“Hey, come here often?”
Out of all the things I could have said, I said the most basic shit ever.
Whatever. Calm, cool, collected, keep going.
Jared’s lips twitch, barely holding back a smile. “Study Brew is my favorite coffee shop on campus, and their matcha lattes don’t taste like grass.”
“I don’t take you as a drink connoisseur.”
“Well, I used to work at a boba shop all throughout high school.”
I let out a small laugh. I cannot believe we’re doing this, but I’m feeling like my old self again. Getting back into character, I arch a brow, “Did you?”
He nods, leaning back in his chair with a casual grin. “I craft the best matcha lattes. I even paid over a hundred bucks for the best bowls and whisk.”
I stare at him, half-impressed and half-amused. “You’re serious? You own the fancy whisk and everything?”
“I don’t mess around with my matcha process,” he replies, the pride evident in his voice. “You can’t just throw matcha powder in hot water and call it a day. There’s art to it.”
I shake my head, a quiet laugh escaping me. “I’ll have to try it someday.”
This feels different, almost natural and too easy. The air between us isn’t charged with anything heavy, just the comfortable exchange of words. For once, I’m not battling the hot rush of anxiety coursing through me at the thought of talking to a guy. Even though this is just a role-play thing, there’s a subtle shift in the way we’re interacting that makes it feel… nice.
I offer my hand across the table with a smile. “I’m Alli.”
“Jared.” He grins, his grip firm as he shakes my hand. “Alli, huh?”
“Short for Allison.” I confirm with a lift of my shoulders.
“Cute name for a cute girl.”
I feel my cheeks flare, and my heart does a little flip, so I decide to end the scene before I start acting too obvious. I roll my eyes, pretending to shake off the blush creeping up.
“Do you use that line on all the girls?”
He chuckles, his eyes never leaving mine. “Only the ones who need a little extra confidence boost. You did great.”
“I don’t feel as awkward as I thought I would.”
“Good,” Jared says, his tone easing as he watches me. “That’s the whole point.”
There’s a pause, and I realize his hand is still resting on mine. I pull away, trying to mask the flutter in my chest with a teasing smile. “You know, you’re not a bad teacher.”
Jared grins, leaning back in his chair. “I know I’m not. Your blushing tells me we did something right today. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with blushing—I saw you trying to hide it. It’s a normal human reaction.”
I narrow my eyes mockingly. “I didn’t realize you were a matcha expert, a therapist, and a dating coach all in one person.”
“I’m a man of many talents,” he says with a wink. “You’re off the hook for today. We can save the next lesson for another time.”
“Another time, huh?”
He stands up, grabbing his drink. “Yeah, I don’t want to overwhelm you all at once. Gotta keep you coming back for more.”
I roll my eyes, but there’s a smile urging my lips. “Sure, whatever you say.”
As he walks away, I can’t help but watch him go, my thoughts spinning. It was just a practice run, but for some reason, it felt like more. And when he turns back, flashing me that last grin? My chest tightens. The way his shirt fits perfectly over his shoulders, the way his hair falls messily but still looks like he just walked off a damn magazine cover… He slings his bag over his shoulder like it’s no big deal, but I can’t look away. It’s stupid, but my pulse kicks up a notch.
Yeah, I’m in trouble.
