As She Fades(56)

When things started to pick up on Saturday, it was almost nine. Even then, the early crowd was over thirty. The college-age crowd didn’t start drifting in until closer to ten. I had almost learned how to make all the drinks without the cheat sheet taped to the counter. I also knew all the different muffins now and the names of the pastries.

“God, he is gorgeous,” Isla said under her breath as she handed me a chocolate-chip muffin. I started to ask who, when I followed her gaze to see Slate walking in the door.

Oh.

“He’s a slut, though. Sleeps with a girl, then on to the next one the next day. I wouldn’t go there, but I love to look at him. He’s got a pirate thing going for him. He just needs an earring,” she added with a giggle.

Slate’s eyes met mine and I smiled. This was going to be a hard day for him. Isla didn’t know that. She only knew what Slate had let the world around him see. I knew he had a reputation, but he was also a human. Someone’s nephew. He had a soul. And it was hurting.

I handed a customer his muffin. I wasn’t sure how to respond to Isla or if I should just let her estimation of him go. Maybe that was what he wanted people to think. Who was I to change that?

“Can I help you?” I asked the next customer.

“A Butterfinger latte with light whip and a banana nut muffin. Two forks, and make it warm, please.”

I rang them up before going to fix the drink. This was a popular one. I made it several times a day. Isla came with the large muffin, nice and warm, on a plate with two forks. We made a good team in the mornings.

“Here you go,” I told the customer.

Then Slate stepped up. “Good morning,” I said, knowing this wasn’t a good morning for him.

He smiled at me and the sadness seemed to fade. I had an urge to hug him. I’d had that Thursday in his room, too. It had taken all my willpower not to.

“Morning. You look good in the yellow apron,” he replied. His voice still had the raspy, sleepy sound to it. He hadn’t been awake long.

I held it out and curtsied, because somehow I knew he would laugh. It was weird how I sometimes could anticipate what he needed from me. Like I expected him to, he laughed. A real one.

“Now, what can I get you?”

“Black coffee and one of those cream-cheese croissant things.”

“Chocolate or vanilla?”

“Vanilla.”

I nodded. “Good choice. I don’t like the chocolate one.”

“Me either.”

I turned to see Isla watching me like I had lost my mind. I was confused for a moment, then remembered what she had said when he walked in. Normally she was off getting the customers’ food request. Not this time. She was frozen in her spot. It was awkward, so I smiled at her and said, “Isla, this is my friend Slate. Slate, this is Isla. She’s the pro here and is teaching me everything.”

Slate nodded her way and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Isla.”

“Uh, yeah, uh, you too,” she said, then cut her eyes at me like she couldn’t believe me before going to get his croissant.

I fixed his black coffee. The easiest drink I had done all day.

“You enjoying the job?” Slate asked as I handed him his coffee.

I nodded. “Yes. It’s fun, and I get to smell coffee all morning. It doesn’t get much better.”

He chuckled just as Isla came back with his croissant. He thanked her and I was afraid she’d melt in a puddle on the floor. She barely got out a “you’re welcome” before running to the back room.

“You have a reputation around these parts,” I teased, knowing he’d understand exactly what I was talking about.

He smirked. “Your talking to me and calling me your ‘friend’ is going to confuse the hell out of everyone. I don’t have female friends.”

I would have laughed. I should have smiled. But those words. I knew them. They were so familiar. Which made no sense. My chest tightened when he said them, like I … like I missed them.

“You okay?” His voice snapped me out of the weird in-between state I had drifted into.

“Yeah, I’m good. Bit of a headache,” I lied.

“I’ll go grab you some Tylenol.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. I just need coffee, and luckily I can fix that easy enough.”

He didn’t seem convinced. But he finally took his things and went to find a table. One where I could see him and he could see me. Something about that also made me feel like I had done this before. Was I dreaming about him and not remembering it?

“Why didn’t you shut me up and tell me he was your friend when I was talking about him?” Isla whispered behind me.

I turned to look at her. “I know his reputation. I didn’t have time to explain he is my brother’s frat brother and roommate. We met this summer.”

That was the most I was willing to tell her right now. My coma and Slate being in my hospital room while I wasn’t awake was more information than she needed.





CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

SLATE

THE DRIVE TO Franklin would have been so hard without Vale. I was worried. No, I was terrified of what I’d see. Of how Uncle D would look. The little boy in me wasn’t ready to see him at death’s door. Barely hanging on. I needed him. I wasn’t ready to let him go.