Chapter 1 #2
Hayden Marcus. The man of my dreams. He’s tall, so tall.
I’m talking over six foot even without the black-and-white-checked Kobe sneakers.
His smile is intoxicating. His hair is a luscious mess of short, dark brown that I’ve dreamt of running my fingers through way more than once.
It looks so soft. And well, the rest…gawd, just makes me melt.
Hard jawline. Small upturned nose with a faint freckled bridge between gray eyes.
He’s also captain of the Mitchell High varsity basketball team.
They’re my school’s rivals, but I’ll root for them no matter what.
I just have to find out if he’s into the theys. That’s my current hurdle, besides how I can barely function around him. I swear it. I’m going to be his one day, no matter what Kaitlynn says.
“Hey.” Hayden’s voice envelops my senses in a savory gruffness.
“Hey there,” I say back, all grins and nervous energy.
This might be ridiculous, but there is this piece of me, like this tiny little sliver of my brain, that thinks he might be into me.
It’s a long shot, but why else does he talk to me first when he comes in?
And despite what Kaitlynn says, it’s not because I’ll talk to literally anyone.
She isn’t exactly Miss Shy. There’s just no way he likes our drinks that much.
I’m about to lose my balance when something solid kicks into my ankle, and Kaitlynn forces a cough. Oh hell. Have I been staring?
“Uh, sorry…what, uh…” I start, but movement outside catches my eye. There’s someone lurking by the entrance.
“Sorry, that’s my little brother,” Hayden says dismissively.
“He doesn’t want to come in?” Kaitlynn asks. “It’s cold.”
“Yeah, it’s cold,” I echo.
“Nah, he’s weird. Says he hates the smell of coffee.” Hayden shrugs.
Hates the smell of coffee?
“Oh.” I grunt. “Sorry. What can I…uh…can I get for you, Hayden?” I stutter, and throw in his name. Should I have said his name? Is that too much? No. It can’t be. We call customers by their names all the time. We know all the regulars. It’s okay.
As he opens his mouth, I clench my teeth together so I don’t speed scream his entire order at him before he can get the words out himself.
Hayden grins. “I’ll just take an iced caramel latte with cinnamon.”
I pause, I know there’s more. While I give him a second, I steal a glance around Hayden. His brother hates the smell of coffee that much?
“And how about a Cinnacake Roll too?” he asks.
“Of course.” There it is.
I finish ringing him up while Kaitlynn puts his drink together.
Now’s the hard part. He always uses cash, which means I have to take it from him, which means I might have to touch his hand.
I want to, but it’s so awkward. There’s this electricity inside me when I think about it, but my head says it’ll freak him out.
I stop myself from taking a big breath when he extends his hand toward me.
I reach for the money, and of course I fail.
The side of my thumb brushes his palm and a flutter springs through my hand and jumps past my wrist. I squeeze my mouth shut and give him my most “natural”-looking tight-lipped grin.
“Let me get your roll,” I finally breathe.
“Thanks,” he says.
I go to the display case and select the largest of the Cinnacake Rolls.
We call them Sinnercakes when customers aren’t around because they’re sinfully large and sugary.
They’re basically a diabetic coma in roll form.
From the other side of the display case the large white M, for Mountaineers, stamped across the breast of his deep purple letter jacket catches my attention.
It fits him well. How the hell does he look so good and eat these?
I’m certain he’s got a six-pack under that shirt.
I refocus on the roll and drop it into a bag as Kaitlynn finishes his drink and I meet her back at the counter.
He takes the cup and I pass him the pastry bag.
I feel super awkward. I want to say something else, maybe compliment him, but I don’t know how.
Like there isn’t anything else to say, and to be like, Hey, your eyes look pretty tonight as he walks out the door is just weird, plus I bet he doesn’t want to be pretty.
Ugh! Handsome, Kenzie. Tough dudes like to be called handsome.
“Thanks again!” Hayden says. “I’ll see you two tomorrow.”
“Kaitlynn won’t be here tomorrow. I will,” I blurt in one long breath, literally pointing at myself like some absolute fool. I want to disappear, but it’s done. It’s out there. I keep my shoulders high and my smile higher.
“Oh, okay.” Hayden shrugs, and I think he laughs. Was that a nervous laugh? “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow then. Have a good Thanksgiving, Kaity.”
“Thanks, you too. Night!” Kaitlynn waves as he twists about and heads for the door. “Tell you brother we said happy Thanksgiving too.”
“See ya.” I nearly gasp, ignoring Kaity. He’ll see me tomorrow. He even said it. He literally said it. “Bye!”
He’s out the door, his silhouette disappearing around the corner along with his brother’s before I can get it out. My eyes are stuck on the back of the Open/Closed sign dangling from the door.
I let myself breathe again and look at Kaitlynn.
“I am going to be his one day.”