Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 71403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Aha!
The Golden Cap, a coffeeshop just around the corner. I’ll get there, get a drink, and wait for her to leave the news station. Then I’ll casually bump into her—latte in hand for plausible deniability—and strike up a conversation.
It’ll be difficult not to ask where she ended up going last night, but I’ll avoid that topic like the plague.
I strip off my boxer briefs and jump in the shower, quickly scrubbing last night off me. I towel off, wrap my neck-length hair into a man bun, and trim my facial hair to my preferred length—just in between stubble and beard. I make sure the hair around my neckline is cleaned up, rub some coconut oil onto my face, and throw on a flattering V-neck—black—with my favorite pair of jeans.
I’ll look good, but I won’t look like I’m trying to look good. This has to seem like a chance encounter.
Once I’m dressed and ready, I drive to the news station and park by the Golden Cap. There’s a giant lot right next to the news station, but if I park there, it’ll be clear I have an ulterior motive.
No, Aus Waverly is just getting his daily cup of coffee at this place he’s frequented for years.
I step inside. A young woman with hot-pink streaks in her hair and about a thousand colorful buttons on her apron smiles at me. “Welcome to the Golden Cap, sir. May I take your order?”
I blink a few times. “What’s your specialty here? I usually drink my coffee black.”
She cocks her head. “We’re always happy to make a pour-over for our customers, but I personally recommend the Golden Latte.”
“What makes it golden?”
She widens her eyes. “Turmeric.”
I scrunch my nose. “Like the stuff that’s in curry powder?”
“Exactly.” She chuckles. “But it doesn’t affect the taste. It just makes it a little more robust. Plus turmeric has great anti-inflammatory properties. If you’re feeling adventurous, I suggest giving it a try.”
I’m about to order a regular coffee—seriously, turmeric in a latte?—when I realize I am feeling adventurous. I’m putting myself out on a limb for a woman I barely know. A woman who may have slept with one of my employees last night.
Nothing about this makes sense. Just like turmeric in a latte doesn’t make sense.
“You know what? I’ll try it.”
She nods. “Right away, sir.”
“And throw in a blackberry scone for good measure.”
“Absolutely. Toasted?”
“Is there any other way?”
The barista giggles and gets to work on my order. I press my credit card against the reader and then find a cozy corner of the coffeeshop with a direct line of view to the news station. I set up my laptop—I certainly won’t be the only hipster pretending to write a screenplay here—and wait for my drink.
“Golden Latte for Aus?”
“Thanks.” I pick it up from the counter, sit back in my chair, and take a sip.
And you know what? It’s pretty good.
15
THEA
“And we’re clear!” the cameraman shouts.
I heave a sigh of relief.
I’m done. I got through this.
Thank God I thought ahead and had a change of clothes here at the station. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise. By the time I woke up, it was too late to call in a backup forecaster. Would one of the anchors just have read the weather report off their phone?
Luckily, I woke up with just enough time to get to the station. Even fifteen more minutes and the broadcast would have been delayed, putting my career at risk.
All because I decided to go out last night.
Never again. I’m going to adopt ten more cats and become a permanent shut-in.
What the hell got into my head last night? Why did I go home with Wick?
The more I think about it, the more the idea upsets me. Not that Wick is too hard on the eyes, but he’s not my type at all. I guess being stood up by Bobby affected me more than it should have, and a hunger for validation led me to his home. That drink Kin made didn’t help. I felt like I was flying over the clouds for a little while.
At least we didn’t sleep together. He looks like the type of guy who doesn’t exactly keep things tidy down there.
I’m kicking myself for not getting home last night, too. Sure, my phone was dead, but I could have charged it for ten minutes and then headed out. No, instead I decided to sleep in a strange man’s bed.
Insane.
But I made it. And now I can go home, take my midday nap, and ease back into my routine. I’ll think twice before I open the Twistr app again, and I certainly won’t—
Wait a minute.
Is it possible Kin put something in my drink? Or that he overserved me?
I didn’t feel super drunk, but I certainly wasn’t sober.
All I know is I wanted Wick right then and there. That was the only thing I could focus on. And the euphoria I felt was next to nothing. Seriously, I had this perpetual grin on my face.