“Sure,” I replied. “What do you need?”
“A venti skinny blonde roast latte with four pumps of sugar-free almond syrup… not five because that will ruin it… oh and could you make oneshotextrahot?”
I spluttered out a laugh. “Sean, you drink your coffee black and tasting like dirt. Why am I getting you the world’s fanciest order?”
He pushed his hands in his pockets, his large biceps flexing as he shrugged. “Power changed me, Helly. Now I’m in charge around here, I’ve decided to mix things up. You can’t refuse me.”
“You’re weird.” I sighed as I stood.
“Yeap, but you love me just the same.”
“I’ve sent you an email with the allocation plan. Can you take a look and let me know if you’re happy? I want to make doubly sure I’ve got it right, as it’s my first one.”
“On it. You just get me that coffee. “
Chapter 39
Jax
I lurked in the corner of the coffee shop, knowing that Helen was on her way as planned because Sean had texted me.
I watched as she walked toward the counter, chatting with the staff as she placed the ridiculous order. I’d already bribed the barista not to put her name on the cup and to just put it down on the side.
When she was done making it, she gave me a nod and moved slowly, giving me time to get there at the same time as Helen reached for her drink, our hands connecting just like I’d planned.
“Sorry, I was sure that was mine,” Helen said as she turned to look at me. It took a second for her to realise it was me, her eyes widening before she looked back down at where our hands met.
“Jax,” she whispered.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Her expression darkened, and she pulled back, breaking our connection. “Don’t. Please.”
I shook my head, trying to remind myself to play it cool when I wanted to do anything but. “Sorry.”
“What’s going on, Jax?”
My fingers itched to stroke along her jaw or run my thumb over her lip that she was nibbling nervously. Instead, I got on with the reason I’d bribed Sean to send her here in the first place. “I think this is what they call a ‘meet-cute’.”
Her gaze stayed locked on mine, but she didn’t look at all impressed. “A what?”
“The point in the story where the two characters meet and feel the connection between them. We both ordered the same coffee and our hands touched the cup at the same time. We’re going to remember that forever…”
“I-what? I mean, we’ve already met… plenty of times.”
“That’s true, but like you said, I never gave you all of me. I was always hiding, holding back, afraid of you learning the truth. I never really believed I was enough for you.”
Before she could say anything, I traced my fingers over her hand, which was still resting on the counter. “You feel that? The electricity, the connection between us.”
She swallowed hard, which gave me all the answers I needed.
“I feel that. God, Helen, I’ve felt that since that night you found me sitting on that bench. I didn’t think those moments existed outside of fairy tales, but now I know they’re real and I had that with you, I won’t settle for anything less.”
A blush spread up Helen’s neck and she glanced around at the suspiciously empty coffee shop, obviously checking no one was listening to our conversation.
“I want the world to hear how much I want you, but Sean made sure we’d have the place to ourselves.”
“I’ll kill him,” she hissed before curling the corners of her lips into a soft smile. She pointed to an empty table, and we moved to sit.
