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“That was for last night,” he says. “And this”—he nips at my bottom lip—“is for flirting with another man in front of me, you fucking tease.” He bites my bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth. It’s almost painful but I claw at his chest, wanting more. “And now, he knows exactly who the fuck you belong to.” He tightens his grip on the back of my neck, his eyes burning into mine. “Do you know who you belong to, Stella?”
“Yes,” I half whisper.
“Who?” His lips hover over mine, so close I can feel the warmth of his breath against them.
“You.”
He steps back without a word, his eyes ice-cold. I almost stumble but right myself as he moves around me and exits the coffee shop. I stand there, feeling drunk and dazed. I look back at the corner where Matilda and Jason stare slack-jawed at me.
“I think we all need a cigarette after that.” Matilda shakes her head and hands Jason his coffee.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to both of them, my hands cupping my flaming-hot cheeks.
“Don’t apologize.” Jason laughs. “That was pretty intense.” He blushes as well and Matilda bursts into laughter.
I don’t even have to pretend to be a gooey mess after that display but the little butterflies dancing in my belly as I fill Matilda in on last night are a reminder that this isn’t real.
“You’re living an actual fairy tale, you know that, right?”
Actually, the exact opposite of a fairy tale… unless I missed the one where she sells herself out of financial desperation.
“I keep pinching myself to make sure it’s real.” The guilt of lying to my best friend rears its ugly head again but I swallow it down. We both stare off into the distance, smiles on our faces. “So what about you and Jason?” I ask, changing the subject.
“What about us?”
“I think he’s into you.”
She scrunches her nose. “Ew, he’s kind of like an older brother to me.”
“Oh please, you giggled when you were talking to him. Giggled.” I repeat the word loudly.
“I did not!” She snaps the towel in her hand at me.
“I know what I heard. You guys look cute together and being that you are friends, that could really work in your favor.” She rolls her eyes and turns her attention to wiping down the espresso machine. But something in her expression tells me there’s more to it. “Hey,” I say, reaching my hand out to grab her elbow. “You like him, don’t you?”
She pauses, looking over at me as her shoulders sag. “Maybe.”
“Mat, why’d you try to set him up with me before, then?”
She shrugs, her usual outgoing self suddenly quiet. “I dunno. I wanted him to be happy and you’re like his wife—petite, sweet, super bubbly.”
“So you think he won’t like you? Just because you’re taller than me? Mat, you’re super amazing and hilarious. You’re an amazing person, like working full-time and putting yourself through school yet you still care more about others and volunteer and so many other things I can’t name them kind of amazing.”
Her eyes well up. “Dammit, why do you have to make me cry?”
I grab her and give her a hug. “Seriously, go for it with him. He’s always nice to me but you guys, there’s a spark there. Why do you think I never took you up on the offer?”
“I’m scared of losing him, of losing Aria if things don’t work out or ended badly. Plus stepping in as a mother role is just—I don’t know, a lot.”
I stare at her, wishing I had some wise advice but I don’t because I’m far too scared to go after what I want. I’d rather walk away from this contract with my dignity somewhat still intact than my heart destroyed. The bell chimes and a group of three people enter, chatting and laughing, pulling us away from our conversation and back to work.
The last hour of work flies by. Matilda and I are alone again as we change out of our aprons in the back and clock out.
“Oh, by the way, are you singing this weekend? Chloe ended up canceling on me last time but she’s for sure coming this weekend. I was thinking we could come by, see you sing, then we all head out for a girls’ night in the city.” She bends down to change her shoes. “God, I could use a few drinks. School is kicking my ass lately.”
Shit.
“Yeah, for sure.” I can’t think of anything to say to get out of it. “A girls’ night sounds fun.”
