Page 23 of Fall Twice

“What about your mag—”

His hand lands against my chest. “Coffee, I need my coffee.”

“Oh, uh, well, we could all sit together,” Lena suggests, slightly unsure but still welcoming.

Johnny is already turning my body in the direction of the door. “She’s smart too.” He winks.

A few minutes later, after Lena paid for the books and we all walked a few doors down, we arrive at Ginger & Co. Johnny is quick to walk straight to a table that he feels he needs to stake out.

“Let me get these,” I offer as we step toward the counter.

“You don’t need to do that,” Lena protests.

I hold a hand up and indicate to the barista that I’m paying. “Pumpkin spiced latte?”

“Please.”

I lean down to be eye to eye with Oscar who stays close to his mom. “Just normal hot chocolate or do you want the marshmallow treasure that floats on top?”

He brings a finger to his mouth to consider. “Is it rainbow marshmallows?”

“That is an excellent question, but I happen to know that this month they use orange marshmallows for Halloween, and I have to say they are my favorite.”

“Really?”

“Yep. You even get a little ginger cookie to go with it and a dollop of whipped cream. Can you handle that?” Oscar nods his head profusely. “Cool. I may even join you.”

He smiles, and I notice when his smile is wide that he’s missing a tooth. I return to standing and pay the barista. When I turn around, Oscar is running to Johnny and Lena is standing with arms crossed, looking at me with a wide smile.

“You drink hot chocolate with all of that stuff in it?” she asks doubtfully.

“It’s been a long time but figured I would get in the spirit. Your son is probably going to drink me under the table, though.”

We stand there staring at one another with ridiculous smiles, clearly any potential awkwardness between us gone.

“How was your first week of work?”

“Great, and Oscar had a trial day at school. Goes into the full swing of things next week.”

“I’m happy for you, the work and school part.” My eyes are glued to hers; I couldn’t look away if I tried.

She indicates that we should join Oscar and Johnny, and I follow her. With drinks arriving not long after, I admire how Oscar attacks his drink with manners that I wasn’t expecting for a six-year-old as he carefully uses the spoon.

I glance down at my own whipped cream hot chocolate and smile. I’m here often, but I guess I’m never in the moment. I’m drinking coffee and grading assignments. I don’t even think I take the time to inhale or appreciate the scent of fresh coffee. Only now do I realize that just sitting without anything to do is a relaxing relief.

“Surely, you are brave enough to conquer that mug,” Lena teases me as she brings her own drink to her lips.

“Of course.” I push some cream to the side and then take a drink. Admittedly, the sweetness hits me a little too much, and there is no fucking way I can drink all of this. I look across the table and Lena stares at me with a knowing look.

I mouth,Okay,because she’s right and hot chocolate really isn’t my thing, nor am I sure why I felt inclined to impress the kid.

“Excited for Halloween?” Johnny asks Oscar.

Oscar’s face lights up. “Yep. I’m going as a pirate. My mom is even making me an outfit.”

Lena ruffles his hair with her hand and a smile on her face. “No pressure or anything, but yeah, I’m making his costume.”

I look at her, impressed. “Wow, some skills.”

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