Twenty-Six
River
I may not have gotten my father’s ruthlessness or my mother’s manipulation tactics, but the one thing I did get from my parents is the mindset that there’s only one way to deal with life being rough.
Work.
And that’s what I’ve been doing for the past week. No days off. Double shifts. Covering for coworkers and staying way longer than I’m supposed to.
Summer isn’t even at the apartment anymore, but I still can’t bring myself to stay there long enough.
I’ve tried sleeping in my room once but her scent continues to linger.
I haven’t tried texting her and she hasn’t tried either.
I know I said this is what I wanted, but just because I think we need space doesn’t mean it’s easy.
It’s now four in the afternoon and I should’ve been off two hours ago, but Mario hasn’t said anything. I’m assuming it’s because we just had a rush but even now he’s hiding out in the break room with the other three baristas.
I’d rather not get myself into a conversation with Mario so I remain up front, cleaning off tables. The bell above the door chimes and I quickly look over. I convince myself it’s because I’m required to greet every customer.
Moose walks in, all smiles and a lightness I don’t have right now. He isn’t alone. Walking alongside him is what I’d classify as a giant. I thought Moose was tall but damn.
I recognize the blond scowly man almost immediately. I’ve been to a few hockey games and outside of that, his dad is the governor so it’s kind of hard not to know who he is. I’ve just never seen Preston Nole up close and I don’t think I want to for much longer.
“Alright man.” Moose leans against the register, waiting for me to walk over. “Have I got the order for you.”
I walk behind the register and chuckle. “Dude, I make coffee all day. I don’t think you’re going to order anything I haven’t heard before.”
“No, trust me, I think I got it this time.”
Moose turns to Preston. “Alright, Preston baby, I told you it would be my treat. So what do you want?”
My eyes widen. I know that Moose knows Preston enough to be joking, but I just cleaned the floors and Preston is known to react violently. I really don’t want to be cleaning up blood from Moose’s broken nose.
Thankfully, Preston just stares blankly at Moose. “I didn’t even wanna come, dickhead.” His voice is low and booming, catching me off guard.
He’s always been like a myth to me. You hear about him. See him in pictures or out on the ice, but I didn’t think he’d actually be this big.
Moose rolls his eyes then looks at me. “What do you suggest, River? Preferably iced.” Moose grins. “Trying to get Nole out of his comfort zone.”
Preston’s lips pull back slightly in disgust but he doesn’t argue, surprisingly. Quite a few people who come into Metric’s think iced coffee is a sin.
I don’t even look at the menu. Whenever someone asks for a suggestion, I usually go with my coffee order or Lily’s. And since Lily’s is iced, I go with that.
“I’d suggest an iced chai latte with sweet cold foam.”
I don’t think Lily has gone a day without drinking that order. Rain or shine. Hot or cold. That girl loves her chai latte.
“Perfect.” Moose pats Preston’s shoulder. “He’ll have that.”
I look up at Preston, expecting him to reach over the counter and snap my wrist in half, but instead he rolls his eyes and walks off to one of the tables without another word.
When Preston is at a safe enough distance, I mumble, “He’s…lively.”
I type in the order, now feeling safe to do so.
Moose chuckles. “He just got back from seeing his mom so he’s in a bit of a pissy mood.”
I get that. I would be in a pissy mood too if I had to spend the summer with my parents, which is why I didn’t. Self-care and all that.
“Alright,” I begin. “What’s your order today?”
Moose grins. “Give me a cappuccino but I want half decaf and half caffeinated.” He waits for my reaction but unfortunately that’s an order that one of the regulars get.
Moose’s shoulders drop. “I didn’t get you this time, did I?”
“You’d be surprised how many people ask for that combination.”
“Goddamn it.” Moose flips off the menu above my head. “One of these days I’m going to think of the weirdest shit you can think of, man. You’re going to be dumbfounded, just watch.”
After handing Moose’s card back to him, I begin making the order but Moose remains at the counter, whistling.
He tends to do that when he doesn’t know how to start a conversation.
Or he doesn’t even want to have said conversation.
I dare to look at him, my eyes narrowed, so he knows that I know he wants to have a conversation I don’t want.
Moose throws his hands in the air and drops them back to his side dramatically. “You already know what I’m going to fucking ask, man. So let’s just save each other the trouble and you just tell me.”
“Or—” I begin. “We can just not say anything because there’s nothing to talk about.”
Jesus, I’m starting to sound like Summer.
“One minute you and Summer were all over each other and now you’re not even speaking.”
“We weren’t all over each other.” I try to slide over Moose’s drink nonchalantly.
“Dude, you literally were. I’m not blind. I mean, I’ve had like a few concussions in my life, but I’m also not stupid.” Moose takes a sip of the coffee and shrugs. “And now she’s staying with Bethany and having two pissed off girlfriends in one place isn’t the brightest idea.”
I don’t correct him on calling Summer my girlfriend because I like the way it sounds—I’m also wondering what he could’ve done to piss Bethany off.
“She’s out of my league, Moose.”
He presses his hip into the counter, leaning in. “Obviously not if she seems to love hanging off you just as much.”
That’ll all pass. I know it will.
