Page 5 of A Love That Broke Us
Her eyes widen, and she grimaces dramatically. “Oh, crap. The coffee’s bad? Will they notice if I bail?” A mischievous smile lights her face. “Technically, I’m not out anything if I leave. It was free.” She nudges me lightly.
Shit. I can already feel myself falling for this girl. It’s stupid, really. I don’t even know her, but she’s hot, fun, and jokes as much as I do? This girl might just be made for me.
I chuckle. “You better not leave me to suffer through this shitty coffee alone. The only thing getting me through was knowing I’d have your company.”
“Ah, that’s sweet, but I can’t stay. I’ll be late for work.” They call my name, and she grabs both coffees before I can even try. “Where do you want to sit?”
She’s sweet, saving me from the embarrassment of having to ask for help like I have every morning this week. I gesture to a table by the window and hobble after her, trying not to feel like a total invalid. Hopefully, I’ll be off these crutches by next week.
As she sets my coffee down, I try to stall her, even if only for a minute. “Hey, listen. I’ll make you a deal. Three minutes of your time, with the world’s shittiest cup of coffee, to decide if I’m worth giving your number to.”
“I have a better idea. I’ll be right back,” she says, biting her bottom lip.
She walks over to the counter, and moments later, she’s back, holding out a napkin. “How about I don’t need three minutes.” Her smile is confident as she backs toward the door. With a quick turn, she’s gone, leaving me staring at the napkin in my hand, her phone number scrawled across it. Beneath the number, in bold letters, she’s written: HOT NURSE.
I can’t help but grin as I plop triumphantly into a seat. She’s funny, confident, and left me wanting more? Yeah, I’m definitely calling her. Today’s already a hell of a lot better than I expected.
I decideto text Alley after wrapping up a call with a potential customer.
Hey, I found a napkin on the street labeled HOT NURSE with this phone number… Are you said hot nurse?
I send the text, fully intending to ask her out, but as I reread it, panic sets in. I was trying to be funny, but now I’m realizing she might actually think some random guy is texting her and just ignore it.
Dammit.
I’ll give it a couple hours, I decide. She might be working anyway. Let it simmer, and if she doesn’t reply, I’ll send a follow-up to let her know I’m joking.
I waited a few days to text her because I didn’t want to seem overly eager, even though I wanted to message her the second she walked out of that coffee shop. I usually play the dating field by my own rules, but the one rule I always stick to is not coming off too needy. Build the anticipation, make her wait, at least a little.
I glance at my phone for the thousandth time in ten minutes and realize this isn’t going to work. I’m going to drive myself crazy.
I start typing.
Sorry, that was my attempt at being funny and not wanting to come off overly eager. This is Jensen, btw. It was great running into you the other day. You free Saturday night for a drink?
I pause. Do I ask her out here? Or do I wait for her to respond, feel it out?
My thumb hovers over the delete button, but I grit my teeth and hit send. Too late now.
I place my phone face down on my desk, trying to play it cool. But two minutes later, I’m already reaching for it. Nothing. I set it down again. Another glance. Still nothing.
Then, finally, it buzzes.
Alley
Jensen? Hmm… sorry, I don’t know a Jensen.
My stomach drops, but before I can panic, another message comes through.
Alley
Just kidding. Hi, Jensen. Saturday works. Where are we going?
Chapter Three
ALLEY
THEN
