Page 64 of Frost
Hearing my name on his lips makes my blood race faster. I know I’ve never met him before, yet there’s something oddly familiar about him.
“What would you say if I am?”
The edge of his mouth curves higher. “I’d say my favorite coffee right now is peppermint mocha. I also really love lemon cake.”
I return his smile, and butterflies flutter like crazy in my belly. “Yeah? You’re in luck, then. This place serves both. If you don’t mind sticking around for a bit while I pack up, we can grab some.”
“Okay. Cool.” Jack grabs book one and adds it to the other one still in his arms. “I’ll pay for these and come back over.”
“You’re buying the first and sixth?” I ask, shaking my head with a smile. “Kinda weird.”
“Maybe.” Jack shrugs and holds them closer to his chest. “But I never said I was normal. You sure you still want to have coffee with me?”
“Yes,” I answer without missing a beat. Coffee… and so much more. “No need to buy them. It’s how I got you to say yes to hanging out with me.”
“Don’t you know, Luka?” Jack leans toward me, a smile gleaming in his wintery blue eyes. “I would’ve said yes anyway.”
As Jack walks to the counter to pay, I take hold of the necklace around my neck—one I never take off. And then I smile.
I don’t know why, but I feel like I can breathe a little easier now.
***
“How’s the coffee?” I ask, sitting across from Jack at the small two-seater table in the corner of the café area. A few people are scattered throughout the room as well, talking quietly amongst themselves as they warm up with hot drinks and get out of the cold night for a while.
“Best I’ve had,” he says before taking another sip. His gaze moves to the window and the heavy snow falling on the other side. A soft smile curves his pretty lips. “It’s so peaceful this time of year. I love winter.”
“Me too.” I take a drink of my hazelnut latte. “When it snows, it’s like the whole world stops to listen.”
“Yes.” Jack looks at me. “That’s exactly how I feel too. I’ve always thought it’d be awesome to live in a cabin in the woods surrounded by snow and trees.”
“I vacationed in a place like that earlier this year. It was nice.”
“I bet it’s the perfect place to write, huh?” he asks.
“Definitely. Just me, a laptop, and a crackling fireplace to keep me warm. Nothing better.”
“Oh, I can think of something that’d make it better.” He shoves the rest of his lemon cake into his mouth. “Someone to share it all with and to keep you warm on those cold nights.”
“I haven’t had someone like that in a long time,” I say, thinking of Colton. Funny that I don’t miss him at all.
“Me either.”
“Wheredoyou live?” I tear off a piece of the cinnamon swirl bread I’d bought for me. “I take it you’re not from Bedford?”
“I’m just passing through.” He curves his hands around his steaming cup of coffee and lifts his blue eyes to me. “I like it here, though. It’s a charming little town.”
“With really good lemon cake,” I say, nodding to the plate in front of him that has nothing but crumbs left on it.
“The best.” He smiles. “I actually don’t have a home. I’m a wanderer. I go from place to place, never staying still for too long. Living out of a suitcase.”
“Do you do it for work?”
“No.” He combs his fingers through his light blond bangs, and right when he lowers his hand, they fall back into his face. “I just kinda go where life takes me. I’ve been to Greece, Italy, spent some time in Ireland, then Paris. I came to the United States a little over a month ago, staying in New York for a while.”
“And now you’re here.” I smile at him, feeling a tugging in my heart when he smiles back.
“Yeah. I am.” Jack traces the rim of his mug with the tip of his finger.
