Chuckling, I pocketed the phone and opened the door, a familiar ding of the bell sounding inside.The smell of freshly brewed coffee and maple syrup wafted through the small space, and a familiar seventy-year-old woman stood behind the counter.
“My favorite woman,” I greeted, arms wide with a grin on my face.
She waved a wooden spoon at me.“Not been here in months and have the nerve to call favorites.Hmph.”
I grinned, leaning against the counter.
“Come on, Peggy, you know nothing can keep me away from you and those chocolate fudge brownies of yours.”
She gave me an unimpressed look, then her gaze ran me up and down.“You don't eat enough.”
Laughing, I responded, “I'll bring everyone by for some food later on.Promise.”
She waved that spoon at me again.“You better, boy.Now what do you want?”
“Two coffees.One black and anything equivalent to one of those cinnamon lattes.”
“Cinnamon latte?”she said, raising a brow.“I know none of those boys drink fancy coffee like that.Well, Benji might.”
“Before you get nosy, it's a friend,” I clarified.
A friend who I could still taste on my tongue this morning.
A friend who I got down on my knees for last night.
Last night was burned into my mind, and the sight of her spread wide open in front of me was going to be my undoing.
“Friend?Is that what you kids are calling it these days?”She fixed the black coffee quickly then went to work on the other.“I remember when Clarence used to bring me coffee.Clarence!”Peggy suddenly shouted, turning her back to me.
“What, woman?”Clarence, her husband, shouted from some back room.
I grinned at the interaction and brought my coffee to my lips.
“How come you don't bring me coffee anymore?!”
“This is a coffee shop, Peggs.What do you want from me?!”
Peggy finished off the cinnamon latte substitute and pushed it to me across the counter before disappearing into the back.
Chuckling, I paid for the coffees and left to the sound of their argument, the bell jingling at my exit.The sun burned through the clouds, with promise of a warm, sunny day.
Thank fuck for it, too.
The sun would—hopefully—help with this challenge.Last year was rough.It was pouring, and like the dedicated idiots we are, we went out in the rain and all ended up getting sick.I tsked at the memory and hopped in the car.Unsurprisingly, not many cars were on the road this early, so the drive back to the beach house was under five minutes.
The air was cool and quiet by the time I pulled back into the driveway.I grabbed both coffees, slowly sipping mine as I walked up the stairs and into the house.My ears perked up at the sound of the TV, and I saw Nerissa flipping through channels on the couch.
“Well, well,” she said, glancing up.“You're up a little early, pretty boy.Should I check if you have a fever?”
“Morning to you, too.”
“Why are you even up this early?Figured you'd want to sleep in to get some…cuddle timewith your faux boo.”
My eyes narrowed at her smirk when she mentioned ‘cuddle time.’Then I held up the coffee cup.
“Went to get her coffee.”
She put the remote down and arched her brow at me, smiling now.“You went to get her coffee?”
