Page 24 of Summer Nights

I can’t help but agree with him. It is exactly what she would have wanted. Our happiness was always important to Scarlett. She would regularly put herself last so those around her could succeed.

“For little Scarlett.” I lift my coffee mug up. An unusual way to cheers to her life but I know she would find the humour in it.

“For mi estrella.” Sonny lifts his mug.

“For my Star.” Dacre lifts his mug to meet ours.

“For Scarlett.” Nicky and Dawson both lift their mugs. A vow between us as brothers to live for the girl whose life was cut too short. A life that should have been long and filled with happiness and love. At that moment, I make a silent vow to myself. A vow to snuff out the light in the eyes of the motherfucker that forever took away the light in our girls.

Chapter Ten

Scarlett

“Large cappuccino, full cream, two sugars!” I call out over the gradually filling café. Breakfast time is always a rush. Workers coming in demanding their caffeine fix for the morning. I have to call out the order a second time before an older man eventually hears me and comes over to collect his cup. Not even a thank you.

“Rude old cunt.” I grumble under my breath.

“Probably just mad that it's been twelve years since his wife has gone down on him. Don’t blame her, I wouldn’t want a wrinkly ball sack near my mouth either.” I bark out a loud laugh, causing the entire shop to look my way. “Sorry guys!” I quickly apologise.

I turn and give Hannah a pointed stare. She just shrugs her shoulders and finishes off the small flat white she is making.

“What? You know it's true. I don’t think I have seen that bloke smile or say thank you once since he started coming here.”

She is of course right. Living in such a small town, being able to recognise who the locals are and who isn’t is easy work. Especially when the café is one of the major gossip centrals for the stay-at-home mums and for the women over 65’s club. And yes, they do meet weekly to gossip about their husbands, each other and whatever other hot gossip they have found out over the week. Those little old ladies are fucking savage.

Eventually, the lines begin to slow down as the morning rush fizzles out. An order for five coffees comes through on the machine. All large flat whites. Two with two sugars, one with one sugar and one with no sugar. Psychopath that one. Coffee needs sugar.

I hastily make the five coffees. Some poor assistant is probably stressing, hoping that I don’t take too long. After years of experience, I am able to make them all quick enough.

“Five large flat whites.” I call out looking down at the order receipt. I don’t look up until I see the shadow loom over me.

“Have a great…” I trail off as I look up. The five boys that have been plaguing my mind all morning standing in front of me.

“Hey baby girl.” Pike smiles. Fuck, I hope someone has got a mop handy because God. Damn. This man.

I return Pike's smile. “Hey.” I look around at the other guys. Each beaming those beautiful smiles at me. “I didn’t expect to see you guys here. How did you find me? You aren’t stalking me, are you?” I tease.

“Don’t give me ideas chica, I am already having issues with self-control.” The growl from Sonny weakens my knees. I quickly put the coffees down on the counter, knowing that if I held them any longer, I would drop them like a fool.

“Who said you had to have self-control?” I know by teasing him this much is dangerous. That look in his eye and the way they instantly heat, lets me know he would fulfil his promise in diminishing his control. I don’t back down. Taking a word of Grace’s advice: going after something that feels right. Not putting heavy expectations on myself for whatever this could be between the guys and I, but letting it develop naturally.

Sonny's eyes sparkle with malice. He looks like a bird that has found a shiny object. Me in question being the diamond bracelet. If it wasn’t for Nicky putting a hand on his shoulder, I have no doubts in my mind that he would have jumped the counter and had his way with me. The thought doesn’t deter me. If anything, it just gets me hot.

“Don’t tease me, Scarlett.” His voice is low and laced with danger. I have to grip hold of the counter just so my knees don’t buckle beneath me. The action isn’t missed by any of the guys either. They immediately clock my reaction. The way their eyes heat as they look at me sets me on fire even further. I quickly shake myself out of our little flirty interlude. While I would in no way detest being pulled over the counter and spread out for the guys to have their way with me, I don’t think any of the customers or my colleagues would be too happy. Although, I wouldn’t put it past Hannah to stand their recording the entire thing shouting words of encouragement. I don’t know how Daniel puts up with that girl some days. She is off tap.

“Ah, so how did you guys find me?” I repeat my earlier question in the hopes of finally getting an answer.

Dacre steps forward and grabs the coffee tray and begins handing out cups to the guys. “We all wanted to see you. Especially Mr Smooth Operator over there.” He nodded his head in Sonny’s direction who just looked like a Cheshire cat. “He was going to come down here no matter what. He is like a three-year-old. Needs constant supervision.”

We all laugh, drawing the attention of a few surrounding customers. Sonny pins Dacre with a stern look. “No, I don’t.” He grumbles, frowning down into his coffee cup before taking a sip. His eyes instantly blow wide. He stares at me in amazement.

“That is the best coffee I have ever had. What did you put in there?”

I shrug my shoulders. “Ah, coffee. I mean it's a high quality coffee bean that we use but it's nothing overly special.”

The other guys take a sip of their coffees, earning me the same reaction.

“That is the best coffee I have ever had in my life!” Dacre says, eyes blown wide.

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