His smirk lightened the mood. “It is a personal affront, though, T. I’ve been on campus for a week, and we’ve only seen each other once.” He sipped from his drink again, but this time when he ran his tongue over his bottom lip, he stared right at me.
What thehell?
“I’ll be back this afternoon. Do not even think about trying to ditch me.” Raising his cup in a salute, he sauntered out of the shop.
Mine were not the only eyes that watched him go.
Giving myself a strong mental shake, I reminded myself the women admiring him now were going to lose their minds once they found out he played for the ’Cats. I could hardly wait to watch the ridiculousness from my front-row spot behind the counter in the Coffee Kiosk when the word spread that he was on the team.
Oh, joy. Oh, rapture.
Weirdly, my concentration took a mini-break after Danny left, and I goofed up two orders in a row. Unfortunately, as the assistant manager, I couldn’t give myself a break like I would one of the regular employees under the same circumstances. My mistakes only lengthened the line, which didn’t abate until noon-thirty.
When we served the last drinks to an older couple who’d stopped by after doing their Saturday-morning shopping, Dash, Sophie, Natalie, and I collectively sagged against the counters.
“Dash, Sophie, go ahead and take your break. Natalie, man the register. I’m going to restock, so I’ll be handy to make drinks if someone comes in. As soon as these two come back”—I nodded to Dash and Sophie—“Nat, you can take your break. You guys have been rock stars today. Make whatever you want for lunch on the house.”
Employees had a set limit for free food, but after the morning we’d just finished, my team deserved an extra perk, especially since none of them had had a break in almost five hours. Their tired grins conveyed their appreciation for my generosity, but it was a no-brainer.
I spent the next quiet thirty minutes restocking cups, lids, and flavorings behind the counter and napkins and sweeteners on the tables as I wiped them down. When I went out to the patio to see what needed tidying, my eyes snagged on the bench where I’d sat with Danny, and memories of how he’d crowded me and taken every opportunity to touch me while we sat together, swarmed my brain. I couldn’t figure out his deal. He’d friend-zoned me first! I’d reiterated our status the night I’d mistakenly thought we were on a date only to discover we absolutely were not. Not one thing had changed in five years. Yet since his discharge from the military, he’d been different, more attentive—except where my job was concerned.
Then it dawned on me. Once again, he was the new kid, only this time he knew one person—two, once he inevitably ran into Zoe on campus. Of course he’d latch onto a friend until he figured out where he fit in. I just had to compartmentalize my more-than-friendly feelings for him while we hung out a bit until classes started.
No big deal.
If I could only get my heart on board with my common sense, I’d be so much better off.
Hailey, the other assistant manager, showed up at two to relieve me. She laughed when my stomach imitated a dinosaur roar. “When did you eat?”
“Breakfast at somewhere before seven when the rush started. I swear, every other coffee shop in town must have closed and forgotten to tell us.” I sighed.
Her eyes saucered. “What?”
“Nonstop from seven until almost one, giving me just enough time to restock for your shift. On the plus side, tips were crazy-good. I heard Dash mention something to Sophie and Nat about a party at his place tonight.” I laughed as I tugged my apron over my head.
“You’re going to a party tonight, T? Do I get to be your plus-one?” was how Danny announced his arrival.
“That’s not what I said.Myplans include food and a nap.”
Hailey shoulder-bumped me and whispered, “Who’s your friend?” She couldn’t have conveyed her interest in Danny any more loudly if she’d taken out an ad on a billboard.
“Danny, this is my co-assistant manager, Hailey Anderson. Hailey, this is my friend, Danny Chambers.”
For a second, his face clouded before he whipped out his nice-to-meet-you smile, the one that said he was being polite. He nodded in her direction. “Are you Taryn’s relief?”
Her smile faltered before she rallied. “Yep, but I can keep you company while she clocks out.”
With a shrug, I headed back to the office to drop my apron in the hamper, clock out, and grab my wallet and keys from my locker. All the while I was finishing up for the day, I told myself to ignore the twinge of jealousy trying to niggle its way into my consciousness. If Danny hooked up with Hailey, it wasn’t any of my business.
When I returned to the front of the shop, Hailey had come around from behind the counter. Her perfect posture displayed her rather impressive chest, which she kept trying to draw Danny’s attention to as she played with the end of the long brown braid she’d dragged over her shoulder. From what I’d seen while working with her over the past two years, she considered flirting with and occasionally hooking up with hot guys who came into the store a perk of the job. It came as no surprise she’d set her sights on Danny the second he walked through the door.
Usually, watching Hailey do her flirt thing entertained me. With Danny’s penchant for sharing himself with all the girls, the two matched perfectly. For a second I seriously considered stepping back into the office and heading out to my car the way I regularly did, leaving them to exchange numbers and make plans for later. Then Danny caught my gaze.
“Finally. How long does it take to clock out?” He stepped around Hailey in my direction. “Didn’t you say something earlier about needing food?”
I shrugged. “Yeah.”
After scanning all the sandwiches and pastries in the glass cases lining the front counter, he shot me a confused look. “You work in a place that sells it.”
