“It’s so good!” Josh said, grabbing his cup. He passed over a five. “For Brad’s drink. I promised to pay.”
Luca sniffed.
“Thanks!” Josh backed away from the counter slowly while holding both drinks.
Luca waved his hand. “No problem.”
Josh caught James’s gaze once again before turning to join Brad at the table in the back of the shop.
“Everything okay?” James questioned quietly.
“Fine.” Luca blew out a long breath.
“Uh-huh,” James drawled.
“It’s fine,” Luca repeated.
“Not arguing,” James returned.
“Just…” Luca waved his hand. “I’m going to go work on the schedule for next week.”
Luca was going to go hide in the office. Normally Luca had to be reminded multiple times to complete the shop’s paperwork. This definitely wasn’t good.
“Let me know if we get busy,” Luca ordered before walking into the back.
James did his best to discreetly peer toward the back. Brad and Josh were sitting out, Brad facing the counter. And he was looking at the doorway where Luca had disappeared through.
What had happened?
The bell jingled as the door opened once again. With only Brad and Josh left in the place, it was quiet enough that the noise caught his attention. James plastered a smile on his face as he turned.
Oh! Jacob stepped inside and paused while looking around. James’s previous encounters with Jacob at the coffee shop had been stiff, leaving him with anxiety. Also afraid of saying something wrong. Not this time. This time Jacob was there to see him.
“Welcome to the Coffee Cove,” James greeted.
Jacob smirked as he tugged the hem of his sweater down. He wasn’t in his usual well-fitting suit that he wore to school. Or the more casual outfits that James had been gifted with seeing the last few days. This mixture of dark-washed jeans and a tight sweater had James appreciating all the new sides he was getting to see.
After breakfast Jacob had informed James that he had a meeting in town and might try to stop by. James was glad to see him. There was something about the change in their relationship that felt new and exciting.
A few times James thought Jacob might be staring at James’s mouth. Like he had the same thoughts as James about what it would be like kissing. Other times James got the feeling that Jacob was trying to keep a distance between them.
Every time James thought he was making headway with Jacob, he would be cut down by something Jacob said. Like the two of them wouldn’t or couldn’t be together. Jacob was fine with acting like a Daddy to James if he wanted to explore ageregression but was that it? Did Jacob not understand that James wanted more?
Strolling to the counter, Jacob’s gaze darted around before settling on James.
“How’s your shift going?” Jacob asked quietly.
James smiled. Last week he’d have taken the question as an insult, thinking that Jacob was implying he couldn’t handle a shift at the local coffee shop. Now, James could see that Jacob truly wanted to know. That Jacob cared about the answer. “It’s been pretty slow. We’ll get bursts of customers as people are coming back in town and go out to run errands.”
Jacob nodded. “With school starting next week, most of the students will be returning soon.”
“Scott will be home in a week,” James told him. Had a week already gone by? It seemed just like a day ago that he was walking Scott and Michael out of the house and trying to ignore the professor.
“I’m sure you’ll be happy to have him back,” Jacob commented. He slipped his hands into his pockets while rocking back on his heels.
James shrugged, not really knowing how to put what he felt into words.
Jacob frowned. “James?”
