Page 39 of Insidious Heart
I nod. “I won’t go anywhere.”
He shakes his head. “No, I mean I know that, but I was gonna say… maybe you want to grab one of those frilly coffees, the ones Rochelle likes or something while I’m in there? That new coffee shop is next door and…”
My brows lift in surprise as I face him completely.
Never, and I do mean never, has Cal left me alone for any amount of time at all when he’s been assigned guard duty.
Seriously. He’s even followed me into bathrooms before because my father made him do it.
So to not only have him go against what I know to be my father’s orders by making an unplanned stop on my way home from work, but suggesting I go anywhere alone on top of it? It’s completely insane and unheard of.
“If you don’t want to that’s fine, I just thought, since we were here for me—”
“Yes,” I almost yell after I finally get over my shock. “Yeah, that would be great.”
“Ok. Good. Yeah, ok.” Cal’s tension eases a bit. “Still gotta stay there though. I’ll come in and get you after I’m done.”
“No problem.”
“No talking to anyone about shit with the club.”
The only reason I don’t roll my eyes is the crazy smile on my face. “Of course.”
“Get your coffee, find a table, and just wait.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good,” Cal grunts as he goes to get out of his truck, but he stops, reaches into his pocket and produces a crumpled twenty dollar bill. “That enough?”
Tears immediately spring to my eyes as I nod.
He’s paying for my coffee.
Cal is risking a hell of a lot by defying my father’s orders and allowing me to go somewhere alone, and he’s offering to pay for my coffee on top of it.
No one has ever done anything like this for me before and I might just cry because of it.
“That’s plenty,” I all but choke out as I take the cash with a trembling hand, and as soon as I have it, Cal throws open his door. “Cal…” He pauses but doesn’t look at me. “Thank you. So much, just, thank you.”
Cal says nothing but he nods, and fifteen minutes later, I’m settled into a little two-seat booth in the front corner of the coffee shop I’d only get to treat myself to if I stopped on my way to school. Which I’ve never even considered before now.
I people watch as I sip myfrillydrink, pretending for a few minutes that I could be just like any one of them.
A couple across from me holding hands over their table, the two leaning forward so they can whisper and giggle quietly.
There’s an older man on his laptop behind them, tapping away on the keys and frowning at the screen.
Several college kids, probably a little younger than me, seem to be having a study session in the far corner, and aside from them and the small line, the shop is pretty quiet.
I still like watching though.
Part of who I am means I don’t have moments like this, so I intend to get the most out of it while I can.
Who knows if it’ll ever happen again.
“Excuse me.”
I shift my stare from the couple and turn to see an absolutely beautiful woman with periwinkle hair standing next to my booth.
