Favorite Secret: A Frenemies-to-Lovers, College Romance by Kristyn Landau

Author:Kristyn Landau [Landau, Kristyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

During my break I step out into the back alley of the shop to make a phone call. The late Autumn breeze sends a chill down my spine as I tap the number into my phone.

“Hello?” My mom answers after the first ring, as usual.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hi, sweetie. How are you?”

“Good. I was wondering if it would be okay if I brought someone to join us for Thanksgiving. If not, it's okay.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you’d be joining us. I thought you had other plans?”

“No…they got cancelled.” I don’t feel like elaborating right now.

“Okay, well of course, Tucker can come,” she says distractedly, as if she’s doing three things at once, which she usually is.

“Um,” I clear my throat. “It isn’t Tucker. Actually, we broke up.”

I hear her inhale sharply on the other end of the line. “Oh honey, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Even though it does still sting, I am truly feeling more okay with it with every passing hour.

“Bring whoever you want, there will be more than enough food. Is she a friend of yours from school?”

“Um, it is guy. His name is Cullen. Actually, we went to high school together, too.”

“Oh,” I hear the surprise in her tone. “Well, lovely. The more the merrier.” I can imagine the smile on her face. Mom really does love having guests over, even if she doesn’t know them from Adam.

“Great. I love you, and I’ll see you on Wednesday.”

“I love you too, sweetie. Talk soon.”

I disconnect the call and feel a swirl of excitement and anxiety in my gut. Cullen is going to come to my house, and he’s going to meet my family. I know it doesn’t mean anything, but for some reason I have this nagging voice in the back of my head saying, “What if it does?”

I shove the voice down again because I know it isn’t like that. He just doesn’t want to spend his holiday alone. I’m sure he probably would’ve accepted an invitation from any of his friends.

I open the door and step back into the cafe, the scent of coffee and pastries filling my nose the minute I step inside. “Good news, she said yes.” I never doubted that she would, my mom loves entertaining people. And my dad will be more than thrilled to have someone to watch football with who truly enjoys the game. Not that Tucker hates football, but he’s always been more of a golf guy.

“Really?” His mouth curves into a smile. “Cool. Uh, do you want me to drive us there?”

I didn’t really think about it, Tucker was going to drive us back home originally. “Sure.” I smile.

Two hours in a car with Cullen, alone. I know it won’t be that different from working with him, but for some reason it makes me nervous anyway. I’ve never been in such close proximity to him for that long of a time.

“Great. So, we’ll leave Thursday?”

“I told them I’d be there on Wednesday and stay the night. Is that alright?”

He suddenly looks a little uneasy.

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