Page 49 of Beneficial Misfortune

Walking toward him, I set my mug on the counter to his left and take a step back, determined to watch his every move and hopefully avoid these awkward mornings. I’m two for two on these as well, and I’m not sure how many more habits I can afford to pick up, especially not habits like these.

Oliver places his own mug under the dispenser but doesn’t move beyond that, and for a moment, I worry he doesn’t know how to use it either. That can’t be right, though. Not only does he live here, he’d also been going for coffee before running into me.

He turns his head, peeking at me over his shoulder, and I meet his gaze.

“Um, do you want me to show you how to use it?” he asks, sounding uncertain.

A smile pulls at my lips, and I quickly walk up beside him so that we’re standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the coffeepot from hell.

“Yes, please!”

He chuckles, but it sounds shaky, and when I look over at him, he won’t meet my eyes.

It’s strange, considering he’d just been so outspoken, but before I can question him about it, he takes a step to his right, creating a small gap between us.

“Okay, just let me know if something doesn’t make sense. It’s annoying, but once you understand, it’s not too bad.”

Oliver was right. The coffeepot is actually pretty straightforward once you get past all the knobs and unnecessary shit on it. I mean, I guess they aren’t unnecessary, exactly. Everything has a purpose, but I don’t need to know anything other than how to brew a basic cup of coffee, nothing so fancy.

We sit together in silence at the island, both sipping our coffee, and while it’s a bit strained, it’s not unbearable, probably thanks to the caffeine.

“Ah, Oliver, I expected you back tonight.” Nathan’s voice pulls me from the nothing I was staring into, and I turn to find him standing at the coffeepot.

Wow, I must be out of it if I missed him walking by. Clearly, today is going to be a two-cup kind of day.

Standing, I make my way toward him and the coffee, a little nervous to try the machine with an audience, but at least if I mess it up, they will hopefully take pity on me.

I don’t get a chance to try, though. Nathan turns, looking down at me before snatching my cup from my hand.

“Another cup?” he asks, and I stand frozen for a second before I nod, despite the fact that he’s no longer looking in my direction. He makes quick work of preparing another cup forme, making the machine look easy to use despite the fact that I know it isn’t.

“You get used to it,” he says with a smirk, pressing my now full cup back into my hand before he starts on his own.

Crap, he didn’t even make himself coffee, and he got mine.

“Thank you, but I could have done it. Oliver showed me how it works.” I try to sound confident in my ability, but I’m not sure if it works or not.

“Good, I’m glad you two had the chance to meet already,” he says, ignoring my bit about the coffee and turning to face Oliver as his own cup brews.

I might not know Nathan very well yet, but I know him enough that I can tell I’m being dismissed. Taking my coffee and my complaints, I return to my chair. Nathan stares across the room at Oliver, and he squirms under his gaze. Not that I blame him. Nathan is intense.

They seem to be having some kind of silent conversation that I have no hope of understanding. I look between them for a moment before Nathan finally turns back to grab his coffee and comes to join us at the counter.

Oliver’s eyes remain on his cup this time as if it’s the most interesting thing he’s ever seen.

“So, Kat, do you have any plans this weekend?” Nathan asks, turning his attention to me, and suddenly, I have to fight the urge to squirm.

I’d much prefer he keep his attention on Oliver.

“Um, no.” I never have plans, but I don’t say as much. No reason to make myself sound pathetic.

He nods, taking a sip of his coffee as if in thought before he continues.

“Well, while you're not required to be with Addison this weekend as I’m not working, if you would like to join us, we planto take her to the zoo today. She’s been asking since the weather has been nice, but this is the first weekend we’ve all been home.”

“Oh, no. I don’t want to intrude on your family time. I’m more than okay with staying here. I can read or…”

“Nonsense,” he says, cutting me off as he pushes to stand and head to the sink. “Addison would love it if you came along. I wouldn’t invite you if I didn’t want you to be there.”

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