He puts in his order and pays while I contemplate how I got to a point in my life where my brother’s best friend knows when I’m hungry before I do. Not that I’m always conscious of it, the sense often muted when I’m preoccupied until the moment I realize I’ve skipped a meal by accident and, oops, I’m starving.
When we shuffle over to the pick up counter, we bump into each other. He steadies me with his hands on my shoulders, walking behind me.
While we’re waiting, Reagan spots some of the guys from the hockey team. They’ve claimed the armchairs and sofa around the low table in front of the crackling fireplace. They come in often enough to hang out at the bar that she’s befriended them since she started working there.
She waves. “Hey guys.”
They’re happy to see her. Higgins, one of the seniors that plays defense, offers her his seat. He’s a big softie despite his intimidating vibe.
“‘Sup, Reagan?” Theo bumps fists with her when she takes the open spot on the couch.
Cole hands me my drink and cruller, then we follow her over to them. The guys get rowdier when we join the group.
“Eve, when are you gonna marry me?” Daniel Hutchinson gives me a slow grin.
I hum, pretending to consider as if he hasn’t greeted me like this for the last three years since he was a freshman. “I don’t know. Make me a good offer.”
“You’ll be in the shit if Coach Lombard finds out how much you flirt with his daughter, Hutch,” Alex Keller jokes.
They share a laugh. Cole stiffens at my side. Daniel’s laughter chokes off and he sits up after Cole shoots him a warning look.
“You could always flirt with my brother, but his wife might come after you instead of my dad. Maybe they’d team up.” I hide my giggle at their spluttering by sipping my coffee.
“Yo, Kincaid.” Jake Brody nods with his chin. “What are you doing today? The boys were just saying we wanted to get a pizza. You in?”
“I’m not here to see any of your faces outside of working hours. I, too, drink coffee,” he deadpans while giving Reagan her cup. “Shocker, I know.”
Easton snorts. “Have a seat, man. Shoot the shit with us.”
“Why?”
“Because you secretly love us.” Cameron grins unapologetically from his slouch in the other arm chair.
Cole exchanges a look with me. When I shrug, he offers the armchair to me instead of taking it. I perch on the arm, smirking at him when he narrows his eyes playfully, then sits down. I hum in contentment at the bite of my pastry, then break off a piece to offer to him.
“You moved on fast,” a snide voice cuts through the cozy atmosphere of the coffee shop. “Guess you weren’t that torn up. Does this guy put up with all your neurotic crap? Are you going to drag him down, too?”
Everyone in the group goes quiet. A leaden weight crashes to the pit of my stomach, crushing my good mood. I turn slowly, finding my ex-boyfriend. Heston Lake is a small town. Of course I’d run into him eventually.
Cole stills, then gets up in one quick, fluid motion. “What did you say to her?”
The demand is brittle with an edge of danger. My shoulders hunch.
“Nothing. Ignore him.”
His big hand brushes the small of my back. “Sorry, Evie. I can’t do that.”
I try to convince him that he doesn’t have to, but my heart is in my throat. He glares at my ex, standing at his full height.
Shawn is Cole’s opposite in every way. His light brown hair is buzzed. He’s shorter by a solid five inches and is much leaner than Cole’s rugged build. His mouth is turned down in a natural, off-putting frown. Everything about his presence is cold compared to Cole’s warm and inviting personality.
Seeing the two of them side by side, I question what I ever saw in Shawn.
“Apologize to her,” Cole grits out.
“I’m good,” Shawn says.
I swallow past the burn in my throat, rising to my feet. He doesn’t get to be the asshole who gives me shit for moving on whenhedumpedme—and was secretly cheating. It doesn’t matter that I’m not with Cole or anyone else. I won’t allow my ex to cut me down with belittling comments because it makes him feel bigger than me.
