Page 85 of Not That Impossible

“You’re tall. Your knees are usually out of reach. He just got you because you were bending.”

“Jasper, stop draping yourself over my counter, it’s unsanitary,” Charlie said, returning with my coffee.

I straightened, eyeing the steaming cup. “Are you sure I can’t have a nice frappe?” I said with a sigh. “You can skip the wafer. I won’t mind.”

“No. I hate doing the fancy drinks, that’s Amalie’s gig. She’s busy. This is a perfect Americano, and you will appreciate my artistry. Look at that crema. Hi, Mrs Hughes. What can I get you?”

“Flat white for me and the usual for Dougal, please.”

“Flat white and a puppuccino, coming up.”

“Puppuccino?” I said indignantly. That sounded fancy.

“It’s only warm milk he froths up a bit,” Mrs Hughes said. “Dougal likes a treat.”

“How come Dougal gets a fancy drink and I don’t?” I said to Charlie.

“I like Dougal.”

“Thanks. That’s very flattering. Can I have another Americano for Adam, please? Oh, and a gingerbread Easter bunny and a brownie.”

“When I’m done with Dougal’s puppuccino,” Charlie said.

He wasn’t as mean as he liked to pretend. I really got on his wick for some reason, kind of like with Liam. Adam said it was because Charlie fancied me, but I didn’t see it. Also, Charlie didn’t date anyone, ever. I didn’t think he was into people.

“I read your article in the paper,” Mrs Hughes said.

“Yeah?” I straightened.

“It was very…vivid. You certainly have a way of spinning a yarn. Much more entertaining to read than that one on the website from Karen Strickland was. Good job. “

I grinned. “Thank you!”

“Those men were definitely speeding, though. I stand by that.”

Charlie returned with Mrs Hughes’ order and she wandered off at a snail’s pace, Dougal trudging behind. Charlie said to me with exasperation, “What was it you wanted again?”

I didn’t bother repeating myself. He was already getting the bunny and the brownie out of the display case. Instead, I said, “You know, for reference, I was actually being servedbeforeyou let Mrs Hughes and Dougal queue jump.”

“Queue jump?” Charlie looked around at the quiet coffee shop. “What do you think this is, Starbucks on Piccadilly Circus? Are you in a rush? Off to the London Stock Exchange before your shares plummet? You’ll get your order. Stop complaining.”

He filled a tray with the coffees and the treats, waited for me to tap the card reader, and whisked off.

“Charlie,” I called after him, “you put an extra brownie on my plate.”

“The extra one is yesterday’s. It’s stale. I was going to put it in the compost bin. You may as well have it.”

“Aw,” I said. “Thanks.”

“Go away,” he said, biting back a smile.

“Okay.” I went and sat down at an empty table and tucked into my free brownie. It was definitely baked today. I could tell a fresh brownie when I had one.

Adam came in with his usual fanfare, drawing the eye of everyone in the shop. It wasn’t like he flung the door open and stalked in or anything, but he had whateveritwas that made people look. Not that he ever deigned to notice.

He threw himself down in the chair opposite me and sprawled out.

I pushed the coffee and the gingerbread bunny over to him.

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