Cray by Brynn Hale

Author:Brynn Hale [Hale, Brynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-07T16:00:00+00:00

I walk next door to The Beanery to give them space. As much as that tea was good, I need something much more like caffeinated tar to wake me up, especially now that I’ve crashed from the adrenaline rush after that kiss.

She needs a tattoo. I need to give her the tattoo. Even if I want to give her so much more. And I don’t mean just sex. My mind wanders to hiking with her, her skin glistening in the hot summer sun. Taking her on my bike…and I also mean taking her on my bike. Making breakfast and serving her in bed and ending up staying in bed. Shit like that. And that scares the shit out of me.

Seeing Zoe—comprehending that there’s another life involved in this equation—gives perspective into what I was doing. I’m not saying I’m not going to stop. Fuck no. But I’m saying that I want to make sure we’re not muddying the waters of what we really need from each other.

“What did you say?” Ms. Queenie asks from behind the counter as I don’t even realize I’ve stepped through the door.

“Was I talking to myself?”

“Yes, child, you most definitely were.” She juts out a hip. “Something about muddied waters and needin’ each other?” Ms. Queenie leans on the counter with her elbows, shoving a pencil into her hair. “Now, tell me, who are these people needin’ each other and what water do you need cleared. Ms. Queenie is in the house for you, Cray.”

I shake my head and chuckle. “No need for barista-therapist today, just a large cup and a bran muffin.”

“But baby, that’s what Ms. Queenie does best. And bran muffin? Oooh, son, what are you really trying to clear out?”

Her business partner, but not life partner, Joaquin steps from the kitchen. “Uh-uh, Ms. Queenie, that’s not what Devlin told me you do best.” He rocks his head and rolls his eyes theatrically. These two are a comedy routine in the making and when I need a respite from the Tatties, this is where I come because I know that Ms. Queenie won’t allow that behavior here.

“Oooh, that man’s gonna get in trouble!” Ms. Queenie lets out a southern holler and her large frame bounces with a lingering chuckle.

Joaquin lifts his reading glasses off his chest, like they’re going to help him to help me. “Now, what can I get you Cray? Since I know you weren’t talking me when you were mumbling those ‘people needing’ words.”

“Yeah, Joaquin, been through this. Straight. Hundred percent.”

He slips the glasses back down and eyes me up. “A man can dream.”

“Dream is all you’ll be doing,” Ms. Queenie chuckles.

“You look like you’re…hungry or horny, I can’t decipher.”

Ms. Queenie bats his arm. “Jeez, Joaquin, you’re gonna scare our best and nicest customer away.”

I lean against the wall next to the cash register. “Not a chance. I’m too addicted to your coffee, Ms. Queenie.”

“Well, I do declare, a man who said he was addicted to me.”

“Your coffee,” I correct her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.