by Lana Dash
Since The Roasted Bean has been shut down, I've really missed the daily interactions I get with everyone. I feel like the social coffers in me are empty, and I'm eager to refill them.
My Grandma Etta is with me this morning. She's like me when it comes to socializing with other townspeople. But in her case, she actually knows everyone. We are stopped every few steps by someone wanting to talk to her.
"I'm going to go look around," I say to Grandma Etta when some of the ladies in her Bridge Club wave her over. They are sitting at the picnic tables in front of the Sparks and Sprinkles baked goods truck. “Don’t forget. No coffee. Okay?”
Grandma Etta has a heart condition that forced her to give up her favorite beverage in the world. She said it's the universe's cruel joke on her that her granddaughter owns a coffee shop, and she can't drink it. Not that it doesn’t stop her from trying to get other patrons to come in and order a cup for her. I can usually tell when she’s cornered someone outside for a cup. They come in the shop looking wide-eyed like they aren't sure if they should do this for her, but she's very persuasive.
“Got it. No coffee. How can I forget when you are constantly reminding me?" she grumbles, but I can still hear the sweet teasing in her tone. "Next, you're going to say I can't have any scones either."
“Well—”
“Don’t even start, young lady.” She waves her hand at me with a dismissal and shuffles off to her friends.
I chuckle as I watch her walk away before turning around to see what booth I want to check out first. I find a small booth with oil and watercolor paintings hanging up. I walk over and realize that the paintings are different places here in Knight’s Ridge. I scan over the hanging pieces, hoping to find a painting of my coffee shop. I’d love to hang it up in the shop if there is one.
“Looking for something in particular?” The young woman standing in the booth asks. She’s got an eclectic bohemian style that makes me think of a romanized version of a starving artist in one of Cammie McQueen’s novels.
“I love how you’ve really captured the town. Are these all your pieces?”
She nods and smiles brightly. "I like to travel from town to town, capturing them in these miniature moments like a painted polaroid.”
“That sounds amazing.” I continue to look at all her work. “I own The Roasted Bean in town.”
“I was in there a few times before the storm hit and was forced to scrounge for my morning brew elsewhere.”
“Well, the roof is finally finished, and I should be able to open again soon. I was hoping maybe it was the subject of one of your paintings.”
She shakes her head. “I haven’t had a chance yet, but if you’re interested, I bet I could find my way over in that part of town to paint something for you.”
“I’ll trade you all the coffee you can drink for a painting of my shop.”
She laughs. “I’m not sure you understand the deal you are making. Coffee is like its own food group for me.”
“You’d get along so well with my grandmother.”
“Alden!” A woman yells from a few booths away from us.
I turn to see Ashley Somersby running towards Alden. He catches her as she jumps into his arms and wraps her legs around his waist.
My body feels rooted on the spot while my brain tries to catch up to what is happening in front of me. Since when were Alden and Ashley on such friendly terms? Was she his date last night?
It would be generous to say in high school that Ashley and I were anything more than frenemies. Our proximity to one another was only because of the same circles we ran in. Ashley was always looking for anyone she could use to move up the social ladder. She resented my popularity. I didn't ask for it, but I can't say that I ignored the perks of being at the top of the social hierarchy that it allotted to me. I was a stupid kid. Those things mattered then, but the only difference now is that some of us still think it’s important as adults—Ashley being one of them.
I can’t see Alden’s face from this angle because Ashley's giant head is in my way, but I've never known any guy that wasn't happy to be holding Ashley in their arms.
I turn and practically run, not bothering to look back. The ache in my chest I felt last night when I realized he had a date is nothing to what I'm feeling now, knowing that his date was with Ashley, and apparently, it went really well.
I send a text to Grandma Etta to let her know that I have to leave right now. She responds quickly and lets me know that she will get a ride with one of her friends. I'd planned on doing some inventory this afternoon since the shop is still closed, but I can't focus on anything but trying to deal with what I've just witnessed. I have to just hope that with a new relationship blooming for Alden, he didn’t find the letter. I look up at the sky to anyone who is listening.
Please, don’t let him find the letter.
4
ALDEN
I came to the Farmer’s Market this morning knowing that Jada would be here. She comes every weekend, so I figured it was the quickest way to find her and talk to her about the letter. It took everything in me not to drive over to her house last night and ask her to explain. My mind still can’t comprehend that the woman that I’ve been in love from afar for so long finally looked up and noticed me. Not only noticed me but feels the same way about me too.
I scan the crowd of smiling faces again for Jada. She’s here somewhere. Movement in the corner of my eye has me turning and finally finding her. She’s standing a few booths away from me, talking to a young woman with long braids and chunks of color in her hair.
My gaze drifts down her curvy form, and I can help the reaction my body has to her. The soft curve of her narrow waist into the ample swell of her ass has my dick springing to life in my jeans. My feet start to move without any prompting from my brain, which is good since it’s currently running on fumes after the rapid relocation of blood to my cock. I need to be near her, to hold her in my arms and tell her I love her.
