Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
I won’t do it.
I’ll figure something out.
Jerry nudges me. “You can do it.”
I step up to the counter and lock eyes with Peyton, who’s waiting with a big-ass grin on his face. He’s here with his entire family. His brother, dads, and uncles. “Large Study Juice with two pumps of caramel for …” I sigh. “The sexiest quarterback to ever quarterback.”
Peyton’s smile widens when everyone else in the coffeehouse snickers, but as he steps forward to collect his drink, he’s cut off by his dad.
“Aww, son, you ordered a drink for me. How sweet.” Talon takes the coffee from me and takes a sip, but then screws up his face. “Holy hell, that’s pure sugar.” He hands it off to Pey.
Peyton takes a twenty and shoves it in the tip jar on the counter. “That’s for actually saying it.” He winks and then moves to take a table in the back while I go back to make the rest of their orders, but when I see the next name, I let out a curse.
I make the coffees and give Jerry the side-eye as I put them on the counter and say, “For the men I hope to become my fathers-in-law one day. Jerry, are you sure I have to call out the names like this?”
As straight-faced as he can manage, Jerry says, “We take customer satisfaction very seriously here at Bean Necessities.”
“The way I hear it, Levi has the satisfaction part down when it comes to Pey.” This comes from one of Peyton’s uncles who I don’t know. He has graying blondish hair and a cheeky smile, and I’m finally starting to realize the downfall of having such an open and understanding family. No, wait, understanding? I mean embarrassing.
I finish off their drink orders with a tinge of pink staining my cheeks, which they all love even more.
When I get to the last order for a Damon, Peyton’s other uncle steps forward.
“Thank you for using your actual name,” I say, thinking he must be the nice uncle.
But as he takes the drink, he steps closer. “I’ve already spoken to Peyton about this, but I wanted you to be aware that you can’t talk to the media about yours and Peyton’s relationship.”
That’s when it clicks. “Ah. You’re the sports agent uncle, aren’t you? You don’t need to worry about me. I was brought up to say no comment anytime a microphone was shoved in my face.” Not that it ever happened to me.
Our family are social elite but not exactly famous. Not like Peyton’s parents. But I do remember when my grandfather died, my parents were thrust into the media spotlight because my father and his brother were fighting over the will. Because, you know, the difference between being wealthy and obscenely wealthy is important enough to fight over it. They hired a media coach for us and everything, but we didn’t need it. Kind of hard to need it when you’re never out with your parents but stuck at home with the staff.
Damon’s friendly demeanor is back. “In that case, welcome to the circus that is our family.”
With that one sentence, I get a sense of acceptance that I have never once had with my own family. Not even when I was toeing their line.
Even if the job is repetitive and doesn’t pay well, I’m doing it for myself. For the future I want.
The hours tick by slowly, but with a steady stream of customers throughout the day, I don’t have a lot of time to think about anything else other than coffee. And damn, college students drink a lot of coffee.
When an order comes up for Remy, I glance up to find him with his arm around a guy with lean muscles and wide shoulders. He looks like a swimmer just on first glance. Remy … with an athlete?
I blink at them, and Remy sends me a rare smile.
That’s when it dawns on me. I point to his boyfriend. “Your high school ‘situation,’ I’m guessing?”
The guy grins. “I was a situation? You’ve been talking about me?”
“Levi, this is Alex. Alex, Levi.”
“Aren’t you the guy Peyton Miller came out for?” Alex asks.
“Uh, it didn’t exactly happen like that, but yes. I’m him.”
“I didn’t know you worked here,” Remy says.
I run my hand over myself, gesturing to my apron. “The consequences of kissing Peyton on ESPN.”
They look confused.
“I was cut off,” I clarify. “Tips appreciated.” I’m only half-joking.
“Damn,” Remy says and shoves a fiver in the tip jar. “Are you okay?”
This just goes to prove that Remy has a heart deep down, even if he tries to deny it.
“I will be.”
I know it will be tough, but I can’t go crawling back to Chicago. I’ll make ends meet. I’ll move into a cheaper apartment.
I’ll do whatever it takes to be free from my old life.