Chapter 25 #2
“I’ve hated myself for a long time over my mistakes.”
“They’re mistakes,” Lana says. “We hate them because we know better now. Because we hate that we didn’t know what we know now. You’re meant to hate mistakes, baby, it just means you’ve grown.”
I hold onto her and kiss her back. I kiss her deeper, slower, until I turn us over. “I love you,” I breathe on her lips.
“I know,” she whispers and I push into her. “I love you too.”
“Say that again,” I breathe shakily, deep inside of the love of my life with her limbs wrapped around my body.
“I love you.”
Thrust.
“I love you, Christian.”
Thrust.
“I love you.”
“I love you, Lana,” I moan against her lips.
“Yeah?” She chuckles breathlessly.
I smile. “Yeah.”
“Then be quiet and just kiss me, Christian,” she whispers, and I can never say no to her.
I go back to work with Lana today, but this time I’m on shift in the café.
Before opening, she taught me how to use the espresso machines and the strategic way she makes my latte. Then at around eight thirty, it was Lana who took me to the back office for what she called a ‘get pumped up for work’ quickie.
I can’t say no to her—especially not when she flashes me those dimples, bats her long, dark lashes, and brushes her lips over my jaw and neck. And that’s how we end up in Lana’s back office with me sitting back on her chair and her between my legs, her back toward me as she moves, up and down.
She’s insatiable today, but so am I.
“Christian,” she moans, dropping her hips harder and faster. “Oh god.”
“Fuck, baby, just like that.”
Lana’s breathing is sporadic and heavy, a soft whimper coming out as I move my hand from her waist to between her legs, circling her clit with my fingers.
Her back arches and she falls back against my chest. “Yes,” she breathes. “Yes, oh my god.”
“Lana!” A fist pounds on her door.
“Shit,” I hiss and try to pull her off me, but she doesn’t relent. She sits up and leans over her desk, bouncing up and down on my cock. “Lana, baby, we—”
“Shhh.” She looks at me over her shoulder and smirks. “Be quiet. We aren’t finished here yet.”
“Fuuuuck,” I moan and my head falls back against the chair, and she keeps moving. My hands holding her waist tighten, and she moans softly. “Lana.”
“Shhh.”
“Lana!” More knocking. “Lana, I’ll let you finish, just tell me what you want me to bake for today!”
Lana snorts, laughing quietly, freezing on top of me. “The usual!”
“Okay! Have fun!”
Lana snickers and smiles at me over her shoulder, moving again.
“Who was that?” I rasp hoarsely, my fingers burrowing into her waist.
“Later,” she moans. “Make me come, Christian.”
I stand while inside her and bend her over the desk, obeying her command.
Lana has gone over toward the bookshop half of the shop, leaving me to fend for myself in the cafe—as a barista.
I never thought I’d end up a barista, but here I am, cleaning the steamer when I hear, “Christian Calloway.”
My lips purse. “Terrance.”
“Better not fuck up my coffee.”
The machine prints out his coffee order for me and I read it through. Too many pumps of everything. Too specific. I smile up at him and place the order sticker on the cup with the Books and Beans logo. “I’ll try.”
He eyes me carefully. “I asked for sugar, not spit.”
I snort, steaming the milk. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Uh-huh. I’m watching you, Calloway.”
I chuckle. “Alright, sir.”
“Will I be seeing you again this weekend?”
“Yes sir.” I place the cap on his coffee and slide it across the counter. “I will be there. Don’t forget it’s your turn to bring the snacks.”
Terrance lip curls and he glares. “I was hoping you’d forget.”
I smile. “Never. I take my snacks very seriously.”
He takes a slow sip, and I wait it out for the verdict. “Now this is good,” he laughs. “I’m very happy for you, kid.”
“Thank you, Terrance.”
“And congratulations again on the house,” he whispers, leaning over the counter just a bit so only I hear. “She’ll love it.”
I flush.
“Proud of you, Calloway. I’m glad you’re sticking around.” He raises his cup at me with a wink as he exits, and I dip my chin before I continue on with the rest of the orders.
The orders come in fast, printing at the machine, one after the other.
I can’t even find time in between to steal a glance at my girl from here because I’m focused on remembering how to make the drinks and what the right ingredients are especially, for the intricate iced teas and lemonades.
The other employee, a high school student, Olivia mans the register and the pastry orders.
She heats up the premade egg sandwiches and croissants and everything else while taking orders and payments with a smile, without breaking a sweat.
