Chapter 19 #2
A few days later, the weather is turning pleasant as Spring decides to step out and play, which is why I decide to roll down my windows as I drive to work, enjoying the cool breeze.
My jacket in the passenger seat, I wonder if I should pick up a coffee when I see a café.
It’s empty, which is rare for this time of day, so I decide to get breakfast as well.
I order my usual—something sweet and caffeinated—and grab a couple of Danish pastries from the display case.
About to pay, I spot the familiar burgundy packaging on the shelf behind the counter.
Megan’s obsession with this particular brand has been drilled into my head for months.
Without really thinking about it, I point to the coffee beans. “Add one of those.”
The savory breakfast sandwiches catch my eye next. Eve mentioned she doesn’t usually eat breakfast, and I remember her always going for the salty stuff over sweet. I point to one with bacon and egg. “Does that one have tomatoes?” I ask.
The barista peers at the sandwich. “Yeah, sliced tomatoes and lettuce.”
“Can you make it without the tomatoes?”
“Sure, no problem.” She starts assembling a fresh one. “Allergy?”
“She just doesn’t like them.” The words come out automatically, and I grab another sandwich, this one with sausage and cheese.
“Your girlfriend has good taste,” the barista says with a smile as she wraps everything up. “The tomatoes here are pretty bland anyway.”
I don’t bother correcting her. “Right. Thanks.” I pocket the receipt and jog back to my car, eager to get to the office.
I’m walking in through the lobby instead of taking the garage elevator, trying to soak up as much of the sun as I can, when I spot Jake stepping into the elevator. Rushing forward, I slide in just before the doors close.
“Morning, sunshine,” he says, eyeing the bags in my hands. “What’ve you got there?” Before I can answer, he’s reaching for one of the bags. I pull it away.
“Not for you.”
Jake’s eyebrows shoot up, and that knowing grin spreads across his face. “So who is it for?”
I waggle my brows. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
My brother cocks his head, studying me. “Don’t tell me this is for the girl whose desk you wrapped in princess paper.”
I give him a look. “Remember how I asked about you and Iris, and you told me to mind my own business?” I make a gun motion with my finger and click my tongue. “How does it feel?”
Jake chuckles, leaning against the elevator wall. “Touché. But come on, you brought her breakfast? That’s practically a declaration of intent.”
“It’s food, Jake. Just food.”
He gestures at how I’m clutching the bags. “When’s the last time you brought anyone breakfast?”
Never. But I’m not giving him that ammunition. “Maybe I’m just being nice.”
“You?” Jake snorts. “Nice isn’t exactly your default setting, little brother. Trouble is.”
The elevator dings at the seventh floor—my floor. I step toward the doors.
“Wait,” Jake says, holding the door open. “Is this for Eve?” I put my fingers on my lips, and Jake’s grin widens. “Holy shit, you like a girl.”
“I won’t ask about Iris if you don’t ask about Eve,” I offer.
He considers it and sighs. “Deal.” However, from the smirk on his lips, he’ll be investigating. Nosy fucker.
Eve’s already at her desk when I enter the office, nursing a cup of coffee. Steven’s surprisingly early, too, typing away at his laptop. I walk up behind Eve’s chair and dangle the bag in front of her face. “Look what I got you.”
She glances up from her screen, eyebrows raised. “What’s this?”
“Open it and see.”
Her gaze falls on the bag with ‘Princess’ written on it in my admittedly terrible handwriting, and she rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall out.
“Grow up.” But she’s already reaching for the bag, and I catch the way her fingers pause when she feels the weight of the coffee beans.
She pulls them out first, and I swear her entire expression changes.
“Where did you get this?” The suspicion is still there, but underneath it is something that might be excitement.
“Coffee shop on Fifth. You like it?” I’m trying to keep my voice casual, but there’s satisfaction curling in my chest at her reaction.
“This is...” She turns the bag over, examining the label. “This is one of my favorite brands. Like, top three.” The pleasure that shoots through me at those words is ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. I’m a grown man getting excited because I accidentally bought the right coffee beans.
“Good to know,” I say, aiming for nonchalant and probably missing by a mile.
Steven looks up from his computer with interest. “Since when do you get Eve gifts, Caleb?”
“Since I want to get in her good graces.” I play with her hair.
Steven stares at us, and then I see the realization dawn on his face. “Wait. Are you two—? Are you guys seeing each other?”
