Page 90 of Suck My Puck

“What?”

He shakes his head. “I just think it’s really cool that you’re so passionate and knowledgeable about coffee. And you’re not a jerk about it.”

I smile. “At the end of the day, it’s just coffee. I’m not saving lives.”

“I mean, some people can’t function without caffeine every morning. I bet they think their coffee orders are more important than life.”

I laugh as we make our way down the tree-lined street, passing beautiful brick shops that house a funky boutique, a farm-to-table restaurant, a wine bar, and a small gallery.

It’s the middle of November and when I’m not working at Spanky’s or the coffee shop, I’m with Braden. When we get back to our apartment building, we’ll go to my place or his and lounge in front of the TV, Maizie cuddled between us. After she falls asleep, Braden and I end up in bed together.

It’s the most fun I’ve had with a guy in forever. And we’re not even officially a couple. We’re just two friends and neighbors who share a pet and who like hooking up and hanging out.

My stomach does a somersault at just how much I’m loving spending all this time with Braden. At how much I like him.

Goosebumps flash across my skin when I think about just how well things are going between us. I was so wrong about him. Yeah, he’s a professional hockey player, but he’s not a jerk like I assumed he was when we first met.

He makes me laugh constantly. And he’s so sweet and generous. He buys all of Maizie’s food and treats. When I tried to pay him my share, he refused to take my money. And he ordered a bunch of my home-roasted coffee from me to keep at his place so I have the exact coffee I like when I fall asleep at his place.

He’s also the best I’ve ever had in bed. We haven’t even had full-on sex, and being with him is still hotter than anything I’ve ever done with anyone else. Unlike other guys I’ve been with, he’s always down to use my toys. He asks me what I want, what makes me feel good and actually listens. And he always makes sure I come at least once before he comes.

My phone buzzes with a text, pulling me out of my thoughts. It’s a message from Amy, Ingrid’s mom.

Bella! Could I double my coffee order for my delivery tomorrow? So sorry to ask on such short notice, but some family is coming to visit us at the last minute this weekend. They’re coffee snobs and I want to impress them with your coffee :) I’m happy to pay double, triple, whatever you’d like!

I grin down at my phone and tell her that’s it no problem at all.

“What’s that smile for?” Braden asks.

I put my phone away. “Ingrid’s mom asked to double her order for this weekend.”

He beams at me. “Atta girl!” He looks so happy and proud that it catches me off guard.

I chuckle.

“You’re kicking ass with your coffee business. I’m so proud of you.”

There’s a tenderness in his tone that hits me straight in the center of my chest. He really means it.

And then I realize why it means so much—because Matt never sounded this proud of me, no matter what I did.

I blink quickly and swallow back the sudden emotion that surges up my chest. Braden’s not even my boyfriend and he’s proud of me in a way that my ex never was.

We stop when Maizie pauses to sniff a patch of wildflowers.

“I mean it. You’re building your own business and it’s already doing so well. You’re amazing,” Braden says to me.

His gaze is soft as he looks at me. Gently, he swipes aside a chunk of hair that’s fallen in my face.

That feeling in my chest expands and deepens, turning warm. I try to brush it aside. I shouldn’t be catching feelings for Braden like this. We’re just friends who hook up sometimes. It’s not supposed to develop into anything more…

But even as I silently tell myself that, it feels wrong.

Just then, my phone rings. I pull my phone from my jacket pocket and see that my Aunt Lucy is calling.

I answer it. “Hi, Aunt Lucy. How are you?”

“Doing fine, but…honey, I’m sorry to say I’ve got some bad news about my apartment.”

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