I look to West, but he doesn’t refute his brother’s order. “Sure. Coming right up.” I eye them warily.
I get their orders and hand them over with a smile. “On me today.”
They say their thanks, and then Cade walks over to one of the empty tables and gestures towards it. “What do you say, brother? How about we take a seat and enjoy these delicious treats and coffees right here in the bakery.”
West narrows his eyes, and again I feel like I’m missing something.What the heck is going on?Cade let’s out a full-belly laugh as West pulls out a seat with a grumble.
I watch the two with interest before I go back to doing things around the shop. I just happen to glance their way when I catch West grimacing as he takes a sip of his coffee. I notice Cade has his phone out and looks to be recording West, who flips him off. Puzzled, I decide to go over there and make sure everything is alright.
“Is something wrong with the coffee?” I ask West, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Cade doubles forward and completely loses it. My eyes dart between the two, and I’m wondering if I somehow did something wrong with the coffee this morning.
“Jade.” Cade gasps, trying to catch his breath through the laughter. “How long has my dear older brother been ordering coffee for?”
Okay, something is really not right. I look to West, who ducks his head and kicks his brother under the table.
“Um...” I say, confused about what’s happening. “Since the grand opening.”
“Oh. This is too good.” Cade howls. “Jade, have you ever actually seen West drink the coffee?” he asks, smirking at his brother.
I think about it, and realize that no, I haven’t actually seen him drink it, but I’m not sure why that matters or why it’s important. “No,” I say. “I don’t think I have. How come?”
West groans and gives me a sheepish look while Cade’s laugh turns to a light chuckle. “Well, the thing is, Jade, our boy West here hates coffee.”
My forehead scrunches, and I’m so confused. West has been ordering a large coffee almost every day since we opened. Surely Cade is mistaken. “I’m sorry?” I say, looking between the two men.
“Jade, I’m sorry. But Cade is right. I truly hate coffee.”
I choke on a laugh because, what? Why has he been ordering it then?
He must see the confusion on my face because he explains. “That very first day? I was so distracted by how beautiful you were that I was just saying yes to whatever you were saying. It was like a trance was put over me.” He shakes his head and smiles at the memory. “And then when you handed me a coffee and pastry, I just took it.”
“Okay,” I say, still not understanding. “But that doesn’t explain why you kept ordering one?”
Cade leans back in his chair, crossing his arms and enjoying the show.
“Well, the next day when I came back, you asked if I wanted the same as yesterday or something else, and I just said the same. Honestly, I’m not sure why I did.” He shrugs. “And then every day that I came in since, it was just routine.”
My mouth drops open. “West! You’re telling me you’ve been ordering something you don’t even like for almost two years!?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Didn’t really care about the coffee, Jade. I just came in here to see you.”
“But you paid for those!”
“Meh. I always give them to Beatrice, or sometimes whatever deputy is in the station.”
I shake my head, not believing this, and West reaches out, tugging me down onto his lap.
“So, what do you like to drink then?”
“I’m a tea guy. Coffee is too bitter for me.”
I shake my head in disbelief and laugh. “I can’t believe you.”
“Anything for a gorgeous woman,” he says, kissing the side of my head.
My phone pings from my pocket, and pulling it out, I see Nick’s name flash across the screen in an incoming call. I feel my face pale and breathing pick up as I quickly decline and put the phone away.
