Page 60 of Wanting More
Wearing a pair of relaxed fit, ripped jeans that stopped at a cuff just at the ankle, and a black tank top and a black button-down shirt, the person stepping through the door looked like a model off Instagram. Sapphire could barely fulfill the man's order in front of her for the sake of looking at the androgynous customer. The black tank that nearly disappeared against the oversized men's button-down shirt clung to the girl's lean figure giving only the subtlest hint of breasts, while her beautiful angular face held a sharp masculine look at the same time, making her strikingly handsome. Even her hair was cool. Cut a lot like Joel's undercut, the girl's light ash brown hair that was kept long on the top was pulled in a messy man-bun that added perfectly to her tomboyish appearance.
Just where in the hell were all these hotties coming from in this little no-nothing town?! First Joel and Hayden, then Sheriff Owens and his swarm of sexy deputies, and now this! What in the hell was going on?
After practically shoving the orders of the last two customers in their hands, Sapphire let out a secret grateful sigh when the mystery girl stepped up to the counter. Inquisitive hazel eyes met hers with a tentative smile. Sapphire smiled back and immediately noted the book in the girl's hand.
She had seen that book all over social media, some sort of popular new adult novel everyone couldn't stop talking about. Post after post of fanart and quotes, her feed was filled with images of the book and its characters. Sapphire had never been into YA or new adult. Not because she didn't want to, because she couldn't really. It was a depressingly expensive market, and finding copies at the library was like entering the gladiator rings. The competition was fierce. She only ever ended up getting a hold of the much older, less popular books.
"Welcome to The Grind. What will it be today?" Sapphire greeted her, giving her an extra friendly smile. For some reason, she really wanted to start off on the right foot with this person.
The girl looked at her with an expression of surprise and something else Sapphire couldn't quite distinguish. It was as if she wanted to say something but changed her mind.
Quickly the girl spoke, and Sapphire barely caught the order under the quick husky tone. Taking the money for the order, she watched the girl turn and sit in one of the black leather chairs. Disappointed, Sapphire turned to make the order. She probably heard you're the town's new whore or something, she told herself bitterly. She did look to be around her age, so the idea wasn't that far out there.
Taking the latte over to where she sat, Sapphire handed her the warm cup. The girl mumbled a thanks.
Since it was just them in the café, Sapphire reached behind the counter and pressed the remote to change the station on her Spotify.
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled in awareness. She was being watched.
Clearing off the tables from the leftover and forgotten coffee cups, Sapphire began wiping all the tables around the sole customer. With every swipe of her cloth, she realized just how ridiculous this was. She wanted to talk to the girl, and she was pretty confident the girl wanted to talk to her too.
Unable to stand it any longer, Sapphire stood up straight from the table she was cleaning and turned to face the girl. "I know this is going to sound cliché as hell, but I love your outfit," she declared.
The girl let out a deep breath and smiled back at her as she slipped a black piece of ribbon in her place in the book. "Thanks, they're second hand, but they're in good condition."
Now, this really intrigued her. "Really? I used to live by a few decent thrift stores back in Houston. You got them from around here?" She gave her a skeptical look.
The girl chuckled. "Believe it or not, yeah. And there is one in Stardust Cove too, of course, but the one here isn't bad at all. And I'm not just saying that because I work there. It's further south down New Main Street, toward the interstate," she said, pointing to the wall behind her, and Sapphire could picture where she was talking about. She never really went in that direction since her journey would be extra-long on foot.
"Okay, nice. I’ll have to try and get down there one of these days."
As if she felt the natural flow of the conversation dwindling, the stylish girl began to look around as if searching for something else to say.
Sapphire glanced back at the book in her hand. "Is that book as good as everyone on social media seems to believe?"
The girl's eyes lit up, and Sapphire sensed she had picked a good subject by bringing up the book. "Yeah, it’s not half bad. The author is really inclusive, so there is even a lesbian character that's pretty badass." She nodded appreciatively. "I like it thus far."
Sapphire could see that. Though it had been a little apparent by the girl's overall style and the way she carried herself that she leaned toward the more masculine spectrum, it was nice to get confirmation.
Looking toward the window and seeing no approaching customers, Sapphire leaned against the opposite couch. "I've been wanting to read it, but the damn thing hasn't dropped from ten dollars on the e-readers."
"Yeah, books are fucking insane these days. I got this from the Holter library, believe it or not."
Sapphire gave her a look that clearly said she didn't believe her. "Are you serious? I didn’t even know this place even had a library."
The girl twisted her lips and her hazel eyes danced with laughter. "I can see you're not too fond of Holter."
Sapphire immediately regretted saying that. Great, just great, the first friendly face in her age group—or at least close to her age group—she fucks it up by being her usual bitchy self. Trying to hide a grimace, she looked for something to say to salvage her screw-up.
Seeing her worry, the girl leaned forward in her seat and held out a hand. "Hey, don't worry about it. I get it. Really, I do. I had seen you a couple of times at school—and wanted to say something…" Her gaze dropped to the floor. "But…I didn't want to add to your troubles."
Sapphire gives her a quizzical look. She never saw her at school, although that wasn't surprising. Firstly, the school was massive, and secondly, she had purposely kept her eyes from straying too far for the short time she was there. She didn't want to get to know any of them, and surprise, surprise, she had gotten her wish.
The girl bit her lip and winced as she shrugged. "I have a bit of a negative reputation myself," she confessed, and Sapphire waited silently. For three beats, neither one said anything until finally, the girl let out a ragged sigh. "To put it bluntly," she groaned. "They say I turn a lot of girls out," she rushed out.
Sapphire's eyebrows shot up.
Flustered, the girl stood up and began to pace in front of the chair. "Yeah, I know how it sounds but hear me out." She stopped on the other side of the small coffee table and looked at Sapphire before dropping her gaze at her partly unlaced boots. As if coming to some sort of inner decision, the girl lifted her chin and shot her a devilish grin. A grin so well-practiced to striking, combined with her beautiful androgynous face and piercing eyes, it could no doubt make anyone's heart stutter. Then and there, Sapphire knew the girl was like Joel in that sense. She looked good, and she knew it.
