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Excerpt
A few blocks down by campus, there’s a Starbucks. I
practically live here during finals week, and I pull Jill inside so we can grab
a Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino. We get comfy on the couch by the window so
we can people watch. It’s one of my favorite games, and Jill cracks up when I
peg their drinks by their looks. It’s a little judgmental, but it’s all in good
spirit. I mean it’s not like I say he’s getting a Chai Latte because he’s gay,
or that she’s getting a Skinny Non-fat Vanilla Frappuccino with no whip cream
because she’s fat. It’s more like I can see the person behind their clothes and
accessories. It’s a gift my art professors raved about throughout school.
“What is tall, dark, and brooding getting, Ames?” Jill’s
voice holds a challenge.
I examine the guy. He’s definitely tall, probably around 6’2’’
with black hair. The skin I can see is tanned, and he’s wearing some dark
washed blue jeans with a light blue button up. Preppy but not overly so. I
would peg him as either a business or architect major, and I start going
through a list of possible drinks in my head.
“You better hurry, Ames. He’s getting ready to order.” She
laughs at the length it’s taken me to decide on a drink for him.
“He’s going to get a Venti Café Americano with a double
shot, no cream,” I say as he approaches the counter.
Pulling out my phone, I see that I have a few missed calls
from my dad, and I make a mental note to call him back. I open up the browser
to search for places to take Jill out tonight. It needs to be out of the way of
campus so we don’t run into the jerk and his new girl, but close enough if we
have to walk home.
“Can I get a Venti Café Americano with a double shot,” a
smooth, deep voice echoes around the shop.
I look up to see every girl looking toward the back of the
store where the guy just ordered what I predicted. Something about his voice
draws my attention to his back, like I want to examine him further.
“Told you, Jill,” I say through a smile as I look over at
her and away from him.
“You sure you’re not psychic?” She locks eyes with me and
then they flicker away to only widen.
“What? Don’t tell me Stephen is here with that girl, Jill. I
will personally take him out of the store and beat him senseless.” I get ready
to turn around when a chuckle has me frozen in my chair.
“Do you ladies mind if I join you?” It’s the voice from the
guy who just ordered.
Jill shakes her head no and gestures with her hand for him
to take a seat. I stare daggers at her, but she just shrugs at me. Resting back
into my chair, I continue the search for the right club, but can’t come up with
anything that would guarantee a Stephen-free night.
“Marcus!” the barrista calls.
I look up to see the guy next to us eye me as he rises to
fetch his coffee. Turning my attention to Jill, I see her study his ass and
grin. She obviously likes what she sees.
“No creamer right?” I lean over and whisper at her.
“None. He’s coming back this way though.” Smiling at me, her
eyes shimmer.
“What, why?” I let out.
“Why what?” Marcus asks as he sits down in the chair
opposite me.
“Nothing.” I reply like I’m annoyed at his intrusion. He
just shrugs it off like it’s not a big deal, and I decide to ignore him.
“So, I think we’re going to need to get ourselves a DD so we
can go out tonight, Jill.” I smile at her.
“Come on, Ames. I don’t want to run into him,” she pleads
with me.
“I know. I’ve been looking at clubs further out, which is
why we would need a sober driver to accompany us.”
“I don’t mean to include myself in this conversation, but
why don’t you just go to the new club that opens tonight. Déjà vu is on the
corner of Main and Avenue X, so it’s close to the campus,” Marcus offers with a
smile.
“No offense, but if it’s new, it’s a sure thing that her
ex,” I point at Jill, “will be there, and the point of the night is to have
fun.”
“Well, I have it on good authority to say that the only
people getting into the club are ones with their names on the list.”
His smirk graces his face and it pulls my attention to
examine him. Gorgeous set of lips that I could get lost in kissing, a nose
that’s slightly crooked from being broken, and when my eyes make their way to
his, a blue that’s not entirely blue. They have specks of green and yellow
floating around and glinting off the light in the coffee shop. My train of
thought goes fuzzy for a second, and I look away from him by grabbing my drink
off the table while I try and process why all of a sudden I feel the need to
wrap my body around his.
“Right, so a VIP list that our names wouldn’t be on either.
How does that help?” The words fly out of my mouth. I tend to speak fast when
I’m nervous.
