Wednesday Afternoon, Continued
“Carmel latte?” Gin asked me as we stood in line at The Strong Brew coffee shop.
I looked through the window of the main door, watching a yellow Volkswagon try to parallel park in front of the shop behind Gin’s jeep. Paisley ended up about four feet from the curb on her first attempt, and a black BMW honked loudly at her before pulling into the other lane, cutting off an SUV as it sped around her. The SUV honked as well, and Paisley’s car jerked forward two inches before slamming to a hard stop.
“Harper.” Gin nudged me with his hip.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Did you even hear what I asked?”
I smiled at him. “Sorry, I was watching Paisley try to park.”
We stepped up to the front of the line and Gin ordered an Americano and my usual latte. I turned back to see Paisley’s yellow bug finally come to a complete stop about four feet behind the Jeep, and about a half a car length from the corner. Benji’s gangly legs emerged from the passenger side.
Gin pulled lightly on my hand and I followed him.
“Why don’t you sit down in the corner?” He nodded toward the far corner. “It’s better than mocking Paisley’s parking job.”
“I wasn’t mocking her. I’m worried about her.”
Paisley and Benji entered the coffee shop, and she made a beeline for me. The whites of her eyes were still red, and they matched the skin on the bottom of her nose. She grabbed me in a hug. Again.
I patted her back. “C’mon, let’s sit down.” I led her to the table Gin had pointed out earlier. No one was seated near us, so no one would overhear what we talked about.
Gin joined us a minute later and handed me a latte in a ceramic mug. He sat down next to me, holding his coffee in both hands like he was cold. The bitter smell of his drink wafted over as I took a sip that was mainly milk foam and caramel.
Paisley glanced around the shop. “Is this where you brought me last summer?” she asked.
“Yeah, it is. Gin and I come here sometimes,” I said gently. We’d come here for iced coffees last summer after walking through several vintage clothing stores. Paisley had bought a giant pile of dresses and convinced me to buy a brown plaid skirt and matching sweater that has sat at the back of my closet ever since. She’d said the mod look was made for me.
Sarah had joined us after shopping for coffee, ordering a blended drink that was mainly sugar, cream, and ice with just a hint of coffee.
Sarah had hated coffee, but forced it down with lots of sugar because everyone drank it. A fresh pang of sadness dinged me.
Tears gathered in Paisley’s eyes. “Sarah said their blended mocha was really good.”
Benji joined us, balancing two drinks and a plate with a peanut butter brownie and a dark brown cookie. “Want some?” he offered.
Gin shook his head. “Can’t, but thanks.”
“I’m not hungry.” I said, and Benji shrugged at me before breaking off a large chunk of brownie.
“I’m starving, which makes me a feel a little guilty,” Benji said before shoving the chunk of brownie in his mouth. He struggled to chew it.
I stared at him and his eyes widened slightly as he swallowed. “Did you talk to Alex?” I asked.
He nodded. His voice was rough, almost choking from the brownie. “He said he didn’t know what happened. He’s devastated.”
“Whatever.” Him wrapped up in the arms of another girl didn’t seem like devastation. Plus he’d known what Sarah had OD’d on when he’d SnapPic’d me.
Gin’s arm nestled around my shoulders. His fingers tapped me on the shoulder; I turned and looked at him.
He leaned toward me and whispered, “Chill” in my ear.
“Give me caffeine and then tell me to calm down,” I whispered back. His snort sent a wave of Americano-scented breath across my face.
Gin’s arm tightened and I turned to follow the path of his eyes. My spine straightened.
Alex.