“Will do, detective.”
“Have a good first day at work.”
“Thanks Luce, love you.”
She blew a kiss at the camera before the video call ended.
I set my phone down and scrubbed a hand over my face. Talking with Lucy always put me in a good mood, but my lack of routine overrode that. My set schedule before had been something like armor to me. Without it, I felt oddly vulnerable, like a hermit crab without a shell.
Getting dressed was a bit of a blur—dress shirt, slacks, tie. Clothes that were supposed to make me feel like I had my shit together.
It almost worked.
My morning at the firm went by in a haze of client files, phone calls, and a conversation with Charlie about how ‘Westwend folks will cite the Constitution over brisket rights, but also believe your horse needs tail lights or you’re a menace to society’.
I stopped asking questions after that.
By the time I realized I never ate lunch, it was already late afternoon. I leaned back in my chair, debating whether I should go back to the house or get something in town. I didn’t remember seeing a fast food joint. Maybe a cafe?
That’s when it hit me.
Bikini Beans.
This felt like the perfect opportunity to finally see Colton’s cafe, given it hadn’t been included on the tour. And maybe there was a part of me that wanted to see Colton in his element.
For observational purposes, of course.
Bikini Beans was located on a stretch of the river just off Main, making it easy to reach by foot or kayak, and also making it popular with locals and tourists alike.
Inside, it was surprisingly spacious and stylish, with a blend of antique red brick, whitewashed walls, and dark wood accents. Edison bulb chandeliers cast a warm glow across the industrial ceiling and trailing vines softened the harsh lines of metal and wood. There seemed to be greenery tucked into every corner, serving to remind everyone how interconnected nature was to this community.
The top half of the wall behind the counter was painted black with chalkboard paint and had impressively intricate drawings surrounding the menu. It was separated into two sections, with one for year-round items and another section for seasonal additions.
A bell over the door dinged as I walked through it, the scent of coffee hitting me full force and I greedily sucked in a lungful of the pungent aroma.
“Welcome to BBC, which stands for Bikini Beans Cafe!” Someone called from behind the counter, not looking upfrom the drink they were making. A loud hiss permeated the space.
I glanced around, thoroughly impressed by how the place looked. It wasn’t anything like how I’d pictured. It was far more put together than anything I’d imagined Colton owning. Far tooclean. And it was surprisingly packed.
Making my way to the register, which was unattended, I stared at the menu while waiting to be served. The woman at the end of the counter finished the drink she was making, setting it out, and called a name before making her way to me.
She had long black hair that was pulled into a ponytail and blunt bangs that sat across her forehead. There were multiple piercings through both of her ears, along with a hoop in her nose. A thick black collar sat around her neck and her baggy black t-shirt featuring an anatomically correct spine came down nearly to her knees. She wore a tight black-and-white striped long sleeved shirt under it.
It was all very… hot. As intemperature. She looked like she might melt in the Texas heat in all those layers.
Her name tag read ‘Chris’ and she gave me a charming smile as she tapped at the register’s screen.
“Hi! Welcome to Bikini Beans. What can I get you?”
“Is Colton here?” I asked.I’d done a perfunctory scan of the space but hadn’t seen him.
She cocked her head as her eyes narrowed. “What, are you a stalker?”
Heat rose up my neck and onto my cheeks.
“No,” I let out an uncomfortable laugh, “I’m his roommate, Derek.”
A flash of recognition came across her face as she pointed at me.
