Page 29 of Tech Prince Troubles
“And is he the one who put you in such a foul mood this week?” Evan chimed in.
I sighed and hung my head. “I told you he works at the hotel’s Tech Hub. Isn’t that enough?”
Tammy snorted. “Yeah. Sure. Like you didn’t drill Evan when he started seeing Bethany.”
“I didn’t drill?—”
“Like hell you didn’t. You were as bad as Dad was.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. I couldn’t deny it, seeing as I’d only been on testosterone for a few months then. My mood swings were no joke. “Sorry, I was a bit of an ass back then.”
“Water under the bridge. I did warn you I’d get my own back.”
“Fair enough.” I finished my iced tea and took a breath. “We met when he came in for coffee.” I ignored their groans and rolled eyes. “He’s quiet, works night shifts at the Renversé, and he loves espresso.”
“That can’t be all,” Evan said. “Stop describing him like a random customer. They don’t get to you like he seems to.”
“Evan’s right. Kids and customers don’t get you riled up.”
The price of keeping your exes close. They knew me too well. “Quinn already told you he’s Niren, and he’s a talented artist, even if he doesn’t think so. He’s smart.” And gorgeous, but I didn’t need to tell them that. “I don’t know what else to tell you.”
“Why were you so out of sorts?” Bethany asked. “That’s not like you at all.”
It wasn’t. “He stopped coming to the café for days after I gave him our family 101.”
They all stared at me, the sounds of the kids playing in the background making their silence even worse.
“Oh my god. You like him!” Tammy burst out in a low stage whisper.
“I barely even know him.”
“But you want to,” Evan said with a smirk. “I should’ve realized when you mentioned he liked espresso.”
My cheeks had to be bright red, the way they were burning. “He asked for me after the first time I served him.”
“He’d be a fool not to. You’re quite a catch.”
Bethany pretended to be outraged as I pretended to swoon, and slapped Evan’s arm.
“As a barista, you evil woman!” Evan rubbed his arm, making us all laugh, then pulled Bethany close and kissed her.
“So, you haven’t seen him again?” Tammy asked.
“No. I have. He came in yesterday.” No way was I telling them we’d agreed to meet tomorrow.
“That’s something. It didn’t scare him off, then?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Evan’s right, though. You want to know him.”
I was spared having to answer by Ella dropping between us, singing, “Row, row, row your boat!”
“How long are you all going to talk?” Julian asked. “Quinn promised to share a tandem with me on the river.”
I turned to Quinn, who smiled and nodded. “All right then. Time to get back on the water.” I turned to Bethany. “Canoe or kayak?”
“Kayak. Tandem, with Tammy?”
