Chapter 12
His question sends butterflies through my stomach. I’ve already accepted his invitation, though we hadn’t decided on a time before. Following last night, I’m more eager than ever to see him tonight. “I’d love that. I just need to stop by my place after work and get ready.”
“Send me your address, and I’ll pick you up,” he says, his face now lit up with a big smile.
“Will do. I’m looking forward to it.” I’m honestly surprised by how much I mean it. I’ve never been the type to get excited about a date. I climb out of the car and nearly bounce my way to the employee entrance of the coffee shop.
When I walk inside, I’m caught off guard to find Elsa and Helen already in the break room. Glancing at the clock, I realize it’s already 5:50. I’ve never shown up this late before.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Elsa remarks with a mocking expression.
“I don’t think we’ve ever beaten you here,” Helen chimes in. “Are you alright?” Her voice carries genuine concern, which surprises me a bit.
“I’m all good.” I flash them a smile and start placing my bag in my locker.
Helen approaches, giving me a suspicious look. “Hold on-did you meet a guy?”
My eyes go wide. “What? Why would you think that?”
“Oh my God! You totally did. That would explain your tired eyes and that goofy grin.”
Helen is practically bouncing with excitement. It’s the most interested she’s ever seemed in me since starting here six months ago. I probably shouldn’t be shocked that a boy is what finally caught her attention.
“Who cares if she hooked up last night?” Elsa grumbles, slamming her locker with extra force before storming out, leaving Helen staring after her.
“What’s up with her?” Helen asks.
I just shrug, not dwelling on it. Honestly, Helen’s sudden interest feels stranger to me than Elsa’s reaction. The two of them are usually tossing snarky comments and shooting me dirty looks anyway. “Let’s get ready. We open soon.”
Sophia comes out of her office just in time to unlock the doors for the busy morning. She hands me a key and says, “Next shift, you’re opening on your own. I trust you’ll handle it perfectly.” With that, she disappears back into her office.
Despite feeling sleep-deprived, I can’t stop grinning as the shop fills up with customers.
The combination of being trusted with the shop key and having a date planned with Elijah makes me feel like I’m walking on air. Elijah steps into the cafe a few minutes after our orders are placed, and I can’t tear my eyes away from him. Elsa manages the register, while Helen and I handle the drinks behind the counter. With Elijah there, concentrating becomes almost impossible.
I listen in on Elsa’s conversation with Elijah.
“You’ve been stopping by more often lately. It’s always a pleasure to see such a handsome face,” Elsa
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remarks, her tone bright and professional, but it’s obvious she’s flirting. The sound of it makes me
bristle.
“I’ll just have a coffee with cream,” Elijah replies, brushing off Elsa’s compliment.
Elsa sighs under her breath, clearly irritated by his indifference. She’s stunning, and most men don’t ignore her. “Coming right up,” she responds. When Elijah tries to pay, Elsa dismisses him with a wave of her hand. “This one’s on the house. Maybe you could make it up to me by taking me out sometime?”
Watching Elsa continue to flirt makes it almost impossible to stay calm. I want to put her in her place, but I know I can’t intervene.
“No, thank you. I insist on paying. There’s only one person I’m interested in, and it’s not you,” Elijah responds, his words straightforward and free of any malice.
Elsa snatches the money from his hand, her expression sour. I get the sense that rejection is unfamiliar territory for her.
I try to suppress my grin, but I can’t help it. Knowing Elijah didn’t just play along, but openly turned her down, makes me feel incredibly special.
After Elsa returns his change, Elijah chooses a table and sits down to wait. I attempt to keep my attention on my tasks, though I can’t resist sneaking glances at him.
Every time I look his way, I catch him already watching me, which makes me blush. The next drink I prepare is his, and once it’s finished, I set it on the counter and call his name.
He walks over, picks up his drink, and flashes me a dazzling smile. “Thank you,” he says, giving a slight nod in farewell. I mouth “bye” in response, and he exits the cafe.
Scanning the room, I try to spot Elijah’s replacement. I’m not sure if I’ll recognize the werewolf assigned to me, but I’m confident I’d pick up their scent. At first, I don’t see anyone out of the ordinary.
Then, the bell above the entrance chimes as a new customer comes in. My eyes widen when I realize it’s Lucas stepping through the door.
