“Well, I think it’s amazing.”
“Yeah.” I nodded in agreement. “But this…what you did for me…it’s pretty fucking amazing too.”
“Damn, this place looks like a white girl’s paradise,” Kendra said with a smirk.
Andrew scowled. “It’s too happy.”
“I can hear the color yellow,” Dani muttered with a pained expression.
I exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking my head at their reactions.
The four of us couldn’t be more different, yet here we all were. The Honeycomb Café buzzed with energy as customers bustled in and out, coffee cups clutched in their hands. Soft jazz floated through the air, the saxophone’s smooth notes humming in my ears. The rich aroma of dark roast coffee was so strong I could almost taste it.
Andrew tapped his fingers against the table, impatience written all over him, while Dani eyed the place with clear skepticism.
Only Kendra seemed even mildly interested, a small smile playing on her lips as she studied the oversized honey bee painting behind the counter.
“You guys are all idiots,” I said with a flick of my eyes.
“Speaking of idiots, where’s that boyfriend of yours?”
“Yeah, where is dear-old Ellie?”
My gaze darted to the door. Good question.
Where was Elliot?
The sharp chime of a bell echoed through the café. Right on cue, Elliot strolled in, fashionably late as always. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it out from his face as he strode toward us.
“There he is,” I mumbled, a smile tugging at my lips. “The Abercrombie and Fitch model in all his glory.”
“Sorry, I’m late. Did you start or…?”
“Not yet.”
“Cool.” He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before sliding into the chair beside me.
With five of us, the table suddenly felt much smaller. I glanced around, taking in each familiar face, a quiet sense ofcontentment settling over me. Letting out a small breath, I reached down and picked up the paperback from the floor.
“So, I know you guys are probably wondering why I asked you to come here.”
“It wasn’t because you enjoy our company?” Dani teased.
Andrew jutted his chin upward. “You have a thing for honey bees?”
I shot them a hard stare. “It’s because I feel like I’ve been hiding who I am from you guys. You have all seenpartsof me, different pieces, but I always kept certain things hidden. So, anyway, I just wanted to share a side of myself you guys never got to see.” I shoved my hand inside the paper bag. It crinkled as I pulled out three books. “I got you each a book. Something that reminds me of you, but also shares a part of me.”
The Hate U Giveby Angie Thomas for Kendra.Perks Of BeingA Wallflowerby Stephen Chbosky for Andrew.You Should See Me In A Crownby Leah Johnson for Dani.
“Blame Elliot if you think this is lame. It was his idea to do this.”
He shrugged. “She gave me a book and I liked it, so I convinced her to give you guys one too. Seemed like a good idea to me. Oh—and get this—reading isn’t all that bad.”
They each thumbed through their books, skimming the pages. I pressed my lips together, trying to read their reactions as I waited anxiously. My leg bounced slightly, betraying my nerves. Elliot’s hand settled on my thigh, his gentle touch stilling me.
Dani was the first to speak, her voice easing my anticipation. “Nah, this is cool.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Clarke,” Kendra said with a nod.
