“I’d think that some hope is better than none, and most of these women just want someone to boost their confidence. We don’t have to lead them on in any way. There’s no harm in being polite. But you have to realize, the women on the site outnumber the men six to one. There’s always going to be someone who gets overlooked.”
She shook her head and looked at him with disapproval. “I still think it’s a creepy thing to do.”
Hazen shrugged and looked at me.
“Check this out. I’ve got the perfect user name for you.”
“Hit me.”
“Foreplay. The ladies will be all over it. So, you ready champ?”
“Yeah, yeah. But the first time some psycho bitch shows up to boil my bunny, I’m directing her to your house.”
CHAPTER FIVE – KAMI
Another long day at the coffee shop had proven to be a pretty good one as I tucked the twenty-dollar tip into my bra and wiped the table clean. I was just on my way back behind the counter when the chimes over the door sounded, and I glanced up to see Devin coming in.
He gave a short wave and took the closest seat to the door. Even when we were dating, he’d never come into my work unless it was to meet with Rain when she was visiting me. Him being here now without her as a buffer, unnerved me.
I didn’t wait tables, so I let him sit there knowing if he wanted anything he’d have to come up to the counter to get it. But after a few minutes of his awkward sitting alone and my pretending not to notice him, I finally let out a breath of frustration and asked. “Can I get you anything?”
“I guess. Rain’s meeting me. Band talk. But I’ll have a small black.” He never even looked up from his phone, and I shook my head as I poured him his small black and walked it over.
As I placed it down, my phone pinged. The sound was specific to the new dating site I had joined.
“Sounds like your new boyfriend is calling. You better take that.”
“Maybe it is.” I took out my phone and swiped it on, my jaw dropping at the image of the guy who had sent me a ‘hello’.
I’d had a few messages from some nice-looking guys, and a couple that I had no interest in, but this one was so hot, my pink parts suddenly felt tingly.
I looked up to find Devin exhaling his cigarette. “You can’ smoke that in here.”
“There’s no one else here.” He curled his lip, and I wanted to slap the cancer stick right out of his mouth.
“I’m here, asshole. And it’s against the law. Put it out or take it outside.”
“Fine!” He snuffed it out on the table and then put it back into his pack. “And you wonder why I broke up with you.”
“I broke up with you, dick.” I was seconds away from tossing his coffee in his lap when the door opened, and Rain came inside.
Sensing the tension in the room, Rain spoke up. “You two really need to chill out.” Rain stopped between us and gave him a pointed look. “I didn’t agree to meet you here so you could be an asshole to her. She’s my best friend, remember?”
“He asked you to meet him here?”
“The band’s not practicing this week, so yeah. It didn’t take much convincing to get me inside the best coffee shop in town where my bestie works, no matter if you hate the guests or not,” she said, looking straight at me.
“I brought him coffee, and I didn’t pour it over his head.” I wasn’t sure what else she’d want me to do.
Rain laughed and turned to Devin. “Come on, let’s go sit in the back and let Kami work.”
I mouthed her a “thank you” and continued my duties behind the counter. Just being around him made my skin crawl.
I’d already started cleaning out my home of all the old furniture and carpet and had spent one of my only days off stripping the old floors. They were beautiful, and my next buy would be the rug and my new couch. I had tried to make the place mine, though every time I turned around, Rain had Devin over. I couldn’t move on with him constantly under my feet.
“Can I get a large vanilla and caramel latte?” I looked up at Rain who had come to place her order.
“Sure.” I got busy making her drink, and she waited at the counter watching my every move. When I brought it to her, she paid and then leaned in.