"Alden!" A woman shrieks, making me cringe.
I barely have time to realize what is happening before Ashley leaps into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist. My quick reflexes spare me from toppling over and, more importantly, turning my head in time to avoid Ashley’s lips meeting mine.
“What are you doing?” I ask her, unable to hide my annoyance as I set her down on her feet.
Before she can answer, Jada's face pops into my mind, and I look towards the booth where I saw her last, but she isn’t there anymore. I search the crowd unsuccessfully to find her. I really hope she didn’t just see any of this.
“Can’t a girl say hello to her man?” Ashley asks, drawing my attention back to her.
I pull her fingers away from tugging on my shirt. “What did you just say?”
She smiles in an attempt to appear innocent. “You heard me. Don’t try and pretend you didn’t feel what I felt last night at dinner.”
I shake my head. Did I just step into some alternative universe or something? Am I unwillingly on some reality TV show called When Stage Five Clingers Attach?
"Ashley," I say, trying to make my tone as straightforward as possible. "There is no us."
She tilts her head like a puppy that doesn’t understand what she’s being told. “But last night—”
“It was just one date.”
“We had a connection.”
“No, we had dinner and went our separate ways.”
When it’s clear I’m not going to give in to this delusional idea she has for strong-arming me into a relationship, the sweet demeanor falls from her face, and a whole new side of Ashley appears.
“You don’t get it, Alden,” she says in a sardonic tone. "I went from being the queen bee at high school to the queen bee of this town.”
That’s debatable.
She continues, “You don’t get to say no to me.”
I step back from her, pulling myself from her tight grip. I don’t have time for her nonsense. “We aren’t in high school anymo
re, Ashley. It’s time for you to grow up.”
“You’re going to regret this.”
“I’m already there.”
I step around Ashley’s stunned form and head in the direction I last saw Jada. She could be anywhere at this point, and I need to find her now.
JADA
Sitting on my back porch swing with a glass of cold Moscato in my hand and watching the sunset used to be all it took to put me in a good mood. But one in a half glasses in, I’m still feeling the same ache in my test as before.
I watch as the sun dips low near the horizon, a cascading mix of reds and oranges and yellows color the sky. Usually, a sight like this would take my breath away, but the way I feel, they might as well be muted black and whites for all I’m seeing them.
The sound of a twig breaking near me makes me jump, and some wine sloshes onto my hand. When I turn, I see that the noise isn’t from a tiny woodland creature but Alden stepping out through the trees on the side of my house. I jump again, but this time I splash some of the wine on my shirt.
“What are you doing here?”
He grins. “Looking for you.”
Suddenly my heart isn't racing from being startled, but by the way, his eyes dance when he smiles at me.
“What about Ashley?”
His smile fades, morphing his face into a serious expression. "Nothing is going on between her and me. It was just one date. I was doing a favor for my brother."
“Not that I care,” I add as an afterthought. I look down at the glass in my hand, letting my dark hair drop to shield the blush in my cheeks.
He moves across the yard but stops at the bottom steps. "Is that true? Because the words you are saying right now are very different from the words, you wrote to me."
My head snaps up.
“Yeah, I found the letter,” he says, answering my unspoken question.
At the moment, I’m at a loss for words. At one point, I had so much to say to Alden I had to write it down, but now the words are failing me.
Alden walks up the back porch steps and holds out one of his hands to me. I put my hand in his and let him pull me to my feet. He runs the fingers of his free hand into my hair, pushing it back so he can see my face. He leans in close, but he doesn’t kiss me. He leaves only enough room so that it’s up to me to close the space between us.
“Did you mean what you wrote?” he whispers.
I nod, unable to find the words to say yes. I’m so overwhelmed by his presence. The touch of his hands, the sweet woodsy scent of his skin, and the unmistakable press of his hard cock against my belly.
“Say it,” he says, his voice full of emotion. “I need to hear you say the words.”
I swallow the hard lump of emotion in my throat. “I meant what I wrote.”
“That’s what I hoped you’d say.” His lips crush against mine with a hunger I feel too.
Every nerve ending in my body sparks to life. I want more of him, but nothing feels like it can ever be enough. The tip of his tongue glides over the seam of my lips, urging them to open for him to deepen the kiss, so I do.
5
ALDEN
I’ve wanted to bring her up here before she asked me in the letter, and I’m so happy that we are finally going to get this time together.
I’ve laid out a blanket from the backseat, in the bed of the truck. Jada is tucked under my arm at my side, fitting into place like we were made to fit together like this.
“And that cluster of stars over there is Hercules.” I point towards the sky, tracing my finger like a connect the dot drawing to show her the shape.
“I know you say that they are meant to make up a picture of something, but they don’t look anything like you are saying they should look like.” She chuckles quietly next to me.
It’s the same argument we had back in high school when I was tutoring her. I know she’s only saying it to get a rise out of me.