From Eve’s expression, she’s about to say no, but I quickly squeeze her shoulder. “Yes. Don’t tell anybody, though. We’re trying to keep it low-key.”
Steven smiles. “You can trust me.”
‘No, we can’t,’ Eve mouths at me and my lips twitch.
“I always did think there was something going on between you two. All that hostility was not normal. To think you two just liked each other,” Steven chuckles. “Why can’t kids be honest these days?”
He gets back to work and Eve begins digging through the rest of the bag now, pulling out the pastries and breakfast sandwiches, murmuring as she does. “Seeing each other, my ass. You haven’t taken me out anywhere for Luis to see.”
I grin, pulling her chair towards me. “Aw, do you want to go on a date, Eve?”
She narrows her eyes. “Not if you ask me like that.”
“Then how should I ask you?”
She sighs, before patting my cheek. “If I have to do everything for you, Caleb, then I should just date myself.”
Amused, I see her unwrap the sandwich. “Before you ask,” I say, watching her inspect the inside, “there are no tomatoes. I know you hate them.”
Her eyes widen slightly, and I watch a faint blush creep up her cheeks before she looks away quickly. Something about catching her off guard like that, seeing that moment of surprise—I like it more than I should.
“Are you trying to fatten me up? What’s your endgame here?”
I clutch my chest. “I’m wounded, Lopez. Truly. If you don’t want them—”
I reach for the bag, but she snatches it away so fast she nearly knocks over her coffee mug. “They’re mine. Back off.” The possessiveness in her voice, the way she’s cradling the bag against her chest like I might steal it back, it makes me want to grin like an idiot. Like I just won something.
“Territorial much?” I tease.
“I skipped breakfast,” she mutters, already unwrapping one of the Danish pastries. “And I had to get up at five-thirty because my upstairs neighbor decided to practice interpretive dance at dawn.”
“Interpretive dance?”
“Either that or she’s being murdered very rhythmically.” Eve takes a bite and closes her eyes briefly. “Okay, this is actually good. Where has this place been hiding?”
I’m about to answer when Joshua walks in, looking alert for this time of morning. His gaze immediately goes to the spread on Eve’s desk, then to me, then back to Eve with that easy smile of his.
“Is that for me, Eve? You’re so considerate.” He reaches for one of the sandwiches, and Eve snaps her teeth.
“Don’t make me bite you.”
Joshua makes a hangdog face. “I thought biting was against company policy.”
“So is strolling in late, but here you are.” Eve chews her sandwich, but I notice the way her eyes linger on her friend.
Joshua winks at her. “I won’t tell if you won’t.” Eve flips him the finger.
With the board having approved the presentation, we still have a month or so for the actual launch so the work is getting hectic. However, the date Eve mentioned is still in the back of my mind.
As the office winds down for the day, people start packing up their things and shutting down computers. The golden light through the windows is fading to dusky purple. I’m still at my desk, my laptop closed, scrolling through restaurant options on my phone.
I’ve been at this for twenty minutes now, comparing menus like it actually matters.
When did planning a fake date with Eve become something I’m genuinely excited about?
When did I start caring if they have that Italian wine she mentioned liking, or whether their pasta primavera is any good because I remember her ordering something similar last month?
This is supposed to be about keeping her safe.
About getting Luis to back off. A protective measure, nothing more.
Except I just checked if this place has panna cotta or crème br?lée—something mildly sweet—because I remember she doesn’t go for the heavy desserts when we eat at her place. What is wrong with me?
“What are you doing?”
I look up as Eve comes back from the washroom and leans against my desk, her palms braced behind her, hip resting against the edge.
The large funky hoops she’s wearing today—geometric shapes with little beads—catch the light when she tilts her head.
I should get her some more of those. Diamond hoops, maybe.
Or those gold ones with the abstract designs I saw at that jewelry store last week, the ones that looked like tiny sculptures.
Wait, what?
“Planning our date.” I clear my throat. “Trying to find somewhere nice.”
“Steven blabbed, by the way, if you haven’t noticed.” She glances around the office. “Everyone knows we’re dating now. Good job with that.”
I shake my head. “He probably told Flora, and you know how she is.”
“The whole office knew by lunch.”
She looks around before asking. “So where are you taking me?”
“Eager to go out with me?”
Her cheeks flush immediately. “That's not—I just don’t want you pulling some prank on me.”