CHAPTER 7 – CASPIAN
I always try to see Cole and Noah after spending time with my family. They’re the best antidote to the Stones. Cole texted that they’re at Baywood Beans, so that’s where I head. My shoulders lose their stiffness the moment I step inside.
I pour myself a coffee and linger at the counter for a minute, chatting with the owners.
“Xaden Bailey’s back in town,” Delilah whispers, fanning herself. “Is it getting hot in here?”
“You’re too old and feminine for him,” Dorothy points out, but her cheeks are flushed too.
I manage not to roll my eyes.
“Cole seemed sad when he came in,” Dorothy adds.
“He’s fine,” I say immediately.
“He’s very lucky to have you,” she says, studying me closely.
I look at her in exasperation. I know what she’s going to say.
“You two would make a lovely couple.”
“Stop it,” Delilah says, elbowing her twin. “I’m Team Xaden.”
“We could get team shirts,” Dorothy perks up.
“No teams or shirts,” I say. “Cole and Xaden’s relationship isn’t our business.”
“Fine.”
I take my coffee and go to the back where Cole always sits, away from the worst of the noise.
I can immediately tell he hasn’t slept. Damn that Bailey.
“Hi.” Cole’s face brightens when he sees me.
“Hey.”
I turn my attention to Noah, who is half-standing, half-kneeling on his chair, stirring his hot chocolate so aggressively it’s sloshing dangerously close to disaster.
“Look!” he announces proudly. “It’s a tornado.”
“Noah,” Cole sighs.
I reach across the table and gently steady Noah’s wrist.
“No more flooding,” I tell him. “Professional hot-chocolate stirrers keep the liquid inside the cup.”
Noah gives me a solemn nod and resumes stirring with exaggerated care.
Cole huffs a laugh. “How do you do that? I say the same thing and he acts like we’re brainstorming.”
“You’re his dad,” I point out, mopping up the spill. “Kids test the person they feel safest with . It’s a compliment, really.”
A softness flickers across Cole’s face before it dissolves into another yawn.
“You haven’t slept.”
“I’m fine,” he lies. “It’s not…” His voice trails off.
“Xaden?” I offer.
Cole flushes. “No. I mean, yes. But it’s nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
He fidgets with his sleeves.
My urge to hunt Bailey down and shake answers out of him intensifies.
Then the bell jingles and Earl Davenport bursts inside. He’s the town baker, a guileless, timid man who often seeks my advice.
“Emergency!” he cries, waving a crumpled letter. “My heavens, the pressure!”
“What is it?” I ask, guiding him toward a spare chair before he vibrates out of his shoes.
“It’s my special friend Maija,” he gasps, collapsing into the seat. “She wants to Zoom.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it?” Earl looks offended. “Do you know what Zoom does, Caspian? It. Zooms. In.” He clutches his chest. “Why the sudden need to access my face?”
“Maybe she wants to connect on a deeper level,” I suggest, squeezing Earl’s shoulder. That usually calms him down. “She likes you.”
“No one has ever liked me before,” Earl whispers.
He gasps. “She’ll see Bob!”
“Who’s Bob?” I ask.
“My pride and joy,” Earl replies, puffing out his chest. “If Maija’s letter isn’t a mating call, I don’t know what is.”
“What’s a mating call?” Noah asks.
“Biology,” Cole replies, ears turning bright pink.
Earl sinks into mournful silence.
“I’ll help you set it up,” I promise, leaning forward. “We can make a practice call with Cole before you call Maija.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Of course,” Cole says, his voice warm.
Noah offers me his half-eaten cracker.
“A little sugar is good for you,” he says with the wisdom of a four-year-old.
I take a bite of the soggy cracker and smile.
These people right here—this is my family.