Chapter 30
Evie
I get lost in endless coffee orders, but it’s good. I can’t do anything but focus on the next order, the next drink. “Hey, you good?”
I give Bisch a forced smile. “I’m good.”
He tops off his drink with cold foam and hands it off before turning back to me. “Are you sure? I can hold things down until the rest of the crew gets here if you need to take off.”
I appreciate his kindness. “Thank you, Bisch; but I’m okay.”
He’s not the only one that notices. Rachel pulls me aside about two hours later. “Evie, are you okay? You look terrible.”
“Thanks,” I say dryly.
She huffs. “That’s not how I meant it.”
“I know. I’m fine, really.”
Thankfully, she lets it go; and I get back to work.
Sam never shows. I’ve been watching the door, knowing she’s supposed to be on shift.
Every single one of my co-workers has asked about her.
So far, I’ve managed to hold them off by saying she’s sick and won’t be here today.
I don’t really know how many days that excuse will work.
There’s no way she’s coming back. I mean, at least, I don’t think.
I push away thoughts of Jace and Sam to the deepest recesses of my mind.
I realize that at some point, I’m going to have to deal with what went down last night.
I can practically feel Zane’s worry. He spent the first hour outside the shop and then came inside and planted himself at the back table.
Reid and Quint have both stopped in and talked to Zane and then left again.
I know they’re all trying to figure out what happened to me, but they’re never going to figure it out.
I can’t believe Zane even called his parents to come.
Thankfully, I was a little too out of it to notice.
Now, it’s humiliating to think about. One thought that has stayed front and center in my mind is how Zane took care of me.
He didn’t leave my side, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt as safe as I did in his arms in my entire life.
I’ve been trying to ignore the pull of him across the shop, but it’s next to impossible.
My gaze lifts to his, and I lock eyes with his penetrating green ones.
I’m powerless to look away. I feel this need to talk to him, to just..
.be around him. I feel so empty, so confused right now. He’s the only thing that seems right.
“Hey, Bisch, can I take a ten-minute break?”
Bisch doesn’t even stop to think about it. “Go, Girl.”
I take off my apron and hang it up. I walk around the edge of the serving counter and come to a stop.
A tall, gorgeous girl with long blond hair and a perfect figure approaches Zane.
He stands up and wraps her in his arms. I don’t move.
I’m just about ready to go back behind the counter when those green eyes find mine, and then he strides towards me.
I take in that powerful frame heading towards me, but it doesn’t scare me.
He stops right in front of me and shocks me by taking my hand.
“Are you on break?” I nod. “I want you to meet somebody.” I follow him to the back of the room and take in the smiling face.
“Evie, this is my sister, Riley. Riley, this is Evie.”
If it’s possible, her smile only increases. “Evie, it’s so good to meet you.” And then she’s hugging me. She pulls away a second later. “I cannot wait to get to know you and to share all Zane’s most embarrassing stories.”
Zane shakes his head. “I knew this was going to be a bad idea.”
She elbows him in the stomach. “Oh, Brother, I have so much payback to give you.”
I can’t help the small smile that forms on my face at their interaction. “Payback?” Zane asks. “You made mine and Reid’s lives miserable when we were young; you followed us everywhere.” He says all this while he unwraps a granola bar. Without a word, he hands it to me. I take it in surprise.
“You guys always tried to leave me places,” she complains.
Zane shrugs. “That’s why you shouldn’t have tagged along.”
I take a bite of the granola bar as I watch their banter. My stomach growls, and I realize how hungry I am. I eat the rest of the bar as they bicker. As soon as I’m done, I pocket the trash. Zane finally looks down at me. “Thank you,” I tell him softly.
Is that a relieved smile that fills his face? “No problem.” His eyes are filled with concern, and I don’t know what he’s going to say, but I know I need to get back to work.
“I’ve got to get back. Do either of you want a drink?” I ask.
“Yes,” Riley says brightly. “I love coffee.”
She doesn’t need any caffeine, Zane mouths to me.
He’s rewarded with an elbow in the gut. “I heard that.”
“Just come up to the counter when you’re ready.” I turn back to Zane, unsure what to say. “Are you leaving?” I finally ask.
He gives me a gentle smile. “No. I’ll stay ‘til your shift gets done.”
I want to tell him he doesn’t have to, but the words refuse to form.
I nod and turn back to the counter. I feel like my feet are lead, though, as I try to walk away from him.
I throw caution to the wind and turn back around and walk over to him.
Before I think about it and decide it’s a bad idea, I wrap my arms around his waist. I can tell I’ve shocked him, but it only takes him a second to wrap those strong arms around me.
“Thank you for taking care of me last night and then again today with the granola bar.” I feel him take in a deep breath, and his arms tighten around me.
