Jack winked and took the cup, our fingers briefly touching.My heart quickened, and I quietly chuckled.It’d been a long time since I’d felt anything like that.
“Enjoy your coffee, Jack,” I said.
“Oh, I will.Looking forward to Friday.See you then, Lily.”
I watched him leave.He held the door open for a mother with a stroller, then paused to give me one last smile before walking out of sight.With a sigh, I turned back to the counter.Jazz had handled the line like the pro she was, chatting and laughing with customers as she efficiently took their orders.A few of the women kept glancing my way with sly grins, as though Jack and I had just provided them with their entertainment for the day.
Shaking my head, I slid back into position next to Jazz, and we worked through the rest of the rush in our usual smooth rhythm.But the second the coffee shop quieted down, Jazz whirled on me, her eyes gleaming with excitement and curiosity.
“Okay,” she said.“Donotleave me hanging.Dish, girl.”
I grabbed a cloth and started cleaning the counter.“Oh, it was nothing.”
Jazz scoffed under her breath and leaned in, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulder in perfect waves.She stared at me with bright blue eyes that mirrored mine—so much so that when I first started working here, I’d wondered if she was an angel like me.The question had quickly answered itself after watching her for a couple of weeks.It’d become painfully clear when she’d accidentally spilled a full cup of boiling hot coffee on her hand.She’d suffered third-degree burns that had taken months to properly heal.Hot temperatures harmed me, but not to that extent.And I healed similar injuries within hours, not months.
Angel or not, though, she was undeniably gorgeous.I wasn’t lacking in the looks department myself—being a celestial came with its perks.But the real difference between us, aside from my midnight black hair, was how we used our beauty.Jazz wielded hers like a weapon, effortlessly charming men into doing her bidding, including leaving generous tips.Much as I loved—and needed—money, that kind of attention didn’t interest me.
“Come on, Lily,” Jazz said with a wistful sigh.“I saw the way he was drooling over you.Spill.”
I laughed, my cheeks flushing.It wasn’t every day a guy looked at me like that—I never gave them a chance.Any time someone showed interest, I shut them down.Hard.But there was something different about Jack.I didn’t want to push this guy away.IwantedJackto drool over me.
“He asked me out to dinner on Friday,” I said, giving the counter another rub-down.
Jazz’s eyes widened in surprise.“Dinner?On a Friday night?You?”
I stifled a laugh, understanding her confusion.To her, I was practically a nun—a comparison she’d once made that had sent me into fits of laughter.Oh, if only she knew the truth.I was lessSister Actand moreRosemary’s Baby.
“Well, it’s about time!”she exclaimed.
I snickered and gave the counter one last wipe.“It’s just dinner.Don’t read too much into it.”
Scoffing, Jazz leaned forward and swiped the rag from my hand, tossing it into the sink.“Oh, come on, Lily.Don’t downplay this.In all the years I’ve known you?—”
Five, to be exact.
“—I’ve never seen you show interest in anyone.This is monumental.He’s freaking hot,andhe stood up for you.”She pretended to swoon, slumping dramatically against the counter.“Mother, may I?”
“True,” I admitted, a small smile playing on my lips.“But let’s not start planning the wedding just yet.I’d just like a good, uh, foot rub, ya know?”
“Foot rub.”Jazz burst out laughing.“Yeah, let’s hope he gives you a goodfoot rub.A wonderfullyorgasmicfoot rub.”
I laughed.Her excitement was contagious and had me genuinely looking forward to Friday, seeing as how I’d never experienced a goodfoot rubbefore—at least not that I could remember.
“Hmm,” Jazz hummed, leaning closer.“I hope you have something killer to wear.”
I presumed she didn’t mean my swords and daggers, of which I had an entire collection.
“Because all I’ve ever seen you in is an apron.”She tilted her head and grinned.“Although, he might enjoy that, especially if you don’t wear anything underneath.”
“Jazz,” I said, shaking my head.
“My point is you can’t wear this to a date.”She plucked at my jeans and t-shirt beneath my barista apron.
“Why not?He clearly likes the look,” I teased.
Jazz rolled her eyes so hard I was afraid they’d get stuck.“You better be joking.Girl, you are not wearing that.Okay, after our shift, you and I are hitting Whyte Ave.There’s a boutique nearby I think you’ll love.We’ll find something great.”
I paused, tempted by Jazz’s offer.Shopping was one of my few guilty pleasures.A girl could easily lose herself in the many,manydepartment stores Earth had to offer.Especially the yarn stores.My toxic trait was believing I could knit.Spoiler alert: I couldn’t.
