Ryan snorts. “Relax. He probably thinks we had sex anyway.”
“What?!”
Ryan laughs. “I’m kidding,” he says easily. “We didn’t have sex.”
“Why would you say that?!” I hiss.
“Because,” he says, still grinning, “your reaction is hilarious.”
I push him out the door. “Bye, Ryan!”
“Bye, Mads,” he calls just before the door shuts behind him with a solid click.
I stand there for a second, with a racing mind. Which I don't have time for.
I race upstairs and throw on my work clothes in a record time. I’m pretty sure I only got half my mascara on, but I don’t even have time to care.
Why do I always have to be late?
As I’m sprinting around my room, trying to stuff my things into my bag, I hear footsteps. Noah appears in the hallway, yawning and rubbing his eyes. “Why are you stomping around like a stampede?”
“Work. I’m late.”
He snorts and I grab my apron and slung it over my shoulder. “What are you doing today?”
“Dad called this morning. He needs help at the other café—ice machine’s broken again or something. So I told him I’d head over for the day. I’ll be back after dinner.”
“Wait, you’re going now?”
He nods. “I can drop you off at work if you want.”
“Bless you,” I say, rushing past him. “I owe you a muffin. Or my soul. Whichever you want.”
“Let’s start with a muffin,” he says with a grin.
31
MADDY
I’d do anything to distract myself from thinking about you
It’s way too early for my brain to be this busy. I stand behind the counter, apron tied around my waist, moving through orders on autopilot—grabbing cups, pouring shots, steaming milk—only realizing halfway through that I’ve already made the same latte twice.
“Maddy?”
I snap up, looking at Dawn. “What?”
She raises an eyebrow slightly. “I was just saying the coffees for table five are to-go.”
I blink. “Right. Sorry.”
“You okay?” she asks with a small grin on her face.
I nod, a little too fast. “Yeah, I’m just tired.”
She smirks. “Oh? What happened last night?”
How does she do that?