I slide Preston’s drink over the counter. I’m tempted to see his reaction to it, but I’m also not going to be the one to tell him to drink it.
“There.” I rest my hands on my hips. “You have your drinks and I’m busy, so please go away now.”
Moose looks around the empty cafe before taking another sip of his coffee. “Fine.” He licks his lips. “But I really think you should stop overcomplicating this.”
Moose calls out to Preston, now using the nickname sweetheart, and again I’m waiting for a fight to ensue. But Moose doesn’t seem to have the same concern.
“And for what it’s worth, man, I think you should go for it.” Moose clears his throat, now serious. “My girl is moving to a whole new country and yours is right in arm’s reach. Take advantage of that.”
Wait…Bethany is moving?
Moose waves me off, already knowing the question I have yet to ask aloud. “I’ll tell you later.”
Preston stands, his phone now in his hands.
Moose decides to be straight-up nosey. Or he’s decided that tonight is meant to be his last night on this planet.
Moose shoves his face in front of Preston’s phone.
Preston doesn’t hesitate to push him away, but Moose just laughs while rubbing his forehead.
“Tell Callahan I said hi and I love him.”
Ah, yes. Lucas Callahan. Another hockey star who’s far bigger than should be allowed—and he’s considered the “shorter” one, according to Moose—
I’m seriously going to start looking into what they’re being fed.
“No,” Preston sighs, exasperated. “You can tell him that yourself.”
Moose picks up Preston’s coffee from the counter and takes one quick look at me. “See you later, man.”
I give him a lazy salute and watch them leave the cafe.
An hour later, Mario tells me that it’s time I head home. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m starting to organize everything in alphabetical order just for the hell of it, or he’s sick of seeing my face for the past twelve hours just today.
I don’t want to go back to the apartment, though. Or hang out with Moose. I want to call Summer, but instead I call Lily from my car that remains parked behind Metric’s.
The phone rings a few times and she picks up on the fourth ring.
“Hi, Lils!” I smile because thank god I at least have one of my best friends in a moment like this, but my excitement is quickly replaced by slight disappointment when I hear a familiar gentle, warm voice.
“Hey, kiddo. Sorry to disappoint but it’s just me.” Freddie speaks into the phone.
Realistically, I know that if something were wrong with Lily, Summer and I would’ve gotten a call, but my heart still can’t help but race.
“Everything okay, Mr. H?”
“Oh, yeah,” Freddie chuckles and I hear him scratch at the scruff of his face. “We were watching a movie with Lils, but she must’ve taken her meds a little early ’cause the kid is passed out.”
I’m glad Lily is finally taking her meds but damn did I need to talk to her. I can’t complain, though. I’d rather have her safely sleeping on her couch than staying up to all hours of the morning with her spiraling thoughts.
“Want me to see if I can wake her up?” Freddie asks after a moment of silence.
“No,” I sigh. “I didn’t need to tell her anything important. I’ll just try again tomorrow.”
“Alright, well tell Summer I said hi and we miss the both of you.”
I swallow hard and hold back from telling Freddie everything. He’s always known how to fix things. Make things better. I often went to him and Estelle instead of my own parents for any and everything. I knew I wouldn’t be belittled that way.
Instead of telling Freddie everything I want or begging him to tell me what I should do, I say, “Yeah, Mr. H, I’ll tell her.”
And then we hang up.
My limbs are too heavy for me to even bring myself to turn my car on, put it in reverse, and drive anywhere. Maybe I’ll just sleep in the parking lot. Or perhaps I can go find Preston and ask him to knock me out.
Then maybe I could get a good night’s rest.
My phone pings and it’s kind of sad how quickly I reach for it, dropping it on the floor in the process.
When I do pick it up, I realize that I might have attachment issues.
It’s been four days and I’m already finding it hard to be away from Summer.
I’m surprised my body hasn’t broken out into hives due to the withdrawals.
Bora: Hey, Dae’s in town. He’s wanting to grab dinner. We’re thinking Indian or Thai??
Me: I’m sure he doesn’t want me ruining the vibes.
Bora: He specifically asked you to come.
I immediately hit Bora’s caller I.D. It rings once before she answers.
“If he wanted me to go then why didn’t he call me himself?” I ask.
I hear someone calling out to Bora and she tells them to wait a second. I know she has a kitchen to run but it makes me feel special that she’s giving me a brief moment of her time.
“Dae was worried that if he asked you, you’d say no,” Bora finally admits.
Well that’s stupid. Dae is the one who wants nothing to do with me.
“Look,” Bora sighs. “I’m just doing as I was told.”
“That’s a first,” I mumble smugly into the phone.
Bora either didn’t hear me or doesn’t care. I’m sure it’s the latter. “Are you coming or not?”
“I just got off a long shift, Bora, and I really think Dae is just being—”
Someone calls out to her again and she groans. “I’ll text you where we’re meeting. See you in an hour.”
Then the line goes dead. I stare down at my phone, processing the entire conversation.
Great, now I’m going to have to think of something to talk to Dae about.
He’s never seemed interested in knowing anything about me, so I’m sure his invitation was rhetorical but Bora just ran with it. Like she normally does.
At least now I don’t have to sit back at the apartment.