Lexi:You know Leaf and Bean café right by City Hall?
Our downtown area is tiny as fuck. City Hall is also where all the utility offices are. And the post office. And it has three sandwich shops attached.
And yes, the Leaf and Bean café.
Me:I know it.
Lexi:I’m working at the courthouse today, but I’m done at three. Meet me there? I’m buying.
Me:See you then.
Contrary to who I am as a person, I show up early. It might have been different if I’d seen another human being today besides Denver that morning, but I’ve spent all afternoon in my apartment either rotting on the couch or pacing the floor.
My calves have gotten a decent workout, and I notice the burn when I slide into a decent parking space at the curb only a block away from the coffee shop and start walking.
Dex would probably be proud.
I’ve been to this shop a couple of times whenever I’ve needed to deal with contract shit for the company, and while they’re not necessarily Deaf-friendly, they’re not Deaf-unfriendly. No one’s ever copped an attitude with me when I order through my notepad, and they’re usually patient.
Which is more than I can say for myself most days.
Stepping inside, I take a deep breath of coffee-scented, recycled air, then glance around. It takes me ten seconds to spot Lexi. She’s just as gorgeous as she was the day she interpreted for me.
She’s wearing a similar black shirt and dark blue jeans with tall heels. Her thick black hair is tied in a braid down her back, and she’s not wearing much makeup.
She smiles at me, her teeth very straight and white, and she waves with her left hand, which I notice doesn’t have her ring. That’s not a surprise. Interpreters aren’t required to take their engagement or wedding rings off, but many do.
‘Coffee,’ I sign to her, then turn toward the counter. The barista gives me a slow look, almost bored, so I quickly type out that I’d like a medium black coffee on my phone and flash the screen at him.
He nods and punches it into the iPad, then twists it aroundfor me to tap my card. By the time I’m adding in a tip, the coffee is sitting on the counter.
Fuck the cream and sugar, even though it’s probably going to taste like ass. If I can’t have a shot of whiskey before this, I’m at least going to raw-dog some straight caffeine to keep myself sane.
Lexi’s tapping her foot in a pattern as I approach. Maybe she’s nervous too? I sit across from her, and there’s a moment of very pointed, very tense silence.
‘Hi,’ she eventually starts.
It takes all of my concerted effort not to snort. ‘Hi. Thanks for meeting with me.’
She rolls her eyes. ‘My ex’s new boyfriend, who I’ve also interpreted for, is now my Instagram stalker. How could I not?’
I flush a little. I might have started it, but I’m still not used to the whole boyfriend thing. Hell, I wonder if I ever will be. It makes me fucking giddy.
‘I’m not stalking you. I just had a question.’ I wave my hand in the air as though I’m erasing my previous signs. ‘No. Actually, I need help.’
Her brows fly up. ‘Help? You? From what Dex said, you two are doing just fine.’
My ears are burning now, along with my cheeks. What the fuck has he been saying about me?
That must show on my face because she laughs and says, ‘He’s been obsessed with you since before you left.’
Oh. Well, shit. I mean, I kind of figured. It’s not like he waited for me—not technically, since he dated Lexi—but he was around when I got back. He was always in my space, orbiting me. Every time I turned, he was looking at me like he was waiting for something.
I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long to get my head out of my ass to figure out what.
‘How can I help?’ she adds when it’s obvious I’m not rising to that bait.
Licking my lips, I lift my hands, pause, drag one down my face, and sigh. How do I say this without sounding like a complete jackass?
