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Maybe he’s a cappuccino guy. Or Grant could just drink espresso. I never understood that. I need a whole drink to nurse throughout the morning, not just a little shot of coffee. I’m not doing shots at eight in the morning, even if it is caffeinated.
“Harley!”
My reverie is broken by a familiar voice. I look around the crowded café in confusion.
“Over here!”
It’s Dana. I spot her over by the window sitting with…is that Drew? Former patient Drew? On a Sunday morning?
They’re both wearing athletic gear, sweat dried on their faces. This isn’t a joint walk of shame or just a friendly coffee. They went to exercise together.Ew.
I give her a wave.
“Come say hi once you’ve ordered!” she says with a grin.
“Yeah, okay,mom.”
She giggles and then returns to continue her conversation with Drew.
I order coffee for me and Dad and a whole coffee cake. I can’t imagine just one piece is going to sate me. And if Dad has a piece and I have two pieces, I might as well just get a whole fucking coffee cake because…
Look, I don’t need to defend myself.
After I collect my order, I walk over to Dana and Drew. “Hey, guys.”
“Hey kid,” Drew says.
“I resent that comment,” I reply.
“Don’t mind her,” Dana says to Drew with a swipe of her hand. “Here, sit for a couple of minutes.”
“I’m taking coffee to Dad, I need to–”
“He’ll understand if you’re saying hi to your sister for a minute. Come on, sit,” Dana cajoles, pushing the third chair out with her foot.
I am about to push back on her one more time, but suddenly there’s a pressing impulse inside me. I need to tell her. She’s the only one of my sisters that will be able to listen without judgment. And as much as I’d like to think that seeing Dad will humble me, it also could be a fucking trainwreck. “Actually yeah, yeah, I’ll sit for a few minutes.” I settle into my chair and open the flat of coffee cake. “Want some?”
Dana eyes the coffee cake that’s been split into six pieces. “Is that all for you and Dad?”
I grab a slice and take a big bite. “I like coffee cake, what about it?”
“I’ll have a piece if you don’t mind,” Drew says with a sheepish smile.
“See? At least someone has taste. Be my guest, Drew.”
Drew takes a piece of it out of the box as if he’s an excited kid taking presents out of his stocking on Christmas morning.
“What are you two up to this morning?”
“We got up early and went for a run in Wildwood Canyon,” Dana says.
I roll my eyes. “You two are weirdos.”
“What did you do this morning?” she retorts. “Nurse a hangover in bed?”
Goddammit, how does she know me so well?“You don’t gotta be rude about it.”
She laughs.
