Page 2 of To Love the Stars too Fondly

“Here, yes.” A pause. “Back when I worked for a shop with a drive-thru, this would be tame, yeah.”

Alex’s biceps flexed as she offered her Amex black card—just one of many little signs that she could pay off my student loans with a hand wave. I didn’t actually know how rich she was, nor did I know anything about her apparent socialite status, but her mom was a senator, and the last name held some prestige.

So why did she always come here?

I pretended not to notice the 100% tip she left on the machine. “I’ll call your order when it’s ready.”

At that, Alex again gave me that stupid fuckboy grin of hers, the sort that most certainly cajoled lesser women into her bed. “I look forward to hearing you yell my name, Princess.”

Again, I replayed the image of her walking into oncoming traffic as she sauntered away, exasperated to notice how well her stupid joggers showed off her bubble butt.

Goddammit, my cheeks burned. I whirled around, awake for the first time all morning. “What a whore,” I muttered.

Liam merely hummed. “You say that every time she comes in, but she has yet to display any whorish traits.”

“Her outfit?”

“Normal for the gym but slutty for the club, I’ll give you that. But I think you like it.”

My whole body clenched. “I beg your finest pardon?”

When he glanced back, I followed his gaze—to Alex, legs splayed like an emperor as she waited on her aluminum throne for her nasty drink.

“Because that was blatant sexual harassment,” he whispered, “and you flirted back instead of fawning.”

My face flushed hotter than before, throat clamped as Liam handed me the abominable drink. I didn’t actually know what ‘fawning’ meant, but Liam was clearly mocking me. I wasn’t flirting. I wouldn’t flirt with someone like her.

Even if, deep down, I knew it was the most invigorating part of my day.

I turned around, hoping she’d catch my eye so I didn’t have to say her damn name, but she had her attention to her phone. “Black sludge for Alex?”

Damn that little twist in her lip. When Alex rose, she seemed to command the whole room with her cool aura, every eye on her. I set her drink on the counter, sliding it forward before there was any chance our fingers could touch. “Have a nice day,” I said, as habitual as an animatronic come to life.

“You too, Princess,” Alex said.

Damn her stupid husky voice. I hadn’t slept enough for this shit. She turned to leave, and I grabbed a washcloth from under the counter and wiped so I didn’t have to look at her bubble butt again.

“Nice.”

Liam was sounding much too smug. I glowered in return. “Excuse me?”

“Nothing. Just don’t let Barbs catch you looking so stupid.”

Our manager mostly worked in the back, though she’d make an appearance for the upcoming brunch rush. “What are you suggesting?”

Liam shrugged.

“Liam, I swear to God—”

But a new customer entered. I began the customer service dance anew.

Saturday

“Vanilla latte, double sweet, for Randy!”

Vanilla lattes were essentially the blank slate of espresso drinks, basic but classic, but I wouldn’t have pegged the slab of beef approaching the counter as someone who ordered something so sugary. Given the girth of his biceps, he might’ve just been comfortable in his masculinity.

His dopey smile suggested he didn’t have too many thoughts in that pretty head of his. That, or he was your typical caffeine and sugar addicted 20-something who hadn’t gotten his daily fix yet, and I had no room to judge.