Page 11 of Strong Coffee
His phone took that moment to ding, indicating an incoming text.
The three of us looked at each other, unsure as to who could be texting Presley. Besides his brother, everyone who texted him was in the room with him or at least nearby.
He fished his phone out of his pocket, his eyes widening. “My brother’s in town.”
That would explain Noah’s change in mood.
My stomach twisted. “Oh shit.” I looked the way Noah had gone. “Maybe that’s who texted Noah.”
“Maybe.” Presley typed away on his phone before placing it on the table in front of him. “I love my brother but he’s an ass and I’m still pissed that he tore out my best friend’s heart.”
“No kidding.” Shane nodded to the espresso machine. “Can you fix it?”
“I don’t think I can, buddy.” Presley sighed, took a step back and glared at the piece of machinery that refused to let him win.
While they discussed the audacity of the failing machine, I couldn’t help but wonder what actually went down between Noah and Presley’s brother. We were never there for any of their interactions with each other, but we always saw Noah after the fact. He either had a grin on his face or a scowl. Never in between.
Nikolai, Presley’s brother, was a few years older than us and had left to go to school in another state. He never moved back but visited often. I liked the guy, but I felt protective over Noah, so I didn’t like how Nikolai or Nicky, as we all called him, left Noah.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts.
Cam: Dinner with Beverly was cut short, so you and I can meet up early. We can do food, drinks, and make a whole night of it.
My stomach did a flip, my heart thumping hard in my chest.
“I know that look.”
I glanced up, finding both Shane and Noah grinning at me.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I rushed out of the kitchen before they could tease me any more on the matter and headed out to the alley behind our building.
Instead of texting Cam back, I called him up.
“Missed my voice?” he asked, instead of giving me a hello.
I chuckled, my cheeks heating over the fact that he knew me well already. Because I did actually miss his voice. There was something about Camden West thatreached a part of me that had never been reached before. Was this what it was like to finally meet your soul mate? Could I even call him that when we barely knew each other outside of fucking a couple of times?
“Brady?”
I coughed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Sorry. What happened with Beverly?” It wasn’t any of my business, but I was curious and asked anyway.
“We met up but her sister’s pregnant and ended up in the hospital, so Bev had to get back. We’re making plans to re-do our dinner date.”
“Oh, I hope everything’s okay.”
“Me too.”
“I’d love to meet up early,” I told him. “But…”
“What?”
“Listen, I don’t know what I’m doing. The last guy I slept with is my best friend and while we’re still close, it’s weird. I also think he’s sleeping with someone else, but he won’t tell me. Even when I ask, he won’t give me any information. Not that I have to know of course. I just…” I was rambling. “I don’t know but I do know that whatever this is, I want to do it with you.” I sounded desperate and I wouldn’t be surprised if Camden ended whatever was going on between us, right away.
“Brady.” Cam sighed. “I get it.”
My eyes widened, his words catching me off guard. “You do?”
“I haven’t had a relationship since I was married. I’ve had random flings and one-night stands here and there but I had a dry spell for a few months leading up to the moment with you.”
