“Might as well make it two croissants. This big guy is always eating my food,” I say with an annoyed eyeroll.
She smiles and rings it up before Nico offers his credit card over. His mouth drops down to my ear as he whispers to me.
“I literally have never stolen your food.”
“True, but I’m really hungry and I didn’t want to look like a porker for ordering two for myself.”
He makes a noise somewhere between a guffaw and a choke before he looks down at me.
“Did you seriously just call yourself a porker?” he asks as the barista hands his card back.
We slide to the side so the person behind us can order as I shake my head.
“Nooo, I said I didn’t want to look like one.”
Nico rolls his eyes at me as he pockets his card. His hand reaches down to my waist, pinching it pointedly as he speaks.
“Don’t ever speak about yourself like that again. You could order fifty of them and you’d still be breathtakingly beautiful. You’re human. You’re supposed to eat.”
Wow. Thirteen year old Cassi struggling with her body and diet would have literally melted to a puddle and sobbed from thatalone. Is everything that comes out of his mouth just perfection or do you think he has writers behind the scenes coming up with pure gold for him to pull out whenever is convenient?
Our order is called soon and we make our way to a comfy looking couch with our drinks and food. I sit down first and I expect Nico to sit across from me in the chair but he surprises me by sitting beside me, resting his freehand on my thigh as he sips his coffee. I look up at him and smile.
I couldn’t believe him last night. I mean, I had hoped he was feeling at least a little bit of what I was. But for him to just lay it all out on the table like that? For him to silence every fear I’ve voiced and kept inside? Absolutely annihilating all of my walls and hesitations with one long winded breath. It took everything in me not to make a complete fool out of myself and tell him that I loved him. Which would have been a mistake of massive proportions because love? One week in? And he’s not even single. Yeah, even I’m not that dumb.
“You keep looking at me like that and we’re going to have to take this coffee to go,” Nico smirks.
I perk up at that.
“Don’t tempt me with a good time.”
He grins, leaning in to kiss me when a cup is placed on the table and the chair across from us is pulled out.
“Hey,” a guy in his mid thirties smiles, taking a seat as his eyes bounce between us.
His black hair is so short it’s practically buzzed and his brown eyes swing between Nico and I with a curious smile.
“Jake,” Nico says stiffly.
His tone is warm, like greeting a friend but the way his body instantly goes rigid tells me something isn’t right.
“I thought you were still in Seattle until tomorrow,” Jake says to Nico before his eyes swing to me.
He offers his hand tome and smiles.
“Jake Quentin.”
“Cassi Fischer,” I say as I shake his hand.
Nico tenses when I use my last name at the same moment Jake’s eyes sharpen as he swings to Nico.
“Fischer? As in?—”
“Carly’s younger sister, yes, I’m sure you’ve worked that much out already,” Nico says curtly.
“Hey, I didn’t say anything,” Jake says, his hands raised in defense. “She certainly looks nothing like Carly. She actually shook a strangers hand which tells me she doesn’t act like her either.”
“She is also in the room,” I say pointedly, earning an amused laugh from Jake.
