Pulling up to the curb, I climbed tiredly out of my car and walked into the coffee shop. The delicious smell of fresh donuts and coffee hit me as soon as I stepped inside. Getting in line behind a mother and her two young kids, I did my best to ignore the tempting pastries lined up inside the glass counter.
I had plenty of time, but Korey had already started calling as soon as my alarm went off, wanting to know what time I planned on getting to the studio. Why he wanted me there at six thirty in the morning when he knew the photo shoot wasn’t even scheduled until nine was beyond me. Hair and makeup only took an hour and then another half hour was spent with wardrobe checking for any last-minute adjustments that needed to be made. That still left me an hour to sit around and do what? Stare at the walls? No, thank you. I’d rather get a little more sleep instead.
Korey had always been a bit high-strung, but lately he’d become almost obsessive about my schedule. I’d been working no less than sixty hours a week each week for over a month and it was starting to take its toll. If I hadn’t held my ground about having a couple of weekends off, I’m sure that number would’ve only increased.
And now, with him riding my ass about getting to the studio early, it was clear that we needed to have another talk. I worked hard, and I did my best with each and every job, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t allowed to have a life too. Especially now that I’d met someone I wanted to spend time with.
Just thinking about Samuel brought a smile to my face. I knew he’d had brunch with Gayle the day before. He’d told me he was planning on telling her then that he was bisexual, and my stomach had been in knots all morning, hoping it went well and that Samuel wouldn’t get hurt.
He’d called that afternoon to tell me he’d gotten called into work with some emergency involving an ad campaign. While I understood his need to cancel our dinner date, I was disappointed not to be able to hear everything that had happened with Gayle. I ended up going for a run and then curling up in bed with some sushi and a Molly Ringwald movie marathon. Sometime around two in the morning, a text came through. I’d sat up in bed when I saw it was from Samuel.
Samuel:I know you’re probably sleeping. If so, I hope this doesn’t wake you and you can read it in the morning. I just wanted to tell you how much I hated having to cancel our date. I always look forward to my time with you and not only because of the incredible things you can do with your mouth, although, that is a bonus. Haha. You’re different from anyone I’ve ever met and when I’m with you…and now I’m starting to ramble. I’d apologize, but I think I’ll just blame it on the fact that it’s late and I’m exhausted. I’m going to get some sleep now, but there’s a lot I need to talk to you about. Any chance we can have a redo on our date? No need to answer right away, I know you’re probably asleep. I hope you’re sleeping. Yes, totally rambling. I’m going now. Sweet dreams, Oliver.
I’d fallen back against my pillows, clutching my phone to my chest and sporting the goofiest grin. Samuel was quite possibly the best mix of sexy and adorable that I’d ever met. I shot back a quick response.
Me:I’d love a redo. How about dinner and a movie at my place after work? Oh, and just so you know… I haven’t even begun to show you what I can do with my mouth.
He’d sent back a line of drooling emojis and I’d fallen asleep with a smile on my face. Samuel was different from anyone else I’d met too…in all the best ways.
When it was finally my turn at the counter, I ordered a large coffee with cream and sugar for myself and black coffees for everyone else. That way they could doctor them up however they liked. And if I was lucky, showing up with coffee would help improve Korey’s mood as well.
I slid over in front of the cash register while the barista set to work filling my order. The girl behind the register couldn’t have been any older than seventeen and I knew the minute she recognized me because her eyes doubled in size.
“Hey! How are you?” I asked.
“I’m…I’m good,” she said, stumbling over her words. She reached up and tucked her blonde hair behind her ear.
“Order for Oliver,” the barista said as she set my tray of coffees down on the counter.
“I knew it! You’re Oliver Hughes, aren’t you?” the cashier exclaimed loudly. A few heads turned to stare, but I just smiled back at her.
“Yes, I am. It’s nice to meet you…Shelly,” I said, reading the nametag on her shirt. Her eyes lit up and she giggled, smoothing the hair behind her ear once again in what must have been a nervous habit of hers.
“You too,” she giggled again.
“Shelly, hurry up!” the barista scolded.
“Oh, sorry,” she said as if she’d forgotten she was supposed to be working. “Let me just ring you up.”
“Thank you,” I said, reaching into my back pocket for my wallet. Shelly read me the total and I handed her my card. A few seconds later, her brow furrowed.
“Um, it says it’s declined,” she whispered over the counter.
“That’s not possible. Would you mind trying again, please?” I asked politely.
“Oh, of course.” I watched as she ran it through again, but I could tell it hadn’t worked that time either when her brows scrunched up.
“I’m really sorry, Oliver. It still says it’s declined.” She handed it back to me with an apologetic look on her face.
“No, it’s not your fault,” I said absently as I stuffed the card back in my wallet and pulled out a different one. “Here, this one should do it.” I held my breath as she swiped the card then breathed a sigh of relief moments later when she smiled and handed it back to me, along with a copy of the receipt to sign.
“That kind of thing happens all the time. I’m sure it was just our machine or maybe some mix-up on the card company’s end. Just give them a call and I’m sure they’ll get everything sorted out,” Shelly suggested, clearly relieved to see everything work out.
“I’m sure. Thank you very much,” I told her as I handed her back the receipt.
I shoved my wallet back in my pocket and then grabbed my drinks and headed out the door. I set them carefully in the passenger seat and then went around and climbed behind the wheel. My hands were shaking as I took hold of the steering wheel and one look in the rearview mirror showed that my face was bright red. I’d never been more embarrassed in my life, and on top of that, I was confused.
I had no idea how that could’ve happened or what went wrong, but I was going to have to talk to Korey if I wanted to find out. When I’d first signed him on as my agent, he’d suggested getting both of our names put on the business bank account and credit cards. He’d told me that if his name was on them then he could keep track of things and pay the balance each month, leaving me free to focus on my work. And it had worked well for us…until a few moments before.