I don’t make a move to pull away from him.
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt a hug as good as this.
“Evie,” his voice rumbles through me. “If you let me, I’ll always take care of you.”
I don’t stiffen; I don’t get nervous. I simply let his words wash over me.
There’s something deep within me that craves that.
I’ve always wanted to feel safe and secure, something I lost a long time ago.
I guess it probably has something to do with my dad being the kind of dad he was.
Knowing I have to get back to work, I pull back.
I look up at him, and his eyes are so intense, it’s almost unnerving.
Almost. I nod over to the serving counter.
“I have to go.” He releases me but doesn’t step away.
When I start to turn away, he reaches out and captures my wrist. His eyes almost have a desperate feel to them now.
“Will you talk to me later?”
I know what he’s asking. This isn’t just a, “Let’s sit and make conversation.” He wants me to talk to him about what went down last night.
Unease slithers through me. “I don’t know if I can,” I tell him honestly.
He doesn’t try to talk me into it or argue. He simply takes in my words. “Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Zane.” I’m sure it’s been longer than ten minutes by now. I snag my apron from the back and head to the register. Riley waits for me with a beaming smile.
“All right, Evie. What should I get?” I walk her through the choices, just like I do other students that don’t know what they want.
“Hot or Iced?”
She’s quick to respond. “Oh, definitely iced.” She decides to try our new blueberry lemon latte.
“I know it sounds like a nasty combination for coffee, but it’s really good,” I tell her. I don’t take her card when she tries to give it to me.
“I’ve got it.” I put it in as my free drink and then go make it. I pass her the drink when I finish and a straw. She tears the paper off the straw and shoves it into the cup. I watch as she takes a drink. “What do you think?”
She closes her eyes. “Oh, that is so good.”
I can’t help but smile at her. “I’m glad you like it.”
The door to the shop opens, and I glance that way. Reid steps inside and stops. His head jerks towards where Riley and I are standing, and then he strides towards us. “Riley, what are you doing here?” he asks in a low voice.
Riley turns around in surprise and beams at Reid. “Reidy, what are you doing here?”
He scowls at the name she calls him. “I’m here to meet Zane.”
Riley takes another drink of the latte. “This is so good, Evie. Too bad Zane doesn’t drink coffee, or I’d make him try this.”
I frown in confusion. “Zane always orders coffee when he’s in here.” I make him a dark roast every time he comes in.
Her eyebrows lift, and her eyes dance. “Fascinating. Oh, Evie.” She shakes her head, and I have no idea what is going on in her head.
“Can I get you anything, Reid?” I ask the question, but he’s still staring down at Riley. I’m not sure he even hears my question.
“Oh, Reid, try this. It’s so good. It’s a blueberry lemon iced latte.” I notice that he scowls slightly, but he accepts the drink Riley holds out to him. He takes a small sip, and I can tell immediately that he hates it...like, legit hates it.
He hands it back. “It’s great.”
I look between the two and work to hide my smile.
Riley turns back to me. “Thanks so much. Don’t be a stranger.
” Her eyes widen. “You should come over for dinner. Make my brother bring you.” I don’t look towards the back of the shop, but I don’t even have to worry about responding because she continues. “When do you get done here?”
I blink at the shift in conversation and glance at the clock. “In an hour.”
“Awesome.” She pulls out a pair of sunglasses and puts them on top of her head. “Where’s your favorite place to eat?”
I stare at her. “Uh, Panda Express.”
Her face lights up. “I knew we were going to be besties! That’s my favorite too. Okay, we’ll go grab lunch at Panda when you’re done. Isn’t there a Panda on campus here somewhere?” She directs her question to Reid, who nods.
Riley looks back at me. “Do you have to do anything after your shift, or can you go right to lunch?”
“I can go to lunch,” I finally say.
“Good. I’ll see you when you get done.” She walks towards the back of the coffee shop, and I watch her go. I don’t fail to notice that Reid watches her as well.
“Well, then. I need to get back to work.”
Reid nods and starts towards the back of the shop.
His eyes never leave Riley, and I find myself smiling to myself.
I wonder if Riley has any clue of Reid’s interest in her.
To me, it couldn’t be any more obvious, but something tells me she doesn’t have a clue.
Zane doesn’t either; I’m pretty sure. I smile to myself and get back to work.
Riley, Zane, and Reid stay at the back of the shop the entire time, huddled together in conversation.
From what I’ve been able to observe, it’s mostly Riley that talks.
When I finish my shift and clock out, Riley walks towards the counter with a huge smile on her face. “Are you ready for lunch?”
Her smile is contagious, and I feel myself giving her a small smile in return. She threads her arm through mine. “Let’s go eat our weight in orange chicken.”