Page 77 of The Game

“This is Better Beans. Our first stop of the day. I know you said you love checking out independent coffee shops to see what fun stuff they’ve got going on, so I mapped out a little tour of three for you.”

“This is amazing, but when did you plan this?” We only agreed to date for real last night. Did he stay up all night planning a day out? Judging from the steady rhythm of his breathing any time I woke up in the middle of the night, I highly doubt he was googling coffee shops at two am.

He rubs a hand down the back of his neck, eyes falling to study his worn sneakers. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I’ve been thinking about it and researching all the nearby coffee shops since you told me how much you like to do this.I wasn’t sure if I would ever get a chance to actually take you to them, but I was hoping. Is that weird?”

“Weird? No. It’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. Planning a day just for me when you weren’t even sure if we were going to get together officially. I could barely get Darryl to come to All Capps to meet me after work. He said he didn’t like the smell of coffee. Always made me take a shower after I got home from work.” If I thought my heart was full before, it’s on the verge of bursting now. No one has ever done something this sweet just for me.

Cole buries his nose in my head. “Let’s not talk about that asshole. Coffee is my new favorite smell. Now what should I get?”

“What do you like?”

He shrugs. “I never buy myself fancy coffees. Just drink whatever we’re brewing at home or in the cafeteria.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Do you like sweet things?”

There’s a wicked gleam in his eyes as he reaches out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “I like you.”

“Come on.” Now he’s got me blushing as I brush his hand away. “You know what I mean.”

“Yes, lots of sugar. Enough to rot my teeth.”

I laugh. “We can work on that, but for now. Let’s see what they’ve got here.”

The large chalkboard hanging behind the barista has their standard offerings written out in colorful chalk accompanied by little doodles. But there’s a smaller chalkboard on the counter with a couple of specials on it.

“Pumpkin?” I turn to him.

“Not the nickname I would have chosen for myself, but I guess.” His dark eyes are twinkling under the soft lighting from the multicolored glass chandeliers.

I smack him on the arm. “Not what I meant, but maybe. Do you like the taste of pumpkin?”

“I like pumpkin pie.”

“Okay then.”

Cole snags my hand as I step up to the counter. “One pumpkin spice latte, and one cappuccino please. And a pumpkin scone with two forks.”

“Whipped cream on the pumpkin?” she asks.

He nods when I turn to find him staring at me with a soft smile curving up his lips. “Definitely.”

She hands us a number to put on our table. It’s another little chalkboard with the number seven on it and a drawing of an elephant.

“I love this place.”

We settle into the last two unoccupied comfy chairs, hands still linked as I look around, taking in every single detail.

“Getting ideas?”

“Yes. Obviously, I want to make my coffee shop unique, put my own theme on it, but I love getting ideas from other places. Like these table numbers. Adorable. And they’ve got some events listed on their community board over there.” I wave at the far wall. “They’ve got live music on Fridays and games night on Tuesdays. It’s those sorts of things that really make a place part of the community. A place that will lastbecause people will go there to spend time and come back every day for their morning fix.”

“I’d totally come here to hang out in the evening. Only if you were there with me, though. So, what are you thinking about doing at your place?” The genuine interest he’s shown in my plans is disarming. I’m so used to people telling me I can’t do it.

“I’ve always loved the pairing of books and coffee. They’re just a perfect match, and I’d love to have a coffee shop bookstore combo with Jordan, but lately. Lately I’ve been thinking of maybe throwing in a bit of a hockey theme.”

His eyes crinkle at the corners. “Really? Big fan?”

“Turns out it’s my favorite sport.”

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