Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“We’re so extra.” Past me would have rolled my eyes at us, but I love how close Mac and I have become since we made this real.
“We’re giving Cammie and Chase a run for their money.” Mac’s dopey smile mirrors my own.
I’ve never been in a relationship with someone who feels like my best friend. We finish each other’s sentences. He knows what I’m about to say or ask before I even ask it. I’m definitely in deep with Mac and it’s both scary and elating. We’ve been dancing around the topic of his future plans after graduation, skirting the edge and then shying away. I don’t want to bury my head, but I also don’t want to ruin the flow.
Mac holds the door open and ushers me in ahead of him. Enid is working the cash register and waves at us. We’re ahead of the lunch rush, so we don’t have to wait long to order.
“Let me guess, blueberry brie.” Enid points at me, and then at Mac. “And the multigrain BLT, extra B, and the very last slice of German chocolate cake.”
“Are we really that predictable?” I ask.
“Yes,” Mac and Enid say at the same time.
“Do you also both want the caramel latte?” Enid punches in our order.
“I’m going cinnamon today to be different.”
“And you’ll probably switch halfway because you miss your caramel, but it’s your call.” Enid glances between us.
“Just let her have the cinnamon and her unpredictability.” Mac winks.
We pay and glance around, looking for a free table. “Brody’s in the corner.” I tip my chin toward the black logoless baseball cap pulled low.
“Let’s go say hi." Mac laces our fingers.
I frown as we approach and whisper, “Do you think he realizes he’s reading upside down?”
Mac squints. “Oh, man.”
He tugs me with him and snatches the book from Brody’s hands.
“What the hell?” Brody tries to grab it back.
“Bro.” Mac gives Brody a look.
Brody lifts his hands in a gesture that belies his previous question.
Mac flips the book around. “I know you have some special talents, but I didn’t realize reading upside down was one of them.”
Brody’s face turns an exceptional shade of red as he snatches the book back. “Fuck you, dude.”
“Don’t be a creeping creeper, man. Just ask her out,” Mac says quietly.
“Easy for you to say when you haven’t fucked it up already.” Brody shoves his book in his backpack, slings it over his shoulder, fires the bird at Mac, spins around, and leaves through the back entrance of the café, abandoning his half-finished sandwich and coffee.
“That was telling,” I muse.
“I don’t get it.” Mac runs a hand through his auburn hair. “It’s pretty damn obvious to everyone that they have a thing for each other.”
“I guess they’re not ready to deal with it.” Brody is a great guy, generous, fun to be around, a solid friend, and a talented hockey player, but he has some serious baggage. Cammie’s older sister is married to Brody’s middle brother Nate, but they went through a rough period because Nate has some deep-seated abandonment issues. Their mom left when they were kids, and Brody was only four. He hasn’t seen her since the day she walked out on them. That would leave deep scars. It’s different than losing a parent to an accident. Mine are gone, but they didn’t leave me on purpose.
“He’s been pining for four years,” Mac grumbles.
“Hopefully they figure it out before they graduate.” I point to the half-finished sandwich. “Should we get a to-go box?”
“Yeah. I can bring it to practice.”
We set our backpacks on the chairs, and I grab the mug and silverware, putting it in the appropriate bins before we return to the pick-up counter, where our meals wait.
Enid glances between us. “Did you tell Brody he was reading his book upside down, then?”
“Yeah,” I say.
Enid nods. “Figured. In his defense, it had only been inverted for like, five minutes.”
“Could’ve been worse.”
“Yeah.” She sighs. “You need a takeout box for his sandwich?”
“That’d be great,” Mac replies.
She reaches under the counter and passes him one.
“Thanks.”
“No problem. If Brody comes back, I’ll tell him you have his food,” she offers.
Mac and I tuck ourselves into Brody’s abandoned table. I cut one of his BLT halves in half again and pass him half of my blueberry brie sandwich before we dig in.
“How’s your art piece coming along?” Mac asks.
“I should finish it tomorrow.”
“Really? Can I come see it?”
“Yeah, for sure.” I smile and sip my latte. “And once that’s out of the way, I'll work on your portrait piece again.”
Mac’s eyes light up. “Will you need me to pose again?”
“I took reference photos, but I do love a live model.”
“I’ll get shirtless for you anytime you want.” Mac’s dimple pops, then his expression grows serious. “Have you thought about submitting a piece for the spring art show?” He taps the poster on the wall next to us. The café routinely boasts posters advertising various performances and arty things. There’s one for Tally’s dance showcase on the wall behind Mac. She has one every semester, and it’s cool to see her on stage.