Chapter Twelve
Archie
Without a word, Archie snatched the cup back and returned with another. This time, he poured the coffee right in front of Jade, steam curling into the air between them. Jade watched with an amused glint in his eyes, lips twitching.
Archie set the cup down. There . Happy?
Jade took another sip, made an exaggerated hmm, then picked up his fork. He poked at the Denver omelet, turning it over slightly before clicking his tongue. “Overcooked.”
Archie’s pulse jumped. His jaw tightened so hard he thought something might crack. He inhaled through his nose, then exhaled, slow and controlled. “I’ll have it remade.”
Jade lifted a brow, clearly entertained. “Thanks, Arch. Knew I could count on you.”
Archie stalked back to the kitchen, pushing open the swinging doors with more force than necessary. He relayed the request to the cook, arms rigid at his sides.
When he returned with the corrected omelet, Jade barely acknowledged him. Archie set the plate down and turned to leave, but Jade cleared his throat.
Archie stopped, slowly turning back.
“Need more napkins,” Jade’s tone was completely neutral, like he wasn’t intentionally piling things on.
Archie bit back every single thing he wanted to say. Instead, he grabbed a stack of napkins and slapped them down on the table.
Not two minutes later, Jade looked up again. “More ice in my water.”
Archie almost laughed. A short, humorless sound that nearly escaped, but he swallowed it back down. He knew what Jade was doing. Knew he was dragging this out, picking at him like some bored predator playing with its prey. And damn it, Archie was giving him the reaction he wanted.
Archie wanted to snap, wanted to say something cruel, instead he went to fetch the ice.
When he returned and poured it into Jade’s glass, his movements weren’t careful. The cubes splashed slightly, water sloshing over the rim.
Jade tilted his head, lips quirking just enough for Archie to know he’d clocked the frustration.
“You seem tense,” Jade observed, the mock concern in his voice just subtle enough to infuriate. “Big first day nerves?”
Archie finally let himself look at him, really look. “If you’re trying to piss me off, Jade, find a new hobby. I don’t have time for your little games.”
Jade leaned forward slightly, fingers tapping absently against the table. “Oh, Arch. That temper of yours—I do miss it.”
Archie curled his hand into a fist at his side before forcing it to unclench. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
Jade let out a soft laugh as Archie turned on his heels and walked away before he said something that would cost him his damn job.
With only moments left for a fifteen break, the restaurant quieted considerably; the clatter of dishes fading. Joe told them both to take a break. All Archie could think about was his upcoming date with Brogan, butterflies fluttering in his stomach at the thought.
The break room was small, tucked away behind the kitchen, a little too warm from the lingering heat of the stoves.
A battered couch sat in the corner; cushions slightly sunken from years of tired employees crashing onto them between shifts.
A round table stood near the coffee machine; its surface covered in rings from countless mugs.
The air smelled of burned toast and old coffee grounds, comforting in its own way.
Gabriella stood at the counter, fiddling with the ancient coffee maker. Archie leaned back against the table, crossing his arms. He wasn’t sure if he was enjoying the quiet, or if the weight of the morning still sat heavy on his chest.
“So, Archie,” Gabriella said, peering over her shoulder at him. “Where are you from?”
He raised a brow. “San Diego.”
She grinned. “Lucky you, living in a beach city. I want details. Did you go to the beach a lot?”
“Every day when I was home, I surfed and swam. Then I went to college in San Francisco.”
“Why are you working here, then? What did you study? You’re really so interesting.”
Archie huffed out a short laugh. “That’s a lot of questions for one cup of coffee.”
Gabriella turned back to the machine, shaking her head. “I like to know everything about you. Helps me piece people together. You seem like someone with good stories.”
Archie shrugged. “Studied English literature. When I came home, my father had moved, so I had to do something fast. Andrew helped me out, but eventually I’ll look for a teaching job.”
“Wow! I’m glad Andrew helped you out. Are you staying with Joe?”
“No. I rent a room from Brogan, the Irish high school teacher.”
“Oh, he’s hot. He’s not interested in dating me or anyone around here.”
“He’s busy with his job.”
“That’s all you’re giving me?” She scoffed. “Come on, tell me something juicy.”
He hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. Here’s a story that almost got me kicked out of college.
When I moved to San Francisco into a dorm, it was the first time I felt like no one was watching me.
So, I partied every night and did everything I wanted to do.
I partied too much and ended up in the hospital.
I missed a week of classes. I don’t do shit like that anymore. I got it out of my system.”
Gabriella laughed, pouring coffee into two mismatched mugs. “You seem too level-headed for that kind of trouble.”
Archie smirked. “Yeah, well. I was a dumb college kid let loose in a candy store.”
She turned and slid a mug toward him. “Still, I can picture it.”
He reached for the coffee, pausing for a second. “You look familiar to me, by the way. Something about your features.”
Gabriella tilted her head slightly. “Maybe you know my brother. Rafael. He’s married to your cousin, Andrew.”
The air between them shifted, just slightly.
Archie wrapped his fingers around the warm mug, processing that name. Rafael. Yeah, he knew him. And he wasn’t exactly a fan.
Gabriella caught onto it instantly. “Oh. You don’t like him.”
Archie didn’t respond right away, but his silence was answer enough.
She smirked, leaning closer, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her own mug. “Don’t worry, I’m the better sibling.”
Archie watched the way she lingered, the way her gaze dipped over him, the clear intent in every movement she made. Heavy flirting, deliberate, confident.
And he had no clue how to act. She was gorgeous, model worthy, but he wasn’t into women. If he were, he’d like her a lot. Her beauty wasn’t just skin deep; her kindness, generosity, and the warmth she radiated made being around her a joy for him. She’d make a perfect friend.
He cleared his throat, shifting slightly, pretending to be very focused on his coffee. “Noted.”
Gabriella grinned, taking a sip. “Relax, Arch. I don’t bite.”
Archie exhaled through his nose, shaking his head as he took his own sip. Yeah, he thought. But you’re something.
As the afternoon shift wound down and the last few customers trickled out, Archie finally let himself breathe.
He had survived his first day—figured out the flow, learned the ropes, even took orders without completely messing up.
Not bad. The interaction with Jade still gnawed at the back of his mind, but he shoved it aside.
He wouldn’t let that ruin everything. Joe, thankfully, hadn’t brought up Brogan—not once—which was probably the only reason Archie hadn’t spiraled into frustration.
Gabriella had kept him distracted, too, with her sharp wit and relentless curiosity.
He might not have had all the answers today, but at least, for now, he had the certainty of a decent first shift under his belt. That was enough.