Page 7 of Burn for You

“Wouldn’t count on it,” Marina cuts in.

I roll my eyes. “Where would be the fun in that?”

“I don’t know. It might be a bit more peaceful,” Isla shrugs. “For all of us.”

“Peace is overrated,” I retort, but my best friend just rolls her eyes. “Look, that crabby old man and I have nothing in common. Like zero. We just clash, but it’s fine. He’s Caio’s best friend for whatever reason.” Marina snorts at that. “And I’m yours. We are eternally doomed to be in each other’s vicinity forever, but you know I’d do anything for you.”

She rolls her eyes again. “Why did you never do drama in school? You would’ve gotten so many awards.”

I grab her hand over the bar. “Honestly, it’s fine. I’m happy here. Sure, Rafael exists, which is a pain in my ass, but I don’t think I was meant for a life of peace.”

Her eyes turn sad, and I know exactly where her mind went.

“Speaking of peace, how does hot chocolate and Dirty Dancingsound?” I change the subject.

“You two go. I’ve got to finish closing up,” Marina says.

“We can wait around,” Isla offers.

Marina waves a hand. “Nah, you go. I’ve got a puzzle waiting for me upstairs.”

“The girl who rides a badass motorcycle has a puzzle occupying her Saturday night?” I tease.

“Shut up.” She whips me on the ass with the towel that was hanging over her shoulder. “Says the girl who has spent the last two weeks ignoring the world in favor of her hoard of fictional boyfriends.”

“Excuse you. Reading is good for the soul.”

“So are puzzles.”

“Okay, so are hot chocolates, so let’s go,” Isla jumps off her stool. “Sure you don’t want to come?”

Marina nods. “I’m good. I’ll see you both tomorrow at the food festival though, yeah?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” I give her a kiss on the cheek and grab my bag from under the bar before linking up with Isla and heading out the door.

I pulltwo new mugs off their hooks and place them on the counter. I got these at the market last week—one is a little cow, and the other is a llama. They came as a pair, so of courseI had to get both.

“This place gets cuter and cuter every time I see it,” Isla says from her spot on the couch. “I love this rug, by the way.” She rubs her toes over the mat beneath her. “It reminds me of the one we had in our dorm.”

I turn around to face her with a small smile. “That’s why I got it.”

Isla just smiles back at me before the kettle squealing interrupts us. I pull it off the element and pour the hot water into the mugs in front of me. I mix the chocolate powder into the hot water and open the cupboard above me, searching for the mini marshmallows I stashed in there last week.

There’s something about mini marshmallows—they taste so much better than the normal sized ones.

I rip open the packet and sprinkle the marshmallows on top before picking up the mugs and carefully walking over to where Isla has gotten comfy on the couch. She has a blanket over her legs and one of our favorite movies lined up on the tv.

“Mmm, thank you,” she says as I hand her the llama mug. “You’re the best at hot chocolates and I don’t know why. You use a packet mixture.”

“It’s the mini marshmallows,” I admit.

She hums in agreement as she takes a sip.

I reach for the remote and push play before tucking my legs in and cozying up next to Isla under the blanket.

“So this Dean,” she says as the movie starts.

“Mm-hmm?”

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