Page 26 of Here and Now
All eyes turn to him and I feel like I’m missing something. “Miles?”
He sighs heavily. “What do you recommend?”
I blink a few times. “I’m not sure how to answer that. Everything is good, and we can adjust the flavors however you’d like.”
“Okay, how about the most un-coffee-tasting coffee.”
“Umm, is there such a thing?” I ask.
“He hates coffee,” Hazel notes as she’s leaning against the counter beside me.
My eyes widen a bit. “You hate coffee?”
Miles shrugs. “It’s not myfavorite.”
That’s weird because he comes here all the time. Yeah, he gets tea and a snack, but he could definitely get those at home or at the bakery down the street since that’s where we get the baked goods from.
“Have you tried all the different kinds?” I ask.
Miles clears his throat. “I have not.”
“Then maybe you just haven’t had the right kind.”
Hazel practically squeals beside me. “Yes! A tasting. Penelope, let’s get creative.”
five
Miles
There is way too much excitement in Hazel’s voice about getting to make me drink this. Although this trip here was my idea because I wanted to see Penny.
“Trying a bunch of coffee wasn’t what I was going for, but if you think you can fix me”—I say to Penelope—“I think we should try.”
Penelope smiles broadly. “I hopefully will find you the good stuff.”
She already has, it’s just not in a mug.
Lachlan snorts and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I see what you were looking for now, buddy.” He taps my chest. “Let’s go before you start drooling on the new girl.”
Penelope and Hazel come around a minute later, and the good stuff has already arrived, but it’s not in the form of coffee.
I don’t know what it is about this girl, but I like her. She’s sweet, and after hanging out with her at the ice-cream store and then our walk, I just ... I don’t know, I like her.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Penelope asks.
I shake my head. “Not especially.”
“This should be fun then.”
“Maybe you and Hazel can turn me into a new man.”
Hazel scoffs. “Please, I’ve been trying to fix all you men in this town for years, it’s going to take a lot more than coffee.”
Everett shakes his head. “Please, I’m not broken.”
Hazel’s eyes narrow. “You’re the worst of the lot. At least Lachlan got his head out of his ass and went after Ainsley.”
“There’s no head up my ass, sweetheart. I’m perfectly happy being single,” he explains.
