“Meeting? At school?” James turned and looked over his shoulder as he asked.
“My brother makes sure they we keep ourselves busy with other ventures. This is a business meeting,” Jacob supplied.
James turned and bounced as he walked backwards. “The multi-millionaire brother?”
Jacob barely resisted pointing out that he had nearly as much money as Jesse. He should not feel the need to justify his wallet. “I only have one brother.”
The brat was grinning at him like he knew what Jacob was thinking.
“You’re going to either fall or run into a wall,” Jacob warned.
James’s loud laughter echoed around the hall until they stepped into the kitchen. Jacob headed straight to the coffeepot. “Coffee?” he asked.
“You don’t know that?” James taunted as he leaned against the counter beside the fridge.
He had to press his lips together. Jacob enjoyed seeing James like this. Yes, he liked brats. Sue him. “Grab two juice glasses from the cabinet above your left shoulder and pour us some juice, please.”
“No fun,” James complained but did as Jacob requested.
“You’ll just have to try harder to push my buttons,” Jacob challenged. He got the coffeepot started and turned toward the fridge to get the food he’d need for breakfast.
James was grinning at him. “Oh, you shouldn’t have said that.”
“I think I’m safe.” Jacob winked.
“You winked!” James pointed an accusing finger at him. “Where have you been hiding this side of yourself?”
Even though Jacob knew that James was joking, the words were like a dart to his chest. It had been so long since he’d had such a fun morning. Usually, his mornings were silent and boring. “I guess you just bring it out of me.”
“I’m totally taking credit!” James was grinning so big as he poured two glasses of juice.
Pretty good start to the morning, in Jacob’s opinion.
* * * * *
James
The afternoon rush had finally died down, giving James the chance to clean up the front of the shop. They were getting busier in the afternoons as students were returning to campus and families returned from their holidays.
“I’m going to grab some cups and lids from the supply closet,” Luca called as he finished cleaning the espresso machine.
James waved his hand to show he heard him. There was only one older couple in the shop. Regulars that liked to sit whileholding hands and talking. From what James remembered, they had been childhood sweethearts that had lost touch after high school. They’d gone their separate ways, even marrying other people and having children with their spouses. After several decades they had reconnected through the internet. Both had lost their partners but had found comfort with each other after years apart.
It was a romantic story that James couldn’t help to be a little jealous of.
He was young. Didn’t he get told that all the damn time when he complained about anything. Like being young meant he shouldn’t have any problems or anything. It irritated him when he was dismissed so easily. Surprisingly the one person that didn’t dismiss or make light of his concerns was Jacob. Even his brothers often rolled their eyes and told James that he had plenty of time to find what he was looking for.
James had been so wrong about the professor.
Not only had Jacob shown how kind he was but James was also seeing that Jacob often suffered from an awkwardness that came across as sternness. As James teased and joked, Jacob would often freeze as if he wasn’t certain how to respond.
Before work James had tried to Google more about Jacob and his twin. He figured he might get more information on Jesse Lambert as he was a much bigger public figure. An hour on the internet had shown James that there was a good lack of valuable information available. It was suspicious.
The door opened and James turned.
The newest member of the Surf City Fire Department walked inside.
James grinned. “You’re not a true crew member until you’ve become addicted to the Coffee Cove,” he called.
