Page 32 of Lilies in Autumn

“Uh, Ava?” a voice behind me calls.

I whip around, in no mood for anyone’s shit. “What?” I screech. I sound insane, I know I do. But the coffee will not fucking stop.

Dante stands there, trying to suppress a smile, based on the twitching of his weirdly perfect lips.

“You need a little help over there? You seem to be having a moment with the coffee machine.” He tilts his head, and his eyes flick to the ravine of caffeine running along the grout in the tile floor. “That was an interesting string of curse words. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone say, ‘Fuck your sister’s ass.’ It’s kind of disturbing as fuck.”

“Well, I wouldn’t have to say it if this coffee machine would just stop dispensing fucking coffee.” I gesture wildly to the offending vat. “It’s like a volcano erupted.”

Dante walks past me, reaching to the side of the coffee machine, and suddenly, the coffee stops flowing like lava from the pits of hell. “Wait… what? How…?” I look at him in accusation. “How the hell did you know that button was there?”

Dante sucks his lips under his teeth and points to a sign above the machine. In large, bold, red letters, the sign reads, “In the event of lever malfunction, press the button on the right side of the machine to stop the flow of coffee.” There’s even a series of diagrams showing where and how to press the button. Huh, I guess I missed that.

“Right, I uh, guess I missed that.” I look around at the mess all over the floor and the counter. I estimate that I’ll need to boycott the dining hall for three weeks to work through the embarrassment I feel right now. Coffee splatters line my arms, but somehow, praise Jesus and the powers that be, my clothes remain coffee-free. I grab one of the biodegradable napkins and begin cleaning up the droplets on my arms and hands. “Well, thank you. No one else seemed inclined to help.”

“In their defense, they probably thought you could read the sign.” Dante starts laughing and I scowl. “This isn’t the first time it’s happened; that’s why there’s a sign. They need to replace the machines, but I guess all of our tuition goes to lawn care and recruitment commercials.” He shrugs.

“Whatever,” I start. “While you’re here, can you fill up my mug from the other coffee machine? I am traumatized and will be hiding my face for the next twenty-one days to recover from this.” He laughs and takes my mug, filling it with coffee from the other dispenser. It works perfectly, exactly like it was made to.

Asshole.

“Milk? Sugar?”

“Just some half and half, if you don’t mind.” He pours a splash in, looking at me to make sure it’s enough before capping the container and handing my mug back to me.

“Thanks. I don’t think I would have made it through my algebra class without this, and I was tempted to run out of here once the rivers of hell opened on me.” As it stands, there’s coffee everywhere. Shit, I need to get a janitor. I must have said that out loud because Dante shakes his head. “I already told them that the machine broke again. They should be coming over with a mop and some caution signs.”

“You’re a lifesaver.”

“Right, right. So, since I helped you, you think that maybe you can put in a good word with Red?” I laugh. I was wondering how long it would take for him to bring CeCe up.

“If you grab my arm and make sure I don’t fall on my ass in coffee, I will tell her to buy a wedding dress and to pick her bridesmaids colors, if that’s what you want.”

“Oh, fuck yeah. Here, give me your arm.” Dante reaches for my arm, pulling me to him and guiding me past the coffee spillage. I was kidding about the wedding, but apparently, he’s not.

“So, if you could also tell Red to text me, that would be solid. That hellion has my number but refused to give me hers.” His eyes suddenly light up. Oh no, I know what he’s about to ask and the answer is no. “Ava, Ava, Ava. Why don’t you repay the favor and give me Red’s number? I’m sure she won’t mind.”

“We’re talking about the same CeCe, right? Celeste Lauren Downing? You realize that she has a black belt in karate and, like, fifteen male cousins that taught her how to fight. Not to mention, her dad’s a medical examiner, and I’m pretty sure she knows how to kill without leaving evidence.” I pat his hand in apology. “Thanks for helping with the coffee, but there is no way in hell that I’m going to be on the receiving end of C’s retribution.” I shiver just thinking about it.

“Fuck, that’s so hot.” He must have a torture fetish because, what?

“Uh, sure, yeah.” I walk out of the dining hall, Dante still on my heels. I figured that after I accepted his help and agreed to put in a good word with Celeste that he’d leave me alone. Apparently, I was wrong. “Okay, so thanks again. Bye.” I pick up the pace, walking toward Howard Hall, where my class is being held.

“Ava, wait.” I sigh and turn around, raising a brow in response.

“I know someone mentioned a bet, and I just want you to know, there’s no bet about you or Grey. Fuck, he really likes you, Ava. He needed your number and didn’t want to put his interest on display, so he told Felicity there was a bet so that she wouldn’t question it or try to make your life hell.” He runs a hand through his hair, drawing in a breath before continuing, “Felicity, she’s batshit crazy, and the last thing Grey wanted was to have her target you out of some misplaced jealousy. Believe me, nothing is going on and he’s into you. I’ve never seen my boy so hung up over a girl before. Just give him a chance to explain.”

I had suspicions that Felicity was the sender of the text, and now it’s all but confirmed. What a miserable, angry person she is to send catty messages under a blocked number. I don’t love confrontation, but my God, grow a pair of ovaries and either talk to me face-to-face or leave me alone.

“Dante, you’re a good friend. I’ll make sure Celeste knows that.”

“Does that mean you’ll give Grey a chance to explain?”

I chew on my lip, remembering Greyson’s face when he asked me not to ignore him. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll see. Bye, Dante. I need to get to class.”

I leave Dante and make my way to algebra, lost in thoughts of Greyson throughout the entire introduction to the class. The professor, a kind, elderly man that reminds me of a movie grandpa, lets us out fifteen minutes before the end of class, and I nearly cry in relief. Thoughts of Greyson, our afternoon together, Felicity, the text message, and the fucking coffee explosion of 2023 run through my head, and all I want to do is go back to my dorm and hide until my next class. I’m one of the last to exit the classroom, my head down and dreaming about my bed and invisibility cloaks. There’s a small crowd gathered in front of the door, and I work to weave my way through, trying to put as much distance as I can between me and this morning.

I’m almost out of the building when I hear my name called out.

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