She rolls her lips into one another.“Am I missing something?”
“Well, now I feel weird about it...”
“Tate, since when do you let Levi determine the mood you’re in?Or how you feel about something?This is business.It’s between you and Gabriella.Your management approved it so you’re going.”
“Wow, look who the big sis is now.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll tell you one thing—if I don’t get some coffee down me in the next thirty minutes, I’m going back to sleep.”
I roll my eyes but obey.I throw on my lilac tracksuit and start brushing through my hair until it’s untangled enough to braid.Callie is using the wall by the door to hold herself up.She’s always been this way, part koala.The girl loves her sleep.When I open the door, Tim’s there.I jump back, not expecting anyone.
“Hey?You guys headed to coffee?”
My hand finds my chest.“Man, you scared me!How long have you been out here?”
Callie walks ahead, a woman on a mission.“Come on, you two!Coffee!”
“Sorry,” he says sincerely, before running a couple paces ahead to wrap an arm around my sister.My heart beats out of my chest the entire walk to the coffee shop.So much so, I debate not getting any caffeine for fear of a heart attack.When we get there, Callie orders a double shot of espresso with a splash of steamed soy milk.Tim gets a coffee—black—and when it’s my turn to order, I’m lost in a menu of things I didn’t even know existed.Rose milk lavender coffee?Honeysuckle matcha with a raspberry cold foam?And maybe the most concerning—black bacon latte with a pat of maple-infused butter.
“Tate?”Callie calls when I don’t add my order.Tim’s card is stuck in midair, waiting on me.
“I’ll just have...”
“Why don’t you do your dirty chai over ice?”
Callie and I both stare at Tim like he just suggested taking a couple shots of whiskey and forgetting this whole coffee nonsense.
“Timothy...”my sister starts, her voice painting concern.“Why do you know my sister’s order?”
His head drops as he scratches the back of his neck, knowing he’s admitted something he shouldn’t have, or at least not in the right way.
“I’ll be right back...”the barista says, feeling the tension of the moment.
“Levi may have mentioned that if I was ever getting coffee, a dirty chai over ice was what you liked...”
Callie’s eyes narrow into slits.“Recently?”
“A couple days ago.”
“What is this?Are you just hanging out with me so you can report back to your buddy about my sister?!Are you some kind of...of...sleeper spy?!”Her voice comes out sharp.Sharp enough to cut.
I look between them.“Callie, don’t be crazy.Tim loves you.This is the uncaffeinated Callie talking.Let’s grab our drinks and go sit...”
“Did you just say ‘hanging out’?”Tim’s voice cuts in louder and harsher than normal.“Here I was thinking we’re engaged.”
“Alright, what can I get for you?”the barista asks, having had no option but to return.
I clear my throat before saying, “I’ll try the black bacon latte.”Both sets of eyes momentarily cease shooting lasers into each other’s heads to look at me questioningly.My shoulders bounce and we move towards the pick-up counter in peace.
Tim and Callie work on making up during the entire walk back to the hotel.I hang back a couple paces, sipping what literally tastes like liquid bacon.I think about what Callie said back at the hotel, and I don’t want to be that girl anymore.I don’t want to feel off or change plans just because I didn’t get a call back.No matter what happens with Levi, I need to be me.Fun, confident, energetic me.We stop at the hotel dining room and eat breakfast.
“Glam will be here in two hours,” Callie says between bites of yogurt.
I nod.“I can’t believe how fast this day is going.”
“Well, when you wake up at noon...”Tim says under his breath.Both Callie and I gape at him before bursting out in laughter.
“It was, like, ten thirty!”Callie insists.We all laugh, and everything feels right in the world.When I get back to the room, I decide to leave my phone, stowing it away in the drawer of the bedside table.A half hour or so later, there’s a knock on the door.