The morning rush finally dies down, a simple iced coffee for the last customer—for now.
I can finally take a breath. I understand what Lana means about being here earlier than usual now.
Between nine and eleven, it’s chaos. It’s for breakfast, late breakfasts, people running late, parents after dropping their kids off at school, students who need their coffee high—everyone.
I start cleaning up, listening to the soft music playing overhead that I know is one of Lana’s playlists.
I take a peek between the aisles of books and find her reaching a shelf, her jeans outlining the curve of her ass.
She’s wearing a yellow halter and racerback tank top (as she described), and the sneakers I bought for her (finally).
She’s gorgeous and she works harder than I ever have for anything in my life. She deserves everything good she has. And I want to be part of those good things so badly.
“Christian,” someone says, and I’m pulled out of my Lana trance.
I turn with a sigh, ready for the teasing. “Natalia.”
“So,” Natalia says with a shit eating grin, wiping her hands on a towel. “I’m glad she isn’t bored in her office anymore. Has something to…relieve all her stress.”
I shake my head, pressing my lips together to keep from laughing, even as my face flushes. I can’t face Natalia, instead I pretend to be busy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure.” She giggles and starts putting her freshly baked pastries in the pastry case. “I’m glad you’re here, by the way.”
I leave the wet rag on the counter and face her. “You are?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
I lift a shoulder and mumble, “Team Lana.”
Natalia chuckles. “Right, yeah. Well, that is still a thing.” She dusts off her hands, slapping them against each other gently and comes up to me.
She’s a bit shorter than Lana, probably the shortest of the bunch, but she can still scare the life out of anyone if need be.
Natalia points her finger at me, all in my face, and says, “But if you ever do anything to hurt her again, you will be erased from history and all of your descendants will be haunted by me and all the ghosts I can call on. I will make sure of that.”
My eyes widen slightly. “Okay.”
Natalia smiles, happy with herself. “I’m glad we’re on the same page then! See you whenever!”
She saunters off with her bag on her shoulder, the bell chiming as she exits, and a new customer comes in. I get behind the register, which is just an iPad, type in Lana’s login she gave me earlier, and greet them. “What can I get you?”
I finally look up and it’s golden boy. “Hey, man.” He chuckles. “This your new part-time job?”
I exhale heavily through my nose. “Something like that.”
Levi laughs again. “That’s great. Finally you can do something with your life, I guess, right? Instead of living in your car—”
“What can I get you?” I ask through my clenched jaw. I’m not a violent man…
The mother fucker laughs again. “Bro, come on. We all know what happened to you. No shame.”
I sigh. “Just tell me your order so you can leave, man—”
“You should have stayed in New York,” he huffs. “Way better than this place. I mean, you could have done way better than Lana over there. Plus you’re rich! Why even come back?”
Does this guy have a death wish?
I sigh heavily and he chuckles like he’s fucking hilarious. “She had nothing, she was broke. Her mother was the help, I mean, really. I don’t know who is better off without who—”
“Get out.”
He laughs again. He has an incredibly punch-able face. “Bro—”
“I really don’t know when your privileged ass thought it was okay to come in here to talk shit to my face about my girl, or myself, for that matter, but—”
“Get out.” My head snaps to the right and Lana stands there with her hip cocked and arms crossed. She’s so hot when she’s mad. And when she’s throwing shoes at me. “Get. Out.”
Levi has the audacity to smile at her. “Hey Lana, I’m just ordering my usual.”
“You won’t be ordering anything anymore, get out.” She points to the door and he rolls his eyes. Her stillness is terrifying.
“Lana,” he tries to reason, “we’re friends. You even said that Christian—”
“I have never bad-mouthed Christian in my life, much less to you, so get out or I will kick you out myself. And believe me, you won’t like my methods.”
“Lana,” Levi says, his tone almost convincing me she should be with someone else. “This guy is the joke of the town. He’s a drug addict for god’s sake. You deserve better than that.”
And I wish I could sink into myself because a part of me agrees with him sometimes.
“Oh, I deserve better? Someone like you?” Lana laughs dryly and takes a bold step in front of him.
“You talk a lot of shit for someone who couldn’t afford the date you took me on, just so you could show off.
Remember when I had to leave the thirty dollar tip because you didn’t have enough?
At least Christian worked to where he is now and is making himself a better man.
You’ve done nothing. You haven’t changed at all, thinking everyone else is inferior to you.
Now, get out, and if you so much as look at my boyfriend the wrong way again, I will make your life miserable. ”