31. Ashlie
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ASHLIE
“ Y ou’re being ridiculous,” I say, feigning annoyance as my arms settle over my chest. “It’s still on the secret menu. Just ask them…”
“Naw. It’s almost spring. Pumpkin spice season is definitely over, and I’m not making a fool of myself by tryna order it.”
The Saturday morning sun hits Hunter’s tinted car windows, illuminating the space around him in a way that makes me want to skip our coffee date and straddle his lap. But I’m on a mission. Laying it on thick, I break out the puppy dog eyes, complete with a slight wobble to my lower lip. “ Please ?”
“ Not the lip …” He drags a hand down his face, sighing loudly. “You know I can’t fucking handle that thing.”
I resist the urge to laugh as he climbs from the car, keeping up the act until he’s pulled me from the passenger seat. He presses a kiss to my hand and weaves our fingers, and my smile breaks free with the eruption of butterflies in my belly. He’s claimed to hate PDA in the past, but you’d never guess by the way he strokes my hand with his thumb. I reinforce his decision with a small squeeze. I love these cute couple things—especially with him. Silly little bet aside, intimacy is effortless with Hunter. As annoyed as I get when I’m horny and can’t jump his bones, I see why he took sex off the table. It would only make this more complicated.
The fresh smell of coffee wafts over us when we walk into Cosmic Brews. A large chalkboard menu above the machines spans the entire brick wall. Small wooden bistro tables for two are lined on either side of the ordering line. We step up to the register, and because he was so insistent about this damn drink, I half expect him to order me something safe and sensible. I know I can make my own order, but I like having him take charge. It does things to me.
“Let me get a small Cuban espresso…” He hesitates, sliding his eyes to mine as I hang onto his arm. “And, um, a medium PSL.”
I stifle my giggle in his shirt at his abbreviated rebellion. Mission accomplished . Staring up at him with a self-satisfied grin, I flutter my lashes. His eye roll doesn’t hide the smirk twitching his lips.
“Anything for you, Hunter .” The long-haired brunette cashier smiles and winks before he has the chance to give his name, and the baristas at the coffee machines erupt into titters. I know he comes here multiple times a week, but this is a large coffee chain. Remembering him by name? That’s suspect. They clearly see me hanging on his arm and just don’t care. Judging by those heart-eyed responses at the machines, I’m sure he’s had the time of his life with everyone behind the counter. My cheeks heat, and not in a good way. Where the hell is this coming from ?
I can’t get ahold of my jealousy, so I drop his hand and head for a table, murmuring obscenities the entire way. It’s the pettiest kind of petty, but as I settle into a seat, I catch another woman ogling him dreamily. I just stepped into my own personal purgatory. Everyone’s staring at my boyf— Shit. Nope.
He slides into the chair across from me, but I act supremely interested in my phone. The emotions rifling through me are messing with my head.
“Ash.”
Raising my eyebrows, I continue staring at my screen. “Hmm?”
“Hey…” He puts his hand over my phone and lowers it to the table.
I glance up, and the knowing gleam in his eyes makes it clear he can spot my jealousy from a mile away. As if I’m the easiest book to read. I lift my phone back to my face and scroll, not willing to give him the satisfaction. With a sigh, he sits back in his chair, moving around for a few seconds before settling.
Hunter
Having a date through text is kind of weird, but if that’s what you’re into…
I snort, hiding my smile with a bite of my lip. Not even five minutes and he’s making me laugh. How does he always find a way past my defenses? It’s aggravating… and sexy as hell . Which is also annoying. But even being mad at the situation, I don’t want to be anywhere else.
Me
You’re so irritating.
Hunter
Yeah. But I got your fancy drink. That must earn me some points.
Me
How do you manage to flirt with three girls at the same time?
Hunter
I wasn’t flirting…
“I just find it funny that they knew your name already, which means you’ve flirted with them at some point,” I say out loud, glaring up at him.
He points at his phone. “Sorry, I’m on a date…”
Hunter
I thought this was a texting date.
Me
You’re ridiculous…
Hunter
You started it. So, am I in trouble for anyone I may have flirted with in the past? I come here several times a week. Maybe that’s how they know my name…
Me
No…
Hunter
Then what’s really bothering you?
I know I’m being irrational about this, but I can’t help myself. With a sigh, I place my phone on the table and jut my chin across the room. “Even that lady over there is staring at you.”
“Is it you?” he asks, following my lead and dropping his phone to the table. His eyes don’t move from mine.
“Is what me?”
“Are you the woman staring at me?”
“What? No…”
“Then I don’t care.”
“You’re telling me you suddenly don’t care about all of the women falling at your feet?” I cross my arms and cock my head to the side, unwilling to let go of this stupid argument I started.
“Yep.” He shrugs. “And it’s not sudden. It’s been this way for months. I care about one person in here—the woman sitting in front of me, tryna bait me into a fight.”
“I am not!” I say in a huff. But my bravado fizzles as soon as he calls me out. When he hits me with that smirk, I let out a giggle. “Okay, fine. Maybe I was , but seriously, Hunt. It’s like this everywhere we go. It’s exhausting.”
“Let’s go home, then. Yours or mine, doesn’t matter to me.”
“We can’t just stay home all the time.”
“I agree. So what do you want? I can’t control the staring, Ash. All I can do is reiterate that you’re the only one I’m tryna see.” He tugs my hand free from my grumpy stance and presses kisses on my thumb.
Although I roll my eyes, the heat filling my cheeks gives me away. I’m melting entirely, and he’s the one responsible for it. I like it, clearly, since I’m still here letting him affect me.
“Hunter!” the barista calls from the counter. He doesn’t move for several seconds, keeping our little moment alive. Another kiss on my hand is the pièce de résistance before he grabs our drinks. But the giggling behind the counter flies right to my ears, bringing back that annoyed heat in my chest. I try a few deep breaths before he gets back to the table, but when he slides my drink to me, I see red.
“ Are you fucking kidding me ?” Rolling my eyes, I turn my to-go cup around to him. Scribbled on the brown sleeve is a handwritten name and phone number.
“Give me your drink,” he says, reaching forward.
I pull it back. “Why? What are you going to do?”
“Just give it to me…”
Hesitantly, I push the cup forward. He slides the sleeve off, folds it in half, and tosses the number in the garbage can behind him. “There. Problem solved. Now come here so I can kiss you and shut them all up.”
“Wha—”
He pulls me from my chair and kisses me like we’re the only people in the room, giving everyone in the coffeeshop a show that removes all the giggles from behind the counter. He pecks another small kiss on my lips and nods to my coffee on the table. “We good?” he asks with a smirk.
Trying to catch my breath, I nod quickly, my entire face burning while he leads me out to the car. I wasn’t expecting him to stake his claim in public like that. Didn’t expect to like it so much either.