“You know what,” I reach over and squeeze her side to tickle her.
“No, don’t!” She laughs and squirms in my grip.
I roll so my body is on hers, pressing her between me and the blanket. I stop tickling her and lean down to kiss a trail up her neck. Her body relaxes beneath me, and her legs fall open, allowing me to situate myself between them. I thrust my hips forward, allowing my hard cock to push against her sensitive center.
Jada moans, and it's the most amazing sound I've ever heard. I grow harder, my cock straining against the unforgiving fabric of my jeans. I thrust again, needing to feel some relief from the pleasurable ache building inside me.
“You feel so good,” I breathe out against the hollow of her neck, the sweet scent of her skin making it nearly impossible to think clearly.
“This is better than I imagined.”
I can’t keep the smile from spreading across my face. I love that she’s thought about this before. I've lost count of how many times I have imagined this moment between us.
My hands move up and down her body, reaching the hem of her shirt and dipping beneath the fabric. Her skin is warm against mine.
Jada lifts her arms above her head to allow me to pull off her shirt. I kiss each swell of her breasts before working the clasps and freeing them from the confines of her bra. My mouth latches onto one harden peak, my tongue circling the pink tip, while my thumb and forefinger tweak the other nipple. Jada runs her fingers into my hair, holding me close.
I get lost with this woman. Her soft sighs and throaty moans of pleasure spurring me on. We are synced as we pull off each piece of clothing between us until we are both naked as the day we were born under the stars.
When Jada reaches between us and grips my cock, I can’t hold back the hiss of pleasure I suck in between my teeth. She rubs the tip up and down her wet folds, readying both of us before I push inside her.
JADA
I’m aching for him in a way I never knew I could feel for anyone before. His muscled arms cage me in as his hard body presses over the length of mine. I need to feel him inside me.
I reach around and run my hands down the muscled contours of his back to ass. I squeeze his flesh, urging him to move inside me and ease the ache that’s been building between us.
He doesn't need further prompting. Alden thrusts his hips, sinking his cock deep inside me. I cry out. The feeling of being completely filled by him consumes me.
We move as one, the friction of our bodies increasing the pleasure and pushing us closer to the edge. I hold on to him with a bruising grip like I could be lost in the void without him as my anchor to hold me here.
“I’m so close,” he breathes out before his mouth finds mine.
Our tongues dance, moving against one another. His taste, his touch, the sounds he's making are enough to push me over even closer. But I can’t find the words to let him know I’m with him. I squeeze my inner muscles as he pushes harder, faster in and out. Until it’s all too much, and we both reach the peak, tipping over the edge as one.
Alden slumps down against me, and we cling to one another. Neither of us is saying anything, but neither of us needs to. Our connection is now beyond words. The love I feel for him at this moment has been seared and can’t be undone.
6
JADA
I'm lying in Alden's arms with the blanket pulled around my waist, but the heat from his body is enough to keep me warm. Alden runs his fingertips gently up and down the slope of my bare back.
The only sounds around us are the noises you’d hear in nature. The mountain is alive with activity, but no one has gotten close to bother us so far.
“Why a letter?” Alden asks, breaking the stillness between us.
I look up at him, but he continues to stare up at the stars like the answer is up there, but he can't decipher the answer.
“Because I didn’t know how to say it face to face.” I trace little figure eights across Alden’s chest with my fingertip. "I've only ever been with one other guy before, and I'm new to the prospect of dating someone that
I didn't meet in homeroom freshman year.”
"Well, that isn't totally true," he says with a soft chuckle. "I was in that homeroom too.”
I pinch him gently in the side, making him squirm and laugh.
“You know what I mean. You’ve dated beyond the world of our graduating class.”
“Yeah, but there’s only ever been one for me,” he admits without hesitation.
My heart flutters with excitement at his admission.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“I’m saying that I’ve been crazy about you since the moment I first saw you. We may have taken two very different paths in life to get here, but I need you to know that I feel the same as you. I just couldn’t find the courage to tell you. I was afraid of losing what I had with you, in case that was all I was ever going get.”
There’s a freedom that comes with having sent a love letter like that. It wipes clean the bullshit games people play at the beginning of relationships. The question of whether or not the person feels the same way you do is no longer a factor.
"It took us a while, but we're finally here," I say, reaching up and cupping his cheek in my hand.
He rests his hand over mine and turns to kiss my palm. “Worth the wait.”
I'm in the middle of thinking about how nothing could possibly ruin this moment when the ear-piercing scream cuts through the quiet night air.
We both sit up abruptly, and I hold the blanket tight against me.
“What was that?” I whisper.
Alden doesn’t say anything at first. He’s on high alert listening for the sound again. It feels like forever, but it’s probably only another few seconds before the scream happens again. It almost sounds like a woman screaming, but I’ve lived on this mountain my whole life. It’s probably a panther or bobcat. Neither one of them being something I want to wait around and see.