Page 25 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

“I remember the first time I saw you,” she said. “It wasn’t at the club. It was on campus.”

I couldn’t remember the time in my life before I knew her.

“What was I doing?”

She smirked. “Flirting with three girls.”

I grinned. “Jealous?”

“No.”

“Why are you frowning?”

She pulled her hand away and crossed her arms across her chest. “I’m not frowning.”

“Yes, you definitely are.”

“I am not.”

“Yes, you—”

“Oh, this is so childish.” She got out of the car and headed to the café’s front entrance.

Grinning, I followed her inside like a puppy.

The café was small and cozy. It looked vintage, with antique mirrors and black-and-white pictures of Paris on the gray concrete walls. The brown tables and chairs looked old, but I knew they were new. A large blackboard hung above the bar, and the menu was written in different colors of chalk.

Red went straight to the glass display case where dainty and elegant-looking pastries and bread were displayed.

“These are so pretty.” She beamed, her nose almost touching the glass as she gawked at the display. She looked adorable, like a kid in a candy store.

After we ordered, she chose a table near the window with a view of a charming street lined with tall, wide trees and blooming flowers. I sat across from her. She cupped her chin in her palms, her eyes shining with excitement. “Someday I’ll have my own café. Just like this. But I’d want it in a small bookstore where people could read or hang out while having coffee.”

Leaning forward, I propped my arms on the table, stroking her elbows, and caged her legs between mine.

She was sharing her dreams. She never did that.

“I’ll be your first and most loyal customer,” I promised. “Will you serve pancakes?”

“Especially,” she whispered, smiling.

I smiled back, making small circles on the inside of her elbow.

She kept talking, but the sound of her voice was a siren’s call to my ears. It felt like I hadn’t heard it in so long. Her lips were moving, her dark eyes shining. She was so beautiful.

She kicked me under the table. “Caleb? Are you listening?”

“You said you love me.”

She bit her lip, and I knew she was trying to hold in a laugh.

“I didn’t know you liked croissants. I was sure you were going to get cinnamon buns,” I commented after the waitress brought our order. I picked up my knife and slathered a glob of butter on my pancakes.

“Normally yes, but Damon has been bringing these amazing croissants to Kar’s every other day. His mom bakes them. I think I might have to blackmail her to get the recipe.”

I accidentally poured too much syrup on my pancakes. Great. I placed the bottle of syrup carefully on the table and looked down on my plate.

“Caleb?” She sounded alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

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