Page 48 of The Future Play

“Okay…”

“I like the general idea though. I was thinking coffee, but unless I know where she’s going to be, I can’t just have someone randomly deliver her a coffee.”

Trevor tilts his head back and forth. “She does love coffee. And she’s a sucker for a latte, which means she’ll be going to a coffee shop. You just need to figure out her favorite place. Lucky for you, she posts a bunch on her Instagram.”

I wince. “Yeah. Uh, she might’ve unfriended me and removed me as a follower on all social media. I requested again, but she hasn’t approved it.”

Trev stares at me for a moment, then sighs and grabs his phone. After tapping the screen a few times, he holds it out to me. But just as I’m about to grab it, he lifts his hand. “Don’t make me regret helping you with this. Fix things with her. And so help me God, if you hurt her, it won’t just be me kicking your ass. I’ll get all the guys to help—actually, scratch that, I’ll get all the girls to help. You know how ferally protective they are of each other.”

“Noted,” I say, taking the phone. “I’m not going to fuck it up.”

Again.

Amanda

BewitchedBooks and Coffee might be my favorite place in the world.

It’s a tiny little shop just outside of town in Woods Junction.

They have a fun selection of books in the romance and fantasy genres, including a lot of indie authors. I came to a signing here last year and met two amazing local authors, who I’ve since read the entire backlists of and am trying not to stalk too hard on social media.

But the best part is that they make delicious lattes. The coffee part of the shop isn’t the main selling point, so most people just looking for a good cup don’t come here. They hit one of the chain places or stop into—the also fabulous—Mixed Brews in nearby Lacy Creek. One of my favorite things to do is wander the aisles here while I sip on an iced pistachio shortbread latte with pistachio cold cream. It’s the best.

Last night was a fiasco. Not the event—that went amazing, and I had several people ask for my information—but Jamie.

Who in their right mind thinks it’s okay to bring personal drama to where someone is working? Ugh.

Boys.

Men.

Who needs them?

Although, that’s when someone inevitably says they should just be a lesbian, and since the first person to break my heart was female, I can confidently say that doesn’t solve problems.

What does solve problems? Books and coffee. Works every time.

Jace holds the door open for me as we walk into Bewitched. I’ve barred her from mentioning anything relating to Jamie, so we can be centered here in the holy ground.

Jace orders her drink, then I order mine, but as I give the woman working at the counter my name, her eyebrows go up.

“You come in here a lot, right?”

My cheeks heat a little. “Yes.”

“Well, we appreciate that. It seems like someone else knows too. At least, if you’re Amanda Hamilton.”

“That’s me,” I say in confusion.

“Perfect. Your drink is already paid for.”

I squint and look at Jace, who shrugs.

“There’s a tab open here for you… it’s enough to get a nice drink every day for at least a month,” the woman behind the counter says, looking at the screen.

“Does it say who it’s from?” I ask.

“I don’t have a name here—not a real one.”

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