Blame It On the Lattes (Sugarplum Falls #7)

One | Sam

One

Sam

“C an I help you?” I asked, leaning forward to bend down to see the cutest little girl standing at the counter. I glanced around nervously, wondering where her mother was.

“Can I have a hot chocolate, please?”

“Would you like whipped cream?” I looked down to catch the biggest grin spreading across her rosy cheeks as she nodded yes. Her beautiful blue eyes were a stark contrast to the dark brown locks that framed her cute face.

“How about extra marshmallows?” I offered, loving the way her eyes lit up.

“I think that might be a bit of a sugar overload,” a soft voice said as I looked up to find my little sister and her best friend standing behind the little girl.

“Come on, Avery, she’s technically on winter break. Let her have a little fun,” my sister, Cassidy, said.

Avery’s eyes drifted to mine, and I felt the same jolt of electricity run through me that I felt the last time I had seen her seven years ago before she moved away to marry the love of her life.

“Alright. But when she’s bouncing off the walls tonight, I’m going to remind you that you are responsible for her sugar-crazed antics. Between the sugar cookies and now this, she’s going to be wired for weeks.”

“Well, then, I guess it’s a good thing we’re having a movie night tonight, isn’t it?” Cassidy reached down and planted a kiss on top of the little girl’s head.

“Are you in town for a while?” I asked Avery, ignoring the line that was starting to form behind them.

She exchanged a nervous glance with my sister before meeting my gaze again.

“Yeah. Just a few days.”

“More like indefinitely ,” my sister corrected as she wrapped an arm around Avery’s shoulders. They were the same height and almost the same build, which had always made people joke that they were secretly sisters.

My brows pinched together in confusion. Cassidy and I talked often and were close, so it surprised me that she would be keeping something from me, especially when it came to Avery.

“We don’t know how long,” Avery said with a heavy sigh.

“Her and Miss Kennedy are staying with me for the time being,” Cassidy added. “We are going to spend the day shopping and then heading back to my apartment for pizza and movies!”

“Well, then, how about some lattes to fuel your day?” I offered, knowing better than to push the conversation right now. I’d wait until later and ask Cassidy what was going on.

“Sounds perfect,” Cassidy said, playing with Kennedy’s hair. “I’ll do the salted caramel cold brew, please.”

I nodded as I entered her order into the computer, thankful that my assistant manager had opened the other two registers to keep the line moving.

“What can I get for you?” I asked Avery, noticing the way she rubbed her lips together.

“Honestly, I have no idea. I usually do plain, boring coffee. But everything sounds amazing and the aroma in here is messing with my senses.”

“The gingerbread latte is really good,” Cassidy offered. “It was my grandma’s favorite. The peppermint mocha is my go-to when I don’t get the cold brew.”

“You know what, I’ll do the peppermint mocha. That sounds nice and Christmassy.”

I entered her drink in and then started working on their order, making sure to give Kennedy more marshmallows than hot chocolate. If they were staying with Cassidy, she could use some extra fun with a wound-up sugar-crazed kid.

“Here you ladies are,” I said, handing their drinks to them before grabbing a few candy canes from beneath the counter to give to Kennedy.

“Thank you,” Avery said, taking a credit card out of her wallet and sliding it to me.

I shook my head and held my hands in front of me, refusing to take it.

“It’s on the house.”

“No, Sam. Please, I insist.”

“You’re good. I promise. Have fun, and make sure Kennedy gets more sugar in her for tonight. Cassidy hasn’t had a wild night in a long time,” I teased, knowing I would get under her skin.

“Hey, there is nothing wrong with being in my pajamas by six o’clock and enjoying a glass of wine while watching Jeopardy and doing a crossword puzzle,” Cassidy objected.

“That’s what old people do.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re barely twenty-nine.”

“Well, I guess you would know,” she shot back with a smirk.

“I’m barely thirty-five and couldn’t even tell you what channel Jeopardy comes on. I’m too busy being out and about, living my life while I’m still young enough to.”

Cassidy rolled her eyes as she turned and faced Avery.

“And by that, he means going and getting shit-faced at his best friend’s bar.”

“I mean, that does sound kinda fun,” Avery said with a giggle, her cheeks blushing the softest shade of pink as she looked up at me from under thick, dark eyelashes. “I can’t remember the last time I did that.”

I felt a tightness in my chest from the sadness in her voice. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but now wasn’t the time, and the line out the door said it wasn’t the place.

Cassidy caught my eye and looked over her shoulder to see what I was looking at.

“We’ll get out of your hair. Thanks for the drinks. See you tomorrow night for dinner.” Cassidy grabbed her and Kennedy’s drinks she had set on the counter and started toward the door.

“You guys have plans tomorrow night?” Avery questioned, panic in her voice as she stood there, looking between us.

“We do family dinner every Sunday,” Cassidy replied with a smile. “And you two are joining us.”

“Oh no. We’re not trying to impose on anyone while we’re here. I told you that we just needed a place to stay for a few days until I figured out the next step.”

“And I told you that you’re family, and you will stay as long as you need.”

They tried to speak softly, but it was still loud enough for me to hear.

Something was going on with Avery, and I hated the worried look on her face. One way or another, I was going to figure out what it was.