Cafe Love: Cupid's Cafe Box Set Books 2-4

by Ashley Lauren

  “Right…” Justin said after a minute. He knew it was late, but at the same time didn’t want to say goodbye to Brooke just yet. He felt like there was still so much more he wanted to ask her, so much more he wanted to do with her. “Are you sure?” Maybe he could get her to stay just a little longer.

  “Yes, I’m sure.” She laughed at his eagerness to stay with her. “I shouldn’t sleep deprive myself, but why don’t we meet up tomorrow for lunch? Well… I guess today, since its two in the morning already.”

  Justin thought it over before nodding. “I’d like that. Cupid’s Café?” he inquired.

  “Sure. I wouldn’t mind going there again. Katy was very friendly,” Brooke said as she remembered the curvy woman with the bright smile. “Besides, her diner was rather cute.”

  Justin hesitated to ask as he looked down at the gorgeous girl, standing in front of him. He took a deep breath. “It’s a date then?”

  Brooke nodded. “It’s a date. Now Captain, I would like to go back to dry land.”

  “Alright, alright, you make it sound like I’m keeping you hostage or something.” Justin pouted as he weighed anchor and then started his course back to the dock.

  On their way back, Brooke held on tightly to the railings, feeling her stomach lurch in reaction. She could feel herself becoming queasy again but managed to keep herself under control by taking deep, calming breaths. By the time they made it back to the marina, she had recovered from the sudden onset of sickness. “Here we are,” Justin announced, puffing out his chest as if he were indeed a real captain.

  With his help, Brooke jumped onto the dock. “Thanks,” she said, holding onto his hand even as they stood on the dock. “Do you mind driving me home?”

  “Hmm… so I can’t just abandon you here?” Justin asked and watched Brooke’s eyebrows raise in response. “Of course I’ll take you back home, what kind of a guy would I be if I didn’t?”

  “Come on then, stop stalling,” Brooke said as she started to tow him toward his car.

  Her face looked content as strands of her hair fluttered in the wind. Justin followed behind her, dragging his feet as he tried his best to keep her close for just a minute longer. He didn’t want this night to end. With the tingly sensation running up his skin and his heart racing in his chest, he had never felt so alive. So happy. Everything about Brooke made his mind numb with pure pleasure. Is this more than just happiness? Could it be possible that after only one date with Brook that I’m falling in love with her?

  ***

  When Justin finally got Brooke to her apartment, she sprang out of the car before he could even unbuckle his seat belt. Scampering up the drive, she tried to wipe the wild grin off her face, but it was nearly impossible. She wanted to keep Justin a secret from her friends unless things got serious between them. She worried that if she shared too much the magic of the evening would fade away.

  As she unlocked the front door and stepped in, she could smell something cooking. She looked at her phone. 2:34 A.M. Leave it to her roommate to have the middle of the night munchies. “May? Are you in here?” Brooke called out and walked toward the kitchen.

  “I’m in here, making some eggs,” May said from the direction of the kitchen.

  Brooke followed the popping and sizzling noises and saw her roommate, May, standing in front of the stove with a frying pan.

  “It’s like three in the morning, why are you up and making eggs?” Brooke asked, propping her hand on her hip.

  May shrugged. “Call it a late dinner. Or an early breakfast if you prefer.” She paused and looked Brooke up and down. Her jeans were soaked, and the hoodie she was wearing definitely wasn’t hers. It looked at least three times too big for her and screamed guy’s jacket. Her roomie was holding out on her. She had a man!

  “Tell me everything,” May demanded, pointing a spatula in Brooke’s direction. She saw her friend trying to conceal a grin, even while her face was gleaming with happiness.

  “Tell me all about him,” May pressed, now knowing for sure that there was a guy involved.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Brooke said nonchalantly as she walked into the kitchen, grabbing a piece of toast and nibbling on its end.

  “You don’t just come home, soaking wet, wearing some random hoodie, if you haven’t been spending the evening with a guy. Tell me, did you do anything muy muy picante?” She smirked when she saw Brooke’s embarrassed face.

  Brooke hated it when May pulled the Hispanic card. She wasn’t even a quarter Hispanic and yet acted like she was a full-blooded chica.

  “Will you ever stop with the picante nonsense? We just went on a date. Innocent. Romantic. It wasn’t anything sexual. Why does everything have to be about sex with you?” Brooke rolled her eyes and sat down at the kitchen table.

  “What can I say? If the boys love me, they love me.” A naughty look appeared on her face as she continued to tease her innocent roommate. “You’re right this isn’t about me. I want to know about this guy. Do you like him?”

  Brooke studied her friend, wondering how much she should tell May. “Well… I met him at Cupid’s Café. Have you been there?” She paused to let her roommate answer.

  “Of course! Everyone goes there,” she paused and winked at Brooke, “hoping that the rumors are true.”

  “What rumors?” Brooke tilted her head.

  “The owner, Katy, her last name is Cupid, and she’s rumored to be an excellent matchmaker. Some people think she is the actual Cupid. Isn’t that nuts?” May took a bite of her bacon. “I can tell you, it never worked for me. That love at first sight thing is just a bunch of baloney.”

  ***

  Justin parked in his driveway and sighed, leaning his head back against the headrest. He replayed the night in his mind. He still couldn’t believe it had gone so well. How had he, the most awkward guy in the world, landed a date with one of the most gorgeous girls he had even seen? It just didn’t make any sense and what boggled his mind even more, was the fact that she seemed interested in having a second date.

  Wow, I’m one lucky guy. Grinning, he got out of the car and looked at his two-bedroom townhouse. All the lights were off. Christopher probably wasn’t home. He was most likely off at some party or whatever it was he did all day and night. Justin rarely saw Christopher, and for once, he was actually a little glad. He wanted some alone time to process what had just happened.

