Page 46 of The Hookup Situation
JULIE
The evening shift at Cozy Coffee is brutal. After being up since dawn, I’m running on fumes and caffeine. Every tourist in Colorado needs a complicated coffee drink fifteen minutes before we close. My body is sore from Jessie’s torture session, I smell like espresso and pumpkin spice, and there’s definitely whipped cream in my hair somewhere.
“Go,” Tracy says, practically shoving me toward the back. “Your man’s been sitting outside in that ridiculously expensive car for ten minutes.”
“He’s early.”
“He’seagerand putting in effort. There’s a difference.” She waggles her eyebrows. “I’ll finish closing. You’ve been glowing all day, and I want that energy to continue through your date.”
I glance through the window and see Nick scrolling on his phone in the driver’s seat. Even from here, even after a long day, the sight of him makes my stomach flutter.
“Thanks, Tracy.”
I grab my stuff from the back and head outside. Nick looks up from his phone and smiles, getting out to open my door.
“Hey,” he says. “Long day?”
“The longest. Plus, I’m sore from yoga, and I smell like I bathed in sugar coffee.” I gesture at myself. “Can we stop by my place first? I desperately need a shower before dinner.”
“Of course. We have a reservation at eight thirty, so there’s plenty of time.”
“Bookers doesn’t take reserva?—”
“Money talks.” He grins as I slide into the passenger seat.
“I could get used to this,” I say with a wink.
The drive to my condo is two minutes, tops. When we step inside, I immediately kick off my shoes.
“Make yourself comfortable,” I say, heading toward the stairs. “Actually, come up with me. You can sit on the toilet and talk to me while I shower.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
I pause halfway up the stairs, grinning at his expression. “Blaire does it all the time. We chat while I shower. Otherwise, you’re just sitting down here, alone, like a weirdo.”
“How is that any different from sitting in your bathroom like a weirdo?”
“Oh, come on. I want to talk!”
His ears turn pink, but he follows me up the stairs. “This is what female friendships are like?”
“Oh, yeah. Prepare to be educated.”
He follows me into my bedroom, immediately distracted by the organized chaos.
“Is that a stuffed llama wearing a sombrero?” He points to my bed.
“His name is Fernando. He helped me get through a rough patch, so no judgment.”
“I already like him.” Nick picks it up, then notices my bedside table. “You read three books at once?”
“Different moods require different books. Romance, thriller, and self-help.” I head into the bathroom, scooping up my workout clothes and throwing them in the laundry basket. “Come on, boyfriend. Bring Fernando if you need emotional support.”
He follows me in, still holding the llama. “We’re really doing this?”
“Yes! Now, be a good boy and sit.” I point at the toilet lid. “And close your eyes while I get in.”
“This is definitely not what I expected when you invited me up.”
