Page 55 of Driving Beats

“Well, when we shop, I know he hates it with a capital H. He tells me this every time he can. He actually told me he would’ve ordered clothes from the internet and been done in a day.” I shudder.

Looking over at my friends, they’re doing the same exact thing.

I continue, “We’ve talked about a variety of things, though. Even had a flour fight in his kitchen.”

“A what?” Jenna holds up her hand as she takes a long while to swallow her cappuccino. “You had a flour fight with Coop?”

I nod slowly. “After we baked this delicious beer bread. It was so easy. I’ll have to send you the recipe, you’re gonna love it. It’s the perfect texture, and there are raisins. You never would’ve thought beer bread would have raisins, but it’s so good!”

“Thanks,” Hayden says, then pauses. “Now back to throwing flour around Coop’s kitchen, please.”

“That’s just it. He can be all grumpy and disappear into meditation for twenty hours. Then, the next thing you know, you’re making him earrings while watching The Lord of the Rings.”

“I still can’t believe we’re talking about Coop.” Jenna crosses her arms. “Here’s the million-dollar question—are you going to do it with him again?”

I pick up my espresso and bring it to my lips. “I’m not sure. Honestly, it was the best sex I’ve ever had.”

“Then you have to do it again,” Hayden decrees.

“It's afterward… we had a fight. I don't think I want to have sex and then fight, right?”

Both of them give me knowing nods.

“Plus, I really hate it when guys get controlling. He has a penchant for doing that.” Although I hoped I had broken him of such a bad habit. Him ordering me out of his bedroom last night certainly was a wake-up call.

Not that I wanted to stay there anyway.

“Perhaps you can talk with him? I mean, if the sex was that good, it might be worth a try?”

I give Jenna’s advice some thought while the server clears our table.

Hayden asks, “Besides the sex, do you like being around him?”

“I do.” My immediate answer surprises even me. “We share the same favorite movie, and our conversations are fascinating. I’m comfortable with him.”

Jenna asks, “Do you find yourself confessing things to him you’ve never shared with anyone else?”

I think back to telling him about my time in the cult. “Yeah.”

She continues, “And you made him some jewelry, right?”

“A pair of earrings.”

“Oh boy.” Jenna smiles at Hayden, who returns it. “Nese, do you remember when you told me Bennett and I were good together?”

“And how you rooted for Río and me, even when he got drunk in Lisbon?”

With caution, I answer them both. “Yes.”

“Yup,” Jenna pronounces, to which Hayden agrees.

“What are you saying? No way! I’m way too young and carefree to get entangled in the guitarist’s mess of a life! Besides, I’m not looking for anything beyond a night. I’m twenty-four for heaven’s sake. No way am I settling down for a good five, ten years!”

They simply nod their heads.

“I’m not interested in Coop like how you were with Bennett,” I point at Jenna, then turn my gaze to Hayden. “Or you with UC’s drummer. I’m much younger than you guys!”

They shrug at each other. “Only time will tell.”