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One—Lena is my best friend. She would never do anything to hurt me. Mags, Lena, and I… we’d take bullets for each other. We’d crush anyone who tried to hurt any of us.
But she has no clue about me and Braydon. The fact we slept together last fall. The fact we’ve been having sex—lots of sex—since Saturday night.
Two—Braydon isn’t doing anything wrong. Neither is Lena. They were talking. Casual conversation among familiar faces. Him planning a stop at her shop for his story, his job.
Get a grip.
Braydon is not mine. I am not his. And in half a week, he will go back to Seattle. Back to his life. One that does not include me. None of this is news.
I swallow back the restless thoughts and smile up at him. “Morning.”
The corner of his mouth kicks up in a half smile. “Good morning.” His eyes drift up to the menu board, his teeth nibbling at the corner of his bottom lip. “Hmm.” A hand presses his stomach. “Pretty hungry today.” A devilish smirk lights his face. “Been… exercising more than normal.”
I snort as my teeth clamp down on my lips. “Best fuel up then.”
“Right you are.” Another quick glance at the menu. “Breakfast of Champions. Meatless sausage and scrambled whites. My usual coffee, but large today. Need a caffeine boost.”
Eyes on the screen, I shake my head as I tap in his order. “I’ll get your coffee.”
I fill a cup with coffee, stevia, and oat milk. Add a protective sleeve and lid. Take a deep breath and walk back to the register. I hand him the coffee and he hands me cash. With his change, I give him a numbered table tent. He tosses the bills and coins into the tip jar.
He takes a step back, then stops. Amber irises lock me in place and the twisty feeling from minutes ago comes back, but this time different. A bundle of nervous energy. I like and hate how edgy it makes me feel.
“Go to a movie with me tonight. The cinema updated the marquee.” He licks his lips. “Popcorn, candy, moody Robert Pattinson.”
I snort-laugh and slap a hand to my mouth. “TheTwilightmovies must be back.”
“Yep. There’s a double feature option, too.”
Now I am intrigued. “You have a secret crush on Pattinson?”
He shrugs. “I like indie movies and he’s done a bunch. I’m not ashamed.”
“No?”
His lips purse as he shakes his head.
“FavoriteTwilight Sagafilm?”
He lifts the coffee to his lips and takes a sip. “Way to put a guy on the spot.” He taps his lips with a finger, his eyes darting around as if in deep thought. “It’s a toss-up betweenNew MoonandBreaking Dawn, Part 2.”
“Well then.”
“New Moonis moodier. Darker. I resonate with the vibe more.”
This has me mentally jerking back. His response is not what I expected. Then again, neither is Braydon.
“Breaking Dawn, Part 2is when everything finally comes together. Plus, the battle scene was pretty great.”
“So, not team Jacob?” I tease.
He chuckles. “Werewolves and shape-shifters are cool, but nah. More team Alice and Jasper.”
A ding echoes from the kitchen bell and snaps me back to the fact I am openly flirting at work with Braydon. Mandi grabs the order and wanders to the dining room.
Much as I’d love to sit in a dark theater, eat hundreds of empty calories, and curl up to Braydon in the seats, it isn’t a good idea.
This—us—is temporary. Just two people with undeniable chemistry, connecting on a base level.
