Page 67 of Safe With You

Or maybe she did and decided not to say anything.

“Do you want coffee?” she asked.

“I already had some.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

I looked toward the dark café.

“I thought Naomi wasn’t here.”

“She’s not. I do know how to work the espresso machine.”

“Does she know that?”

“Unfortunately.”

I smiled. “Then yeah. Coffee would be good.”

“Regular?”

“Yes, black please.”

She stopped walking.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Luna.”

She turned around slowly. “You drink black coffee?”

“Every day.”

“On purpose?”

“Usually.”

Her face did something between confusion and disappointment.

I leaned back in my chair, already entertained by how personally she seemed to be taking this. “What do you put in yours?”

“Things that make it taste good.”

“Black coffee does taste good.”

“Black coffee tastes like somebody burned a bean and poured hot water over it.”

“That’s exactly what happened.”

“Which is why we add things.”

She gestured toward the café like the collection of syrups behind the counter proved her point.

I laughed as she disappeared behind the café counter.

I liked that.