Don’t do it, man.
“Vacation, right. Let me just grab my diamond shoes and my unlimited privilege for vacation as a full-time barista.”
Don’t ask her. Don’t do it. Absolutely do not do it. It’s going to mess with your head. She probably can’t go anyway. So just offer. Just offer like a normal person. Remember—you’re a normal human person, and this is a normal question. Besides, a break for her would help her more than hurt you. You cancontrol yourself. You can. And you can handle your stupid friends and their inevitably stupid jokes.
I was losing a mental tug-of-war.
“Hazel, can I talk to you for a second,” I said, glancing at Thomas in the corner, “privately?”
“Uh, yeah. Sure, I guess. Hope I’m not in trouble, officer.”
I chuckled. How was she always able to disarm me so quickly?
Hazel turned back to me, her blond ponytail swinging over her shoulder. She took off her apron, revealing a black A-line skirt that ended just above her knees. My eyes instinctively went to her legs, but I forced myself to look away. Nice legs, though.
We walked to the booth, and I scrambled to figure out what I was even going to say.
“So, what’s up?” Hazel asked, her gaze locking onto me. For a second, I froze. Those blue eyes had been messing with my head as long as I’ve known her, like they held some secret I couldn’t stop chasing.
I cleared my throat, breaking the spell, then looked down at my hands, still unsure how to start.
“Okay,” I started. “So here’s the thing. The guys and I are taking this trip, like you heard. To Portugal. And last time you mentioned you’ve been there and that you speak the language and somehow...” I tried to put it as lightly as possible, “it looks like you could use a vacation.”
Her smile faltered into mild confusion.
“So, here’s my offer—take some time off, come with us, take a break, and maybe show us around a bit.”
She gave me a long look before bursting into laughter. It wasn’t hysterical, just genuine, heartfelt laughter. Hazel wiped a tear from her eye and met my gaze.
“I appreciate the offer and your well-timed pity, but it’s ridiculous. I barely know you guys. I simply don’t have themoney or time for a two-week trip, and no one’s letting me vanish that long. And like I said, I don’t need your charity.” She looked down, clearly regretting that last word, twisting her fingers nervously in her lap.
“First, you know us better than you think. You know where we work, what we do, and all our coffee orders by heart. You know we’re decent guys who’d never hurt or embarrass you. Most importantly, you know Logan has a pickle tattoo on his ass. You can always use that against him. I’ve got more dirt if it helps.”
She cracked the smallest smile, and I ran with it.
“Second, it wouldn’t just be us. Norah, Summer, and Ava are coming too—the wife club, as I call them. We’re all going together this year.
“As for money, since we work at the same company and there’s a little,” I hesitated, then leaned into the lie, “sales interest in Portugal, the ticket is covered, and the house is already reserved. It’s a work trip. Sort of. Plus, you’d be doing us a huge favor as our guide and translator.”
She looked at me, still suspicious. “Most of Portugal speaks English.”
“Yeah, but it’s always better to speak the local language, blend in a little,” I said, grasping for more reasons.
A loud sound startled us—her phone. In a quick reflex, she knocked the napkin holder off the table, gasping.
“It’s okay, I’ll get it,” I said.
She grabbed her phone, murmuring that she’d call back while I crouched to retrieve the holder. But then I made the mistake of glancing at her. Her legs crossed, skirt slightly hiked, and a well-hidden surprise—a black tattoo of a tree curling up her thigh. Roots stretched higher beneath the fabric. I couldn’t see all of it, but what I did see sent heat pulsing through me so fast it hurt.
I looked away quickly, trying to breathe normally and avoid imagining things. By the time Hazel finished her call, I was still pretending I wasn’t seconds away from losing it.
“Okay, where were we? Oh, yes, you were being ridicul—”
“YOU LOOK EXHAUSTED,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. She froze. So did I.
“I didn’t mean it like that. You look fine. Very nice, actually.” I suddenly felt like an immigrant struggling to find the right words. “I just...” I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to be honest. I thought I’d only had two beers. Stupid alcohol.
“I just... I’ve noticed you’ve been working a lot. It seems like you could use a break. And we kind of have this opportunity to offer you.”
