Page 17 of Wanna Bet?

It was peaceful. Normal. He almost forgot about the coffee stand. Almost.

The bell over the door jingled again and Jace didn’t look up immediately. Customers came and went all morning. Most browsed silently, some asked questions. Occasionally someone wanted recommendations. It was routine at this point.

Then Ellis said, “Well, hello,” in a tone that was not his customer service voice.

Jace glanced up and promptly forgot how breathing worked.

Myah stood just inside the doorway, sunlight behind her like she’d been cut out of it. Her pink hair shone brighter like that, like a neon halo. She held a cardboard drink carrier in one hand, the other tucked casually into the pocket of her hoodie. Her cheeks were pink from the morning wind and her expression was easy, like showing up here was the most normal thing in the world.

Like she hadn’t just walked straight into the center of Jace’s nervous system.

Myah smiled at Ellis politely. “Hey, Ellis. I’m looking for–” she tilted her head toward the counter “him.” She pointed directly at Jace, forcing heat to shoot up his neck so fast it was almost audible.

Ellis’s eyebrows climbed toward his hairline. “Oh,” he nearly whispered in a delighted tone.

Jace set the record sleeve down very carefully. “You–hi.”

Flawless. Incredible, Jace. No notes.

Myah stepped up to the counter and set the drink carrier down. “Hi.”

She said it like they’d seen each other five minutes ago instead of this being wildly unexpected and mildly catastrophic for his composure.

“I, uh,” he began intelligently. “You’re here.”

“I am,” she agreed.

Ellis leaned subtly sideways, clearly trying to look like he wasn’t eavesdropping while absolutely eavesdropping.

Myah slid one of the cups out of the carrier and held it out. “You didn’t come by this morning,” she said. “So I figured I’d bring it to you.”

Jace stared at the cup, then at her, then back at the cup. His brain short-circuited.

“You–” He cleared his throat. “You didn’t have to do that.”

She shrugged, like delivering coffee across town was equivalent to passing someone a napkin. “I know.”

He took it carefully, fingers brushing hers for half a second. They were long and shaped into pointed ends with a silky looking pink color and silver stars. His stomach did something deeply unhelpful when he thought of how they’d feel against his back.

“Thanks,” he said, voice softer now. “Seriously.”

“You’re welcome.”

Ellis made a small choking noise that sounded suspiciously like someone trying not to laugh. Jace shot him a warning look. Ellis widened his eyes innocently and busied himself reorganizing a display that did not need reorganizing.

Myah rocked back on her heels. “So,” she said. “I was thinking.”

“That’s dangerous,” Jace said automatically, then froze. “I mean. Not that–not that your thinking is–”

She laughed. Not the playful teasing laugh she usually gave him through the coffee window.

A real one. It startled him a little, how genuine it sounded. It wasn’t performative or flirt-polished. It was warm and unfiltered and bright enough that he felt it somewhere behind his ribs.

“I was thinking,” she repeated, eyes glinting, “you should come to the park with me sometime.”

“The park,” he echoed.

“Yeah. There are birds.”