Chapter Two
James
Stepping into the Coffee Cove was like coming home. The simple but pretty décor, the scent of coffee, and friendly faces greeted him.
“J!” Luca, the manager and James’s friend, greeted him.
James grinned back. Luca had been gone for the last week visiting family for the holidays and had not been looking forward to it. James was relieved to see that Luca seemed to be in good spirits. James had worried about his friend.
Next to Luca, the other barista Dawson Ford was at the espresso station, brewing a couple of shots.
Dawson was the newest member of the staff, joining them at the beginning of the school year.
Even though Dawson was a decade older than all of them, he fit.
Everyone at the Coffee Cove fit, in James’s opinion. They’d become a family of sorts.
“How was your trip?” James asked Luca, approaching the counter with his motorcycle helmet in one hand and his backpack in the other.
Luca rolled his eyes. “Let’s just say that I’m glad to be back and leave it at that.”
James nodded. He continued around the counter to the back with Luca on his heels.
“Did Scott get off with Michael okay then?” Luca questioned.
“He did, yeah.” James shoved his belongings into his cubby. Turning, he grinned at his friend. “I’m all alone.”
Luca rolled his eyes. “Like you’ll do anything other than work the entire time Scott’s gone.”
Okay, that was fair. “It’s not like I can even have a few friends over,” James shared. “Professor asshole already read me the riot act on the rules.”
“He might be an asshole but he’s hot,” Luca said.
James was not going to think about how handsome Jacob was.
That was…no, that was not going to happen.
In James’s experience, the first impression he got from most people was pretty damn accurate.
And the first time that James had met Jacob, James had wanted to punch the dick.
Jacob was just so condescending and obviously looked down on him.
Luca grabbed his own backpack from the cubby beside James. “I’m headed out. Dawson will be closing with you.”
Lifting the brown apron from his hook, James slipped it on over his long-sleeve shirt. “It’ll probably be quiet with it still being the holiday season.”
“Yeah,” Luca agreed as he swung the backpack over his shoulder. “That’s what I was thinking but call if you need me. It’s too cold to hit the beach so I’ll be vegging out on the couch with a pizza.”
“Sounds fun. Just don’t fall asleep on the couch again. Your back hurt for days after that.” James smacked him on the shoulder before returning to the front.
Luca snorted. “Getting old sucks. I’ll have Dawson wake me when he gets home.”
“Josh!” James hollered as he spotted his friend and fellow firefighter. “Glad you’re back, man.” And he was. Not only were they friends, but Josh helped fill in holes in the fire department when he wasn’t on shift with the water rescue team.
Josh’s gaze left Dawson, who had been standing in front of the register with his arms over his chest.
“Everything good, guys?” James asked, looking from Josh to Dawson.
“Fine,” Dawson bit out.
Josh sighed. “I was just asking how Dawson’s Christmas was.”
James held in his wince. Yeah, that was not a good question. Dawson hadn’t shared much about his family but James did know that he was currently no-contact with them.
Luca moved behind him to pat Dawson on the shoulder.
When Dawson had first applied to work at the coffee shop, he’d been couch surfing with a friend while attending school.
Luca had taken Dawson under his wing, including letting him stay in his spare bedroom.
As manager of the Coffee Cove, Luca’s position came with access to the apartment above the store.
Luca did things like that. Just adopted them, James included.
Josh hunched his shoulders. “Obviously I said or did something wrong. I apologize.”
“It’s fine,” Dawson growled. He stomped off toward the espresso machine.
“Your usual?” James offered.
Josh’s eyes went back to Dawson. “Yes. I’m a man who knows what I want.”
Okay, that was obviously not directed at him. Josh had gone out of his way to befriend Dawson, but other than Luca and sometime him, Dawson didn’t talk to a lot of people. Never any of the customers. “You got it.”
Dawson grunted. “I’m making it.”
“Thanks, Dawson,” Josh said with a wide grin. “You know I like your coffees best.”
Really? Josh was still flirting with Dawson? Hadn’t he learned yet? James glanced over at Luca, who smirked as he watched the scene.
Josh set the book in his hands down on the counter as he reached for his wallet in his back pocket. James moved forward to ring in his order and take his payment.
Luca gasped dramatically before throwing himself forward and snatching the book off the counter.
