiet again.
“Hadley…”
“Fine. Now, can I go back to sleep? If I have dark circles tomorrow, I’m coming for you.”
The corners of my mouth curved. “Sorry I woke you.”
“You owe me all the coffee I want tomorrow.”
“Deal.”
“Goodnight, Calder.”
“Goodnight, Little Daredevil.”
She hung up, and I stared at my phone. All I wanted was Hadley here, to know she was safe. But I didn’t want her down the hall in the guest room. I wanted that warmth next to me, surrounding me. When I looked at my bed, all I saw was the empty space that should’ve been hers.
15
Hadley
The tiny belljingled as I pushed open the door to the coffee shop. The Bean & Tea Leaf always did steady business, but since my shift didn’t start until ten a.m. today, I thankfully missed the worst of the pre-work rush. The quaint shop had mismatched tables and chairs that made the space feel homey and inviting.
Calla sat hunched over a laptop in one of the corners, clearly on a break from her shift and oblivious to the world around her. I moved to the register, my gaze traveling over the array of chalkboards above. “Morning, Aaron.”
“Morning, Hadley. You want the usual?”
“That, and I’ll take a black coffee and two of your breakfast burritos.”
Jones would owe me big for picking up his favorite breakfast, but I wanted to stay in my partner’s good graces, and I wasn’t above bribery.
“It’ll be just a few minutes. You want your latte while you wait?”
“That’d be great.” I handed him my insulated travel mug to fill.
Aaron whipped it up in a flash and handed over the caffeinated goodness. I needed it. After Calder’s late-night call, I’d struggled to get back to sleep, tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. I inhaled the rich aroma. “If you weren’t already taken, I’d try to marry you for the coffee alone.”
Aaron chuckled. “If you weren’t half my age and I hadn’t met my Lucy, I just might take you up on that.”
“Tell her I said she caught a good one.”
“I’ll do that. Be just a few more minutes for those burritos.”
“No rush.”
I moved towards Calla at her corner table. She was still intently focused on her computer screen, headphones on. I crouched so my face was just above the top of the laptop, and she jolted, hand flying to her chest and headphones popping free.
“Hadley, you scared the crud out of me.”
I grinned. “Isn’t that what friends are for?”
“Friends are for heart attacks?”
“Well, when you put it like that…”
Calla shook her head. “I’m gonna get you back for that one.”
“I’d expect nothing less. What were you so focused on?”