Page 12 of Totally Geeked

“It’s okay. Look there’s a table by the window free. I can order. You did drive me after all.”

“Sure, I’ll have a grande, upside-down caramel macchiato with extra caramel drizzle, vanilla, sweet cream, cold foam and caramel crunch in the cold foam.”

His eyebrows rise.

“That’s not a coffee order.”

“Totally is, too.”

“It’s not, but do you want anything to eat? I’m getting a bagel.”

“Cinnamon Coffee Cake, please. I’ll go grab the table.”

I have no idea if he’ll remember my order right, but as long as it’s coffee and caramel I’ll devour it just fine. The sun has warmed the seats by the window and throws a soft glow over the table.

“Shouldn’t be too long, I gave them your name. Could you grab the tray when it’s called?” Arlo asks, taking a seat.

“Sure, I was going to suggest that, after, well…” I glance at my shirt, and he rolls his eyes.

“I swear it was your driving that was the real cause. I can’t believe I just read my book to a room full of strangers.”

He pulls his hair out of the tie at the back of his head and lets his hair fall to frame his face.

“You were amazing, the kids and parents all loved you.”

“I really have you to thank. After reading to you back at Gordon’s I just kept imagining that's what I was doing, and every time I looked up, there you were, a giant in a bright baseball shirt, smiling my way.”

My face warms at the compliment. They call my name, and I grab our order. My caramel macchiato looks delicious, and when I take the first sip, I can’t help but make a hmm noise. Arlo chuckles.

“Good then?”

“Amazing.”

“So I was thinking, and you can totally say no, but if you don’t have plans tomorrow, do you think I could get you to come along to another reading?”

He’s giving me a half smile, one corner of his lips picked up, and it’s fucking adorable as hell.No, not adorable. You can’t be thinking Gordon’s little brother is adorable. He’s off-limits. But he is adorable, and he needs your help. Gordon would want you to help his little brother, wouldn’t he? It’s just helping. That’s it.

“Sure. You provide the coffee afterward, and I’m happy to do this as many times as you want.”

He bounces a little in his seat, smiling wide before taking a bite of his bagel, but when he puts it down, his elbow knocks the spoon by his coffee and sends it flipping in the air, and when he tries to grab it, he bumps the table with his cast, sending his coffee sideways. I grab my cup and plate, pushing my chair back just in time to watch the coffee drip over the edge between my legs, narrowly missing my lap.

Phew.

“Sorry,” he says, grabbing napkins to soak up the coffee from the tabletop. One of the staff arrives a second later with towels and a mop, and we stand. “I can clean it, and we can go. I’ll just need a bag for my bagel if it’s not covered in coffee, too,” Arlo explains, but I shake my head.

“We’re not going,” I begin, and the young woman interrupts to agree.

“It’s okay, really. I’ll have it cleaned up in a jiffy, and the barista is already making you a new coffee.”

Arlo’s cheeks are flame red, and he’s folded his arms over his chest like a shield of protection.

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“They’re sure,” I say, putting my coffee and plate down on a nearby table and pulling out my chair further so she can get to the floor.

When it's all cleaned and we sit again, the barista arrives with another coffee and bagel.

“I can’t believe I just did that,” he says, all the while his gaze is locked on the new coffee in front of him. “They should have brought this one in a sippy cup.”

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