Page 27 of Here and Now
She rolls her eyes. “You’re perfectly happy being a pain in everyone’s ass.”
“That too,” he agrees.
Penelope looks to me and I shrug. This is just their friendship. They’re worse than me and Eloise bickering, and that’s saying a lot. For a long time, I thought there was some kind of underlying sexual tension brewing between them.
As the years have gone by, I’ve realized that is absolutely not the case. In fact, there’s not an ounce of attraction between them.
They really are just like brother and sister.
Hazel focuses on me. “What about coffee don’t you like?”
What the fuck kind of question is that? “How the hell would I know?”
“Well, is it the aftertaste? Is it too weak? Do you like something that’ll put hair on your balls?”
I glare at her, and Penelope laughs softly. Great, she’s making me look like a fucking dweeb in front of her. “I hate how it tastes.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re hopeless. Okay, we’ll start with the strongest and work our way back. Be ready for so much coffee you’re going to swim in it.” She turns, pulling Penelope with her. “Also, today’s tasting will be sixty bucks!”
“Oh, great, I get to pay to drink sludge.”
Lachlan slaps my shoulder. “As much as I’d love to sit around and watch this show, I have to pick Rose up from cheerleading, and I’d rather be anywhere than with you.”
Rose is his six-year-old daughter, whom I adore. She’s big into competition cheerleading, and there’s nothing more entertaining than watching Lachlan be a girl-dad. He loves every second of it and has zero shame.
“I’d rather be with Rose than you too.”
He grins. “See you later, Romeo.”
Everett sits opposite of me. “I’m here for the long haul.”
“Goodie.”
He grins. “Listen, what about that barista?”
“What about her?” I ask, keeping my voice neutral.
If Everett suspects I have a thing for her, then he’ll be relentless in his teasing. Lachlan is much more mature when it comes to this. It’s best I keep this to myself for now.
He glances back where she is, keeping his voice low. “What do you think? She’s beautiful.”
Yes, she is. “Okay.”
Everett huffs a heavy breath. “It’s a wonder why I’m friends with you.”
“I wonder why too.”
“Anyway, I’m thinking I should ask her out.”
Absolutely fucking not. Not only because I’m attracted to her, but because Everett just got back on Hazel’s good side after sleeping with her last barista. “Did you learn nothing after sleeping with Cherish?”
“Ehh, Hazel will get over it.”
“Or not.”
He leans back in his seat, stretching his arms up. “Probably not. You’re right. Hazel really likes Penny. She said she’s smart, hardworking, and has some great ideas on ways to improve.”
“Like what?” I ask.
