“Good morning,” she said cautiously.
“I’m taking you out for breakfast,” I announced to her.
She chuckled.“Why is that?”
I shrugged, not ready to confess everything to her just yet.“I want to explore more today.I figured I’d start with breakfast.If you’re up for it?”
“Sure.Where do you want to go?”
“We should go to Daily Ritual.”
She winced.
“You can ignore Kannon.I’ll even order for us if you want.”
She shook her head.“No, I’ll order.I’m an adult.I can handle one man who judges everything about me.”
I smiled.“Yes, you can.”
She stuck her tongue out at me, then laughed.“Let me grab my stuff, and we can go.Two cars since you’re free as a bird for the summer?”
I nodded, hating the pang in my chest.Did I want to be so free?Another thing I couldn’t stop thinking about.
The streets of Amethyst Bay were relatively quiet.A few cars flew down Route 9 heading north to Plattsburgh or south toward the other small towns nearby.Most people took their time, obeying the low speed limit as they went about their days.
I parked in the small lot next to Daily Ritual and met Ashlyn behind our vehicles.She was put-together and professional in her linen pants and pink button-down shirt.The tote she carried was stylish and full of everything she needed for her day.
As opposed to me in my shorts and tee, with my keys stuffed in one pocket and my phone in the other.I was definitely on vacation.
“Welcome to Daily Ritual,” Kannon called out without looking up when we entered.He glanced away from pouring coffee for a customer and smiled at us, his smile faltering when he saw Ashlyn with me.
“See?”she hissed.
Kannon dropped the cup he was filling, the hot coffee overflowing onto his hand when he stopped watching what he was doing and instead stared at my friend.
Was she really oblivious to the way he was looking at her?
Kannon scowled and reached for a towel.He dried his hands, ignoring the coffee soaked into the thick mat he stood on, then grabbed another cup and filled it without incident.He carried it to the end of the counter and handed it over to the customer with a tight smile before he met us at the register.
“Good morning,” Kannon said with a grimace.“What can I get for you two today?”
“I want a Wendy with an extra shot of espresso.Chocolate croissant and sausage, egg, and cheese on sourdough,” Ashlyn said.Her inflection didn’t change.She didn’t smile.She didn’t even greet him.
I stared at my friend, wondering why she was so cold to this man.
Kannon focused on me as Ashlyn moved away from the counter.The tightness around his eyes didn’t ease up.“For you, Reegan?”
A Wendy was a vanilla latte, and I was in the mood for something a little sweet.“I’ll take the same, please.Thanks, Kannon.”
He nodded and told me the total.
I swiped my card, then moved to where Ashlyn had found a seat.“What was that?”
“What?”
“You two are so weird.You’re acting like you don’t know him at all.”
She shook her head.“He always glares at me.He was all smiles for you, but I just got a grunt and a glare.I’m not looking to go out of my way for him to act like I’m inconveniencing him by asking him for coffee and breakfast.”
