As She Fades(21)

I sent a quick response about making friends and getting coffee and made sure to tell her I loved her.

Then I slid my finger over the other text. Good night was all it said.

I didn’t have a response for that. It was morning now. This text came in the middle of the night. I wondered if Everly had even made it back to the room yet when he’d sent it. I didn’t have time to think about that. It didn’t really matter.

I sat my basket on the closed toilet seat and found my brush. I had a day planned and no thoughts of Slate or dealings with Everly if I was lucky. Neither of them seemed to fit into my life here so far. Everly wasn’t the nicest person around. But I typically got along with everyone, so I’d figure it out. Just not right now.

Drying my hair, putting on makeup, and then getting dressed in the dark took all my concentration. By the time I was out the door, Everly had only cursed at me three times. I thought that was pretty good. Considering.

Since I couldn’t hang out in my room and read or something until it was time to meet Knox, I headed for the coffee shop to grab some morning caffeine. It wasn’t as packed as yesterday, but it was a Sunday so most students were probably still sleeping. Much like Everly.

“You’re up early,” a male voice said, and I turned to see Charlie standing behind me in line. He had his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans and his stance was rather cute.

“It’s after ten,” I pointed out.

He nodded. “True, but it’s Sunday and you should have been living it up last night as your first night on campus. Where’s the exhaustion?”

“I guess I missed that memo. I was in bed by ten thirty.”

He grinned. “You’re a wild one, Vale McKinley.”

“That’s the rumor,” I quipped.

“What can I get you?” the girl behind the counter asked.

I turned back to her and, again, I hadn’t had time to study the menu so I went with a regular coffee. At least I was saving money this way.

“She’ll also have a shot of caramel in that and a cinnamon muffin with icing. Make that two of each, for here,” Charlie said, stepping up beside me and pulling out his wallet. “Breakfast is on me,” he added with a wink.

What was it with these siblings? Now I would owe them both a coffee. I wasn’t going to complain, though. That muffin sounded delicious.

“Thank you. Next time, I treat,” I informed him.

Charlie took the muffins and glanced at me with an amused smirk. “If I ever let a woman buy my coffee, my mother would fly here on her broom and beat me over the head with it.”

The image made me laugh. “We won’t tell her.”

His eyes went wide and he leaned in. “Did you miss the part about the broom? She’ll know. She knows everything. I expect to get a call from her later today asking about the beautiful brunette I shared coffee and a muffin with.”

I felt my cheeks heat from being referred to as “beautiful.” I wasn’t good with compliments. Being with the same boy since you were a kid was easy. Comfortable. This was new.

He handed me the two plates with the muffins and he carried the two coffees as he led me to one of the many empty tables. The one he chose was by a window and the streets were quaint and quiet without all the traffic from yesterday. Oak trees lined the street and flower gardens were everywhere. Even on top of the trash cans.

“I’m going to admit I called my sister last night for details about you. So as much as this seems to be me hitting on you, I’m already aware that you have a guy back home. I won’t lie. I was a little bummed, but seeing you here this morning was fate and I think we might just be good friends after all.”

That made me relax. I hadn’t been sure how to handle things if Charlie asked me out. I didn’t want to make it weird between me and Mae. I liked her and I wanted to keep that new friendship.

“I’d like that,” I told him, then took a sip of my coffee. I’d forgotten he’d added the caramel, and the creamy taste hit my tongue. I was a fan. “The caramel is great.”

He grinned and nodded. “Yep. Only fifty cents more, too. The stuff my sister orders costs almost five bucks.”

“Good to know.”

“Just wait until you taste that muffin,” he added.

I picked up my fork and took a small bite. The warm gooeyness melted on my tongue. “Yum,” I said, going for a larger bite.

“The best muffin in town,” he assured me.

“I bet this place is packed in the mornings during the week,” I said, already sad that I wouldn’t have time most days to get either of these things before class. Unless I got up really early. All my morning classes started at eight. I wasn’t sure what I was thinking when I did my schedule.

“Line is out the door. I have a hook-up, though. I might share on days when I’m close by.”

Smiling at his teasing, I took another bite. Making friends had been easier than I expected. I missed home and I missed Crawford, but I was going to be okay here. When Crawford woke up and was back completely, I’d be able to show him around and we’d experience all this together. He would love these muffins.

“So, tell me about your guy. Is he headed to another college?”

Talking about Crawford was never easy. I had to dance around the actual facts. “He’s staying home this year. There are some personal things he’s handling. We’ll see each other on weekends when I go home, and he’ll join me here as soon as he can.”