  Justin stepped inside and saw that his prediction was correct. The townhouse was completely empty. Yep, no Christopher. Right away, he let himself in and made his way up the stairs to his room. The bed looked inviting, and he plopped down on it, looking up at his ceiling. He stayed like that for a while, letting the dazed feeling roll over his body.

  Eventually, he rolled over and reached under his bed, pulling out his drawing pad. He opened it to a new page and then grabbed his pencil. Staring out the window, he recalled a perfect image of Brooke in his mind. He had a knack for recalling images and used that talent as he started to draw her. His face pulled into tight lines of concentration as he did his best to detail her button nose to the best of his ability. Her dark colored eyes, round and perfect.

  The more he drew, the more he realized that he wouldn’t be able to do her justice. Nevertheless, he couldn’t stop himself. His hand flew across the page as he smudged some graphite onto her skin, capturing her flawless complexion. When he was done, he looked at the finished product.

  She smiled up at him, her long dark hair, perfectly framing her face. It almost seemed like he could run his fingers over the page and touch her, but he hadn’t gotten the eyes quite right, and it broke his trance. Sighing, he put the sketchbook on his bed and laid down, letting his mind replay their date one more time. He still couldn’t believe it.

  I wonder if the rumors about Katy are true. A real life Cupid. He allowed the speculation to roll through his mind for a while before he suddenly bolted upright in his bed. What if she switched our plates on purpose? He paused, taking i
t into consideration. No, that’s ridiculous… they were really busy at the diner that day. It must have been an honest mistake. Justin sat there, trying to convince himself that it was all some kind of happy coincidence, but he still wasn’t quite sure.

  Chapter Six

  The next morning, Brooke woke up from a pleasant dream. She smiled to herself, enjoying the aftermath of its sweetness. Wanting to capture its memory forever, she rolled over and grabbed her diary from the windowsill near her bed. She opened it up to a new leaf of paper and pulled the cap off her pen with her teeth. The words flew from her pen to the page.

  May 14th University of California, Berkeley10:49 A.M.

  I just had a really nice dream. Justin was in it. Is it too early to be dreaming about him? I feel like it might be, but I can’t change what I dreamed about. Anyway, I had this dream that I landed that job at the Aquarium, and he came to visit me at work. I was feeding the otters as he came up to the exhibit and tapped on the glass, getting my attention. I didn’t want to go up and talk to him at first, since I reeked of fish, but eventually I got out and met up with him near the entrance. He ended up taking me on a date through the Aquarium and even though I worked there and felt like I knew all about it, he had the ability to show me new and wonderful things. He showed me how the sting rays always come together precisely at 3 PM and how if you go into the outdoor exhibit, there was a nest of mockingbirds in one of the birch trees. He held my hand through the “tour” and took his time to explain everything. By the end, we stopped near the love birds, and he kissed me. It was really romantic and even though he was nervous and a bit unsure, it was everything a first kiss should be, completely unforgettable with a healthy dose of warmth. Maybe it is too soon to tell, but I think he’s someone special, someone that could mean something in my life.

  Brooke Massey

  When Brooke was done with her entry, she put her diary back on the windowsill and rolled out of bed. She was supposed to be at Katy’s diner by noon. Looking at the clock, she saw it was already eleven. She would have to hurry if she wanted to get there on time. With this in mind, she walked over to her closet and spent some time deciding on what she would wear.

  Finally, she settled on a pair of white jeans, a tan tank top, and a light blue cardigan. Next, she went through the bottom of her closet, trying to decide on a pair of shoes. She didn’t have a lot of shoes, especially in comparison to May, who seemed to come home with a new pair every other day. She scrunched her face in contemplation before grabbing her beat-up, black Converse. She wanted to seem casual, afraid that Justin might think she was trying too hard.

  Brooke stood in front of her mirror, scrutinizing her outfit for a minute before she moved to her bed, grabbing her wallet, phone, and keys. She looked around the room, wondering if she was missing something. Her eyes settled on the bioengineering study guide on her desk. She really should have spent the whole day preparing for her exam. A sense of guilt formed in the corner of her stomach, but she ignored it. For once in her life, she would enjoy herself.

  Keeping this in mind, she left the house. It was a beautiful day outside. The sun shone overhead, and the air was laced with the scent of springtime blooms. She smiled, taking it all as a good sign. As she walked over to the bus stop, she wondered what her second date might entail. Last night had been amazing, and she had high expectations for today. She couldn’t picture herself growing tired of Justin’s company anytime soon.

  Waiting for the bus, she looked around the residential area. Kids played in the small patches of grass found in the front of apartments. It still boggled her mind that a lot of graduate students married and had children before they even got their masters. She wanted children, but in her mind that was in the distant future yet, as she watched the tykes running around, a pang of motherly instinct ran through her body. I really do love kids.

  Before she could contemplate it any further, the bus approached. She pulled out her student card and swiped it through the reader as it dinged, digitally deducting the fare. The driver nodded in her direction, and she sat down in the back of the bus. It was about a fifteen-minute ride to get to the campus center. She looked at her phone. 11:23. She had plenty of time.

  A pang of regret swept through Brooke. I should have brought my bioengineering notes to study. The bus pulled away from the curb, and it was too late to go back now. Sighing, she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She had barely gotten any sleep last night. She had simply been too excited. Apart from the nice dream in the morning, her night had consisted of tossing and turning as happy memories floated through her mind.

  She opened her eyes when she heard her stop announced over the speaker. She got up, thanked the driver, and started to walk toward the diner. Since it was a Saturday, the campus was almost empty.

  Cupid’s Café, however, was already bustling with college students. She smiled to herself, wondering if Justin was already waiting inside. He seemