Page 169 of Stay With Me
“Tripp!” She bursts out laughing, and I do too.
“From a friend to a friend, ya know? Just a littlefriendlyfavor.”
“Oh, sure. In that instance, I could ask Landen.”
I tighten my hold, inching closer to her ear. “Landen’s already heard you screamin’ my name through the ceiling and knows if he goes anywhere near your pussy, he’s a dead man. You wanna be responsible for his murder?”
“That seems quite extreme for afriendlymedical exam,” she retorts.
“Then I wouldn’t push for it, Sunny.”
I imagine her rolling her eyes at me, but when she doesn’t push me away, I stay snuggled up behind her with my hand on her belly and close my eyes.
Dreaming of the day I get to openly claim her as mine again.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Magnolia
“Hello, welcome! How can I caffeinate you today?” I greet a new customer.
“Hi, um…I’m not sure. What do you suggest?”
I lean over the counter and point to my menu with all my beverage options and explain a few in detail.
“If you like sweets, I’d suggest the Maple Me Crazy Latte, but if you have a more bitter spicy palate, then I’d say the Basic Witch Spice.”
He nods as he reads what’s in each one. “Actually, I’ll try the Hot Mess Express. Sounds good.”
“Amazin’ choice. That’s my favorite.” I wink. “Can I get you a muffin with your drink?”
“Sure, whatever you have.”
He reaches for his wallet as I ring him up. When I glance to my left, Tripp’s glaring at me with his arms crossed.
“That’ll be seven-fifty,” I tell him, leaning over the counter again.
He hands me a ten and tells me to keep it.
“Aw, you’re too kind. Thank you.” I smile at him, then getstarted on his latte.
Instead of Tripp sitting on the bucket like I’ve asked, he stands and makes his presence known to the guy.
“Haven’t seen you ’round here. You a local?” he asks the guy.
I groan at the harshness of his tone.
“Just moved here. I work at my aunt’s bookstore across the street.”
“Mrs. Weis is your aunt? Oh my gosh, Iadoreher.” I gush but am lying through my teeth. She’s the one who writes in her notebook every time I stop in to use her bathroom. Not sure what she plans on doing with her little notes, but if she doesn’t want me squatting on the sidewalk in front of her store, she’ll deal with it.
“It’s only temporary until I go to college, but yeah, not a bad job,” he says.
I turn around and set his drink down, then bag up his muffin. “Guess that means we’ll be seein’ a lot of each other.”
“Yeah, there aren’t many coffee places here.”
Which benefits me greatly.
