AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hold your horses, Ricky.” Her hair was tucked underneath a hairnet but there was no doubt she was pretty enough to be the Shelia. Her brother, and there was no denying the family resemblance, frowned as he gave me back a dollar and some change. I dumped it in the glass tip jar and he gave me an appreciative nod. “Grab the milk from the case,” he said, handing me two long boxes. “Next!”
I balanced my load as I reached for the milk, but it teetered dangerously. “Here,” a woman said, grabbing the boxes before they fell. “Let me help.”
“Thank you,” I answered gratefully. “Apparently, my juggling skills aren’t as good as I thought.”
“Happens to the best of us.” She swept dark hair out of her face, looking at me fully for the first time. “I don’t know you. I’m Drea.”
“Cadence,” I answered, then smiled ruefully. “Town’s that small, huh?”
She nodded knowingly. “It takes some getting used to.” A little boy tugged on her hand. “This is Colt.”
“Hi, Colt.”
“You like chocolate milk?” He pointed at the bottle in my hand and I shook my head.
“I don’t but I know someone who does.”
“I like chocolate milk. Mom let me have some because Uncle Clutch left without saying goodbye.”
Drea glanced around cautiously and I remembered where I’d heard the name. “I’m sure he’ll make it up to you,” I replied, trying to salvage the situation.
“He’s supposed to teach me to ride a bike.”
“And he will,” Drea promised, smoothing his dark locks. “When he comes back.”
“I’ve been waiting my whole life,” Colt grumbled and I had to fight a smile. “Are we going to see Daddy?”
“After you get a haircut,” Drea replied, raising a finger when it looked like he was going to protest. “Donuts, a haircut, and then visit Daddy at work. That was our deal.” His lips squished together, but he only nodded. Drea looked at me. “He hates getting his haircut, but I don’t know why. They fawn over him. Even give him an extra sucker.”
“Lucky dude. I didn’t a get a sucker,” I mentioned and he looked at me like a crime had been committed.
“You got your hair cut and didn’t even get a sucker?” He asked in disbelief and I nodded solemnly. “You should go back and get one.”
“I will,” I said, striving to match his seriousness. “I better go.”
“Do you need any help?” Drea offered and I shook my head.
“I think I’m good now.” I glanced at the door. “If you can get the door for me,” I added as an afterthought.
“I can do that.”
We walked to the door together and she held it open, Colt helping as he leaned against the weight of the door. “Thank you both,” I said, seeing Noah opening the car door. “Have a good day.”
“You’re with Noah?” Drea sounded surprised and I wasn’t sure if Noah wanted that known so I made a weird bobbing motion with my head and pretended like I didn’t hear her.
“Bye!”
I hopped into the car, almost dumping the donuts in Noah’s lap. “Watch the coffee,” he warned, holding a giant cup out of the way. “Don’t spill it because I’m not sure I can get another cup,” he continued, trading me the coffee for the donuts.
“Did you date the coffee maker too?” I quipped, inhaling the sweet aroma of roasted beans.
“No, and you’re welcome for that,” he retorted, snagging a donut out of the box and putting the whole thing in his mouth. “Mmmmm.”
I watched him in amusement. “Good?”
He nodded fervently. “The best and it’s been forever.”
“Sheila doesn’t serve exes?”
“Not when they arrest her brother on a drunk and disorderly,” he answered, picking up another donut. “Our relationship couldn’t really come back from that.”
“I probably would have made an exception,” I murmured as he went for a third donut. “Hey, leave one for me.” I reached across him to grab one and my sleeve pulled up, revealing one of the almost healed scars. They still had a purplish tinge, but the doctors assured me that one day they’d only be a faint silver color. He took a bite of the donut, his eyes locked on my arm, and I could almost hear the question. “Here.” I thrust my other hand at him, almost throwing the chocolate milk in his lap. “For you.”
“Thanks. How did you know?”
“I saw the empty milk jug in the trash.” He opened the bottle and chugged half of it in one swallow. “Maybe I should have gotten two.”
He shook his head. “One’s good. I have coffee too.”
“They’re not both mine?” I teased and he froze.
“They can be.” I shook my head, smiling as I sipped my coffee from a 44 ounce Big Gulp Styrofoam cup. “I got you the biggest cup I could find,” he told me. “Leroy thought I was crazy.”
“Leroy?” I questioned, for some reason doubting a man named Leroy could brew such an elegant cup of coffee.
