“Can I get you anything?”
Both men turn and look at me and I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I look between them when neither of them answers me. They’re both just staring at me with this weird kind of intensity. It’s almost too much. No one has ever looked at me like that. Like they would like to order me and not the coffee. I clear my throat and try again.
“Did you guys need another minute?”
This seems to get through to them and the blonde smiles at me as he leans on the counter. I watch as his eyes flick down my body before coming back to my name tag before his eyes meet mine once again.
“What would you recommend, Aspen?” He asks as he continues to grin at me.
“To eat?” I ask huskily.
I watch as his pupils dilate and I have to pull my eyes away from him and over to his friend. I can’t believe I just said that. And what is wrong with my voice?
“Yeah. To eat.” The blonde one says.
I know he’s not really talking about the pastries anymore. I might be a 22-year-old virgin but I’m not that naïve.
“I like the cheese danishes. The coffee cake is really good too.” I say as I point them out in the case.
“Ok, give me two of each of those and I’ll take a large coffee, one cream, one sugar, please.”
I can feel their eyes on me as I type his order into the computer before I look back up to ask if his friend wants anything. When I look up it looks like they’re having an intense conversation with each other. The blonde one gives him a meaningful look before they both look back at me. I take this time to study them some more. I don’t know what it is about them but it’s like a current is running between the three of us. I want them, I realize in shock. I’ve never wanted anyone. Blondie catches me watching them and smiles at me. I glare back at him but it only makes his smile widen.
I look past him at the line that is starting to form behind them.
“Will that be all?” I ask, pointedly looking at Blondie’s friend.
He gives me a slow smile. “I’ll take a large coffee, black.” He says.
I quickly add that to the order before reading them their total. As the muscular one swipes his card, I pull the pastries out of the case and bag them up. I hand them the receipt and the bag before turning and pouring their coffees into to-go cups. Normally we’re supposed to ask if they want it for here or to go but for some reason, these guys make me antsy. Like I have too much energy running through me when I look at them.
“Here you go.” I say as I place the cups in front of them. They reach out at the same time and I gasp as their fingers wrap around mine on the cups. I jerk away, luckily not spilling any coffee all over the place and look up at them.
“Have a good day.” I mumble as I try to dismiss them for the next customer.
“I’m Flynn James and this is Roman Stone.” Blondie says as he points to himself and then his friend.
“Great. Well, have a good one.” I try again to dismiss them.
“Do you work here every morning?” Blondie-er, Flynn, asks.
“Yup.” I say, popping the P. “Now if you don’t mind, I should get back to work.”
“Why don’t you meet us tonight? Working all day must be stressful and I’m sure we could help you relax.”
“We?” I ask. Shouldn’t just one of them be hitting on me? Although I’m not sure which one I would prefer at this point. I don’t want to choose between them. I want them both.
Almost like he can hear my thoughts, Flynn says, “Yeah. We. We like to share.”
My cheeks heat as I think about being sandwiched between the two of them, their hands trailing up and down my body.
“No.” I say.
“Cage Nightclub. 9 PM. Ask for us and they’ll show you to our table.” Flynn says as he picks up his coffee and the paper bag of pastries.
“See you tonight.” He says as they turn and leave.
Bianca chooses that moment to come back and I help her with the line as I think about their offer. I’ll never be able to take them up on it. Not that I want to, of course. Once the line is down, I take my apron off and tell Bianca I’m taking my break. I head out the back door and lean against the side of the building as I try to figure out what it was about those two guys that drew me to them.
Normally, I’m able to tune out most people. I don’t care what people think about me and I’m too busy to even think about dating or anything. I’ve even been hit on at work before and I was able to put it out of my mind almost immediately but for some reason, those two are stuck in my head. I spend the remainder of my break trying to think about anything else but their faces keep popping up in my head. Maybe I could call in sick to the cleaning company and go to that club tonight. Finally, have some fun and act my age.
My phone dings and I glance down at it to see a message from Adeline. I open it and see that Bella had her puppies and the first picture is of them curled up with their mom. The second is of Adeline cradling one in her arms with the biggest smile on her face.
* * *
Addy: 8 healthy pups!
Aspen: AWWW. How cute!
Addy: I know!! We should adopt them all