“Oh uh…” Josh reached for the book.
“How did you get this?” Luca demanded as he held the book to his chest.
For the first time since James had met Josh, his friend was blushing as he rubbed his palm over the back of his neck.
“What book is that?” James asked curiously.
“It’s nothing. I spent Christmas with the author. He gave me an advance copy.” Josh was still reaching for the book. Luca danced from his reach as he held on tight to the book. Yeah, Josh was going to have trouble getting that book back.
“It’s not nothing!” Luca declared. “I’ve been waiting for this book in the series. It doesn’t release to the public for another three months! And you know Liam Groves? Like, personally?”
Josh sighed while finally dropping his hand. “He’s the partner of one of my ex-teammates. They’re who I spent Christmas with.”
Luca’s eyes were huge. He was holding the book like it was the most precious thing ever.
Dawson stepped over to place Josh’s drink on the counter. “What’s it about?”
Josh’s face turned redder.
“It’s the best series ever!” Luca declared. “It’s about this group of friends who are all littles!”
James felt the blood rush away from his face. “Littles?” he choked out. What were the fucking chances? He even lifted his hand to his collar to make sure that he had indeed removed the cape even though he knew he’d hidden it in the top drawer of his dresser.
“Yes!” Luca exclaimed. “The books are gay as hell, kinky, and just the best ever! This series is my favorite. And this story is supposed to be about a hot bodyguard.”
“He’s not that hot,” Josh muttered.
“You read about gay littles?” Dawson asked Josh bluntly.
James was curious about that answer as well.
Mentally he made a note to remember to look up Liam Groves later once he got home.
He wasn’t much of a reader, not like his brothers, but the series did sound interesting.
And with James’s sudden interest in age regression, it would be easier to read about the dynamic than talking to Michael.
James did not want to go to his older brother.
Not when it was something that Mchael lived for and James was merely curious.
Josh lifted his chin as if in challenge. “I enjoy the series. Liam has personal experience with age regression and it shows in his stories.”
Luca leaned forward. “Wait! Are you a Daddy? How did I not know this?”
James wanted away from this conversation. There were certain things about his friends that he just didn’t want to know. And the subject was hitting too close to the thoughts that he’d been trying to shove down.
“That is quite a personal question,” Josh responded with a frown.
Not that his stern tone mattered to Luca, who bounced with excitement. “Do you belong to a club? I’ve been to the private one couple hours from here. Have you? It’s private and well run. Do you have a little?”
Dawson nudged Luca’s shoulder.
“What?” Luca asked. “Curious minds want to know!”
“You’re just being nosy,” Dawson accused.
Look at Dawson coming to Josh’s defense. Dawson barely spoke most of the time. And he was not happy about Luca bombarding Josh with questions.
“Can I have my book back?” Josh asked, holding out his hand.
“On one condition,” Luca said sweetly.
“You can borrow it once I’m done,” Josh said.
“Yes!” Luca hissed then handed the book back.
Josh shook his head as he tucked the book under his arm. He pulled a ten from his wallet and passed it over. “Thanks.”
James nodded.
“I guess I’ll go upstairs and be bored on my couch!” Luca said dramatically.
Dawson chuckled. “Don’t eat all the pizza this time.”
Luca rolled his eyes. “I would never!”
He would. He totally would. James finished Josh’s transaction, adding the change to their tip jar.
Josh had taken his book and cup to the corner table where Scott usually hung out.
James rubbed his chest. He didn’t miss Scott quite yet, but he was used to his brother hanging out at the coffee shop, doing his homework, while James worked his shift.
He’d been fine with Scott wanting to spend a few weeks back home.
Really, it was fine. James had work at both the firehouse and the coffee shop.
He was fine on his own. Completely fine.
The door opened and three young women walked in.
Followed by an older couple. A steady stream of customers kept him and Dawson hopping.
For the first thirty minutes of his shift, he and Dawson worked to get the orders out.
The small coffee shop filled with patrons as the sun began to set outside the large picture windows.
James didn’t have time to miss his brother or wonder just how kinky Josh was.
If he did think about it, James could admit that Josh did give off the same Daddy vibes as Michael’s partner Finn, but he was also a little mischievous like Jackson.
With a shake of his head, James didn’t know why he was suddenly being surrounded by reminders of age regression.