Page 147 of Mountain Daddy
The barista is about my age, and the way she’s trying so hard not to look at us makes me wonder if I whispered as quietly as I thought I did.
I stop at the counter, and Luther stands directly behind me, so close that his front is pressed to my back.
He reaches an arm around me so his forearm is against the top of my chest and his hand is gripping my opposite shoulder.
“You first.” I can feel his words vibrate against my back.
I look up at the menu board.
“Sorry, I need just a second,” I tell the woman who’s finally making eye contact with me.
“Oh, take your time.”
There are so many drink options. I want to read all the descriptions, but I also don’t want to take forever.
“Do you have a favorite?” I ask, rather than making a panicked decision.
“The, um, salty nut is really good.”
I feel Luther huff a laugh at the name.
I smile as I try to find it on the board. “What is it?”
“A salted caramel and hazelnut latte,” the barista supplies.
I perk up.
“Hazelnut is your favorite, right?” Luther asks.
I tip my head back to look up at him. “How’d you know that?”
“I saw the creamer you used at your, uh, dad’s house.” He starts to look sheepish as he explains. “During breakfast.”
My brows lift. He’s talking about that very first pancake breakfast. “Well, that was perceptive of you.”
The side of his mouth goes up. “I have my good days.”
I give him a side look, then turn back to the barista. “That would be great, thank you.”
She taps the order in. “Iced or hot?”
“I’ll… hot actually.” The plan is to linger, so I’ll get a hot drink to sip.
“And for you?” Her cheeks are pink when she asks Luther for his order.
“Hot black decaf, please. And do you have any bags of those Chilean beans?”
She nods.
“You still have that grinder at home, right?” I can tell from his breath on my cheek that he’s tipped his head forward to ask me.
I hum my reply.
Going out on a date was a cute idea, but not if Luther is going to be all rumbly and sweet. It’s affecting me too much.
“We’ll take two bags of the whole beans,” Luther tells the woman.
She gives us a total, and rather than try to argue with Luther over paying, I lean against him as he holds his wallet in front of me and pulls out a couple of bills.
