“Nope.”
“Really?”
“Dude, I told you. I’m in it to win it with Avery.”
“You don’t even know the chick.”
I shrug. “But I know what I’m feeling is real, so I’m gonna explore it. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but I’m gonna try.”
“All right, Jayden.”
“Shut it.”
Before he can answer me, though, we are entering the coffee shop and I’m searching for her. I don’t see her, and while that gives me a rush of victory, I wonder where she is. Did she stop to talk with someone on the way here? Was it a dude? Oh fuck, did I just ask that?
“Yo, Sinclair!”
Looking up, I see my boy Chase, who I grew up with. “Bro!”
Shaking hands that leads into a manly hug, I grin as I pull back to meet his gaze. “What are you doing here?”
He doesn’t go to Bellevue, and I thought he was in Brazil or something. Living the life.
“Dude, my parents own this coffee shop, remember?”
“Oh, yeah,” I say as he shakes hands with Markus. “So you run this place?”
“You know it. I’m changing the name to Chase Your Coffee.”
“Clever,” I say with a grin and he laughs.
“Mom hates it, but it’s my place now, so, oh well. She’s off living the retired life.” He shrugs and I nod in agreement. “How’re Jude and Jayden? Killing it?”
“Always.”
“Bet you’re ready to get up there.”
“You know it. My time is coming.”
“I hear ya, man.”
Looking around, I see that the shop is a cool place. I have never come in here before because I’m not a coffee person, but I might have to change that. It’s chill. People are studying and drinking coffee while some dude on the stage packs up his guitar. I assume that’s where Avery will perform, and I see a table right at the front.
My table.
“So what brings ya in? I didn’t take you for a coffee drinker.”
I shake my head. “I’m not. I’m just ordering some water, I guess.”
Looking around for Avery, I see she still isn’t here, and uneasiness settles in my chest. Where is she? I go up to the counter as Chase walks around it, and he gets me a bottle of water, then one for Markus.
“On the house.”
I grin. “Thanks, bro. Glad you can afford to give out water.”
He laughs. “Yeah, yeah. So what are you here for if it isn’t for my great coffee?”
Looking back at him, I say, “Here to watch someone perform.”