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“I rest my case,” Jinny said, arching a smug eyebrow.
“It’s only because I’m in here every day.”
“I always assumed he was a robot,” Olivia said thoughtfully. “A beautiful, lifelike robot.”
“He is very attractive,” Vilma said.
“You should hit that,” Jinny said, nodding at Penny.
Esther shook her head. “Mmm, bad idea.”
Jinny turned to look at her as she reached for her wine. “Why? He’s gorgeous.”
“Reason number one: hot guys are never any good in bed.”
“Ouch,” Cynthia said. “Damn. What about Jonathan?”
“Yeah.” Jinny shot Esther an accusatory look. “Are you saying he’s bad in bed, or are you saying he’s not hot?”
Esther rolled her eyes. “Neither. He happens to be fantastic in bed and he’s hella cute. But he’s also smart and sensitive and funny and those are the qualities that make him a good lay. Hottie Barista, on the other hand, is an empty vessel. Guys like that don’t have anything going for them but their looks. You seriously think there’s anything in that pretty head of his other than his own ego? Doubtful.”
Penny wanted to defend him, but she knew if she did, they’d just double down on the idea that he was flirting with her.
“What’s reason number two?” Vilma asked Esther.
“Don’t shit where you eat.”
Penny scrunched up her nose. “Gross.”
Esther shrugged. “You come here every day, right? He might as well be a coworker. Bad idea.”
“Hey!” Jinny protested. “Yemi and I work together.”
“No, you don’t,” Esther said. “You work in the same building, but you don’t work together. If you broke up, you’d hardly ever see each other. Not that you’re breaking up,” she added hastily. “You guys are obviously perfect for each other and you’ll be together forever.”
“Thank you,” Jinny said.
Esther turned back to Penny and hooked a thumb at the counter where Caleb was working. “You bag that prize and then what? You really think he’s got long-term boyfriend potential?”
Penny didn’t even think he had fleeting encounter potential. The entire hypothetical lacked plausibility.
“Unless there’s a happily ever after in your future,” Esther went on, “you’ll have to deal with an awkward encounter every time you come in here.” She shook her head sadly. “Better just to find a new favorite coffee shop.”
“I don’t want to find a new place to meet,” Vilma said. “I like it here.”
“They have wine,” Cynthia pointed out.
“That’s what I’m saying.” Esther turned back to Penny. “I mean, sure, he’s hot. But is he hot enough to deal with the consequences?”
Jinny gazed across the room at Caleb. “Maybe.”
As Penny watched him wipe down the counter, she let her mind wander over the possibility. In detail. Luxuriating in the fantasy. Imagining his mouth and his hands on her. His hard body pressed against hers. His warmth everywhere, filling her up…
Nope. Ridiculous. It could never happen.
“This conversation is absurd.” Penny shook her head to clear away the images. “I’m off men, remember?”
“Sure you are,” Jinny said. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”
