12. Skylar
Chapter Twelve
SKYLAR
The following morning, I rolled to a stop in the gravel parking area at Red Truck Coffee, smiling when I saw Cammi through the serving window. My boots crunched on the gravel as I walked over to get in the back of the line.
It was brisk this morning, and I found it amazing that she was already busy.
Among the other subjects covered at dinner the other night with the girls, I’d learned the business picked up here almost as soon as she opened every spring because of the tourist traffic.
In my short time here, I’d learned to pick out the tourists from the locals.
The tourists usually wore more expensive clothing, while those heading to the harbor for fishing usually wore battered jeans or Carhartts and rubber boots.
I’d only been waiting for a few moments when someone else arrived behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to find Tucker. “Oh!” I squeaked.
He’d been looking at something on his phone and lifted his eyes to mine. “Oh, hey, Skylar.”
“Hey, sorry to interrupt.”
He smiled, shrugging. “Just looking at my flight schedule for the day.”
“That’s on your phone?”
“We have a shared calendar. Nora makes sure we all stay on top of it,” he explained. “How’s it going?”
“Oh, fine. You?”
“Pretty good.”
Things felt tense, and I felt confused. I wish we hadn’t kissed.
I thought it was going to ruin everything just like I’d feared.
I wanted to make friends here. Romance was a disaster for me, and I knew this thoroughly.
I couldn’t get my body to understand my instructions.
I never could. It was worse with Tucker than it had ever been with anybody.
He was so freaking handsome and sexy. His brown curls were rumpled, and blue eyes were so bright in the early morning light.
He carried himself with ease, and I doubted he even really knew he was handsome.
Or, perhaps he did. Considering I’d cast all reservations aside and kissed him without a care in the world when I definitely knew better, I didn’t doubt he was accustomed to women throwing themselves at him.
“You headed into work?” he asked. I nodded. He lifted his chin, nudging it forward. “You’re up.”
“Oh!” I squeaked again, turning and hurrying to the counter. “Hey, Cammi,” I said as soon as I got there, willing my cheeks to cool.
I was a blusher of the worst kind. Fortunately, it was Cammi. Even if she hadn’t been friendly and invited me to dinner the other night, I knew she wasn’t the kind of person to tease. Not in front of others. She was simply nice, the nicest, really.
“Good morning, Skylar. Do you want to try something new? I have a new thing.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a double shot espresso with my new syrup.”
“What kind of syrup?” I asked suspiciously.
“I promise it’s not too sweet,” she said with a warm smile.
“You know me. I definitely don’t like a lot of sweet in my coffee,” I said, shaking my head quickly.
“I know. You want to try it?”
“Let’s do it.”
“Do you need anything for food? Daphne delivered orange cranberry scones, which are completely amazing, and savory pinwheels. Today we have spinach and swiss, or ham and swiss. Take your pick.”
“I’ll have one of the scones and a spinach pinwheel. I need both sweet and savory this morning.”
“I’ll take both too,” Tucker said from my side.
I practically jumped at the sound of his voice. Scooting to the side, I created some distance between us. “I can get yours this morning,” he added.
“No need.” Apparently, all I could do was squeak whenever I spoke to Tucker this morning.
“You can get mine next time,” he pressed.
“I’ve never seen you here,” I blurted out.
“Yeah, well, Cammi just opened for this season a few weeks ago. Trust me. You will see me here almost every freaking day. This is where I get my coffee on the way in.”
“You don’t have coffee out at the lodge?” I asked.
“Daphne is amazing with food, but Cammi’s coffee is better,” Tucker said simply.
Cammi smiled warmly. “Thank you. I know what your usual is.” She winked before she turned around and began prepping our drinks.
“What’s your usual?” I asked.
“A shot in the dark.”
“What’s that?”
“Her dark coffee with a shot of espresso. I need the caffeine to last me all day since I’ll be in the air.”
“How late do you fly?”
“Until it’s too dark to be in the sky. Nora’s got me landing at—” He lifted his phone, tapping the screen and scrolling with his thumb. “Five-thirty. Just before sunset. She switched it up so I can go to yoga class out at the lodge.”
“Because it’s good for you,” Cammi called over.
“Who covers your later flights that day?”
“Trey Holden.”
He was referring to an attorney and an occasional pilot who I’d only met once when he stopped by to drop off a delivery for a client across the bay.
“Oh, right. He flies for you all sometimes. It’s nice you all have the yoga class out at the lodge.
I’ve gone to Gemma’s class a few times in town. She’s great.”
“Here’s your coffee, Skylar,” Cammi called, sliding the paper cup across the counter to me.
Tucker slapped down a bill when I started to pull my wallet out. I felt uncertain. This was a thing I did not know how to handle. Even before I’d cut dating out of my life, I’d preferred to pay for everything. I didn’t want to rely on anyone for anything.
“Tucker,” I warned.
“Skylar, trust me. I get coffee for all my friends. We trade off all the time.”
“He does,” Cammi said when she handed over his coffee.
She gave Tucker his change, which he stuffed in the tip jar. He stepped to the side while she took the orders for the next in line. She started prepping their coffees and then called our names to hand over our scones and savories in two different paper bags.
I was standing there, wondering what to say next, so I sipped my coffee. “Thank you,” I finally said.
“You’re up tomorrow.” He threw me a grin, and my belly shimmied.
“Are you sure I’m going to see you?”
“If not tomorrow, soon. Next time you see me, you’re up. How’s that?”
“All right.” I didn’t wait and bolted across the parking lot, quickly getting in my car and taking a gulp from my coffee.
I shouldn’t have been this flustered, but it was all because of that stupid kiss.
I took a deep breath and started driving.
Only moments later, I realized Tucker was right behind me.
Of course, he was going to the same place.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I muttered.
He was probably going to park right beside me. I would just ignore him.