“Ask away,” Jace said.
“Does the café here have ice cream?”
His lips twitched. “I believe they do. Tell Elle I told you about the secret stash, and she might just serve you some.”
The boy’s eyes lit up. There were a couple more questions, then the entire group made their way to the café.
Ali spoke to the other woman before they both slowed to walk beside him.
Ali touched his arm. “Jace, dear, I was just telling Stephanie about your time in the Air Force.”
“It sounds exciting,” she said quietly.
He shook his head. “Not really. I was only in for fifteen years.”
“Pfft.” Ali smiled at Stephanie. “He downplays himself. He was special forces.”
Her brows lifted. “Very impressive.”
He gave a tight smile. Ali continued to talk him up as they neared the café, but a lot of what she said became white noise for Jace because he was about to see Elle. What would she say after he’d snuck out of her apartment last night? Would she call him out on it? Or would she pretend it never happened?
Probably the latter.
When they finally stepped inside, his gaze went straight to her. She was making coffee while Molly served. His group joined the line to order, but he hung back, unable to take his eyes off her. It had always been like that. Even when he was a twelve-year-old kid, she’d demanded all of his attention. He’d fought it,fuck, he’d fought it, but now…he was just about out of fight.
Once everyone had been served, he watched as she took a coffee to a corner table. Was she intentionally avoiding him?
He waited until she was on her way back to the counter to step in front of her. “Hey.”
There was a small flare of her eyes. Then she blinked and it was gone. “Jace.”
“Have a coffee with me.”
The shake of her head came before he’d finished speaking. “I’m too busy.”
She stepped to the side, but he mirrored her move, blocking her again. “Come on. One drink.”
“I really—”
“Tink. Please. Take pity on a man desperate for your company.” Then, as if to prove his point, he reached out and grazed the back of her hand.
Her chest rose as she sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m due to have a break in five.”
He grinned at her. “I’ll order and wait for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know your order. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
Fuck, he loved her sass. He walked over to a table by the window and watched her work behind the counter. He didn’t have to wait long. She helped Molly make the drinks, then joined him at his table with a coffee in each hand, setting one in front of him.
“Extra-hot cappuccino.”
He grinned at her. “No sweetened mocha?”
She scrunched her nose. “Absolutely not. I felt sick just watching you drink that last time.”
It had been their go-to drink as teenagers. It had also been his order the first time he’d stepped into this café after getting back to town. It tasted like shit, but he’d stubbornly drunk it.
“It wasn’t that bad,” he lied.
