Page 15 of Grump and Grumpier

I raise a brow, but don’t argue. “How did you and Jansen meet?”

“In college.” When I continue to look at him, making it clear I want more, he says, “We kept running into each other at a coffee shop off campus, one that had good quality coffee.”

“That’s interesting.”

“Is it?”

I dip a shrimp into the curried yogurt sauce. “Yeah. The two of you going out of your way for good coffee, while most students are drinking whatever’s available on campus. It’s a good origin story.”

He gives another almost imperceptible shrug, as if to say he’s not sure it’s interesting at all.

“So the two of you started talking at this coffee shop?”

“No, we didn’t talk at all—”Not surprising,I think. “—until we crossed paths on the quad and recognized each other. After that, the next time we ran into each other at the shop, we walked back to campus together.”

Again, I keep looking at him, prompting him to elaborate, and finally, he does. “We talked about what makes good coffee, and about the challenges it faces, changing climates, ethical growing, that kind of stuff.”

“You geeked out about coffee.”

His standard frown deepens. “That’s not how I look at it, but sure.”

“I can’t picture the two of you in college, especially Jansen.”

Derek quirks his brow, now waiting formeto say more.

“Was he … as sullen back then as he is now?”

“Sullen?”

“Cold? Unfriendly?”

Derek’s frown returns, making me wonder if the men have any idea how they come across to others.

“Jansen’s parents have always had high expectations, and they’ve been hard on him. He’s not much different now than he was when I met him.”

“Were either of you planning to go into the coffee business before you met?”

Derek looks thoughtful for a moment as he chews a bite of food. “No, I was majoring in business, but I hadn’t decided on a direction yet. Jansen was studying chemistry, and after we started making plans, he doubled in agriculture, much to his parents’ dismay.”

“Why were they upset?”

“They wanted him to become a doctor. Medicinal chemistry was already a compromise. They didn’t approve the change in his career plans.”

I snag another shrimp because they truly are the best I’ve ever had. “Surely, they must be proud now. You two are giving the national chain a run for its money locally.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Bennett don’t consider coffee a worthy pursuit for their son.”

I frown like Derek, because that’s sad to hear. “How about your parents?”

“What about them?”

“Are they hard on you?”

“They’re great people. Very supportive.” He says this as if stating a basic fact, like saying the sky is blue. There’s none of the emotion in his voice that most people would have when talking about family who love them.

Partially hiding behind my wine glass, I ask, “Then what’syourexcuse for being so grumpy all the time?”

Derek’s eyes narrow, but I think there’s a glint of amusement in them, if I look hard enough.

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