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“But I’m free that hour,” Damien shot back, not caring, while Keene came over to lean against the cabinets right next to me and scowled impatiently as he waited for his turn.
“That smells really good,” Foster announced, wandering over as well to peek at what I was making. “What is it?”
“Cappuccino,” I answered with an encouraging nod. “You want some?”
His eyes lit up, and he flashed his billboard smile. “Hey, yeah. Thanks.”
“Of course.” As I retrieved a new K-Cup and mug, I told him. “You’re going to love it, I promise.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa…” Keene waved his hands as I removed my cup, only to replace it with Foster’s. “He can wait for his—dammit.”
Completely ignoring him, Foster and I grinned at each other.
“Some people…” he told me, shaking his head in disapproval. “They have no patience, I swear.”
“No doubt,” I agreed, playing along and loving it when Keene only huffed louder.
He was such a hoot to mess with.
Across the room, Hudson glanced our way and pointed at himself. “Yo, make me a cup of that too.”
“And me,” Parker spoke up.
“Son of a bitch!” Keene flung his mug onto the counter, completely giving up on the idea of getting a drink any time this morning.
I laughed, only to grimace at the pain that stretching my cheek muscles brought.
My smile dying a sudden death, I lifted my fingers to my scraped bruise, and memories of the night before assailed me until I was right there, under that bed again, hoping I wasn’t about to die.
But damn. Standing safely here in this kitchen, surrounded by Damien and his friends, I’d forgotten about last night.
At the table, Damien met my gaze worriedly, knowing exactly where my mind had just gone. I forced a smile to reassure him and took a sip of my drink.
Next to him, Alec asked, “What about the girl from the library? She probably needs to be warned too. I mean, if the killer went after Oaklynn to silence her for knowing too much, why wouldn’t he go after Library Girl, too?”
“If he hasn’t already,” Parker said with his usual dour humor.
“Oh God.” I pressed a hand to my abdomen. Poor Waverly better be okay.
When Damien straightened and started forward to comfort me, Keene hissed out a tired breath. “Alright,” he grumbled moodily, definitely needing some coffee already. “I don’t have class until ten. I’ll head to the library as soon as it opens to check on Library Girl, plus see who all she talked to about this.”
“Thank you,” I gushed gratefully and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best. Here...” Removing Foster’s cup as soon as it was done, I handed that to him as I told Keene, “You go next.”
He brightened and rushed to slot his cup into the machine before anyone else could jump ahead of him.
My phone vibrated from my pocket, and I pulled it free to check the message, just as the back door opened, admitting Thane.
He looked harassed and half-put together, tucking his collared shirt into his pants as he came in. “Okay, what did I miss?”
“Everything,” Parker informed him dryly. “Thanks for being on time.”
Thane glanced down at the schedule sheet on the table and lifted his hands in dismay. “Y’all started without me?”
“Oh! Hey…shh!” I broke in, waving my hand madly. “Waverly just texted me.”
And thank God. It was nice to hear that she was still alive.
“Who?” half the people in the room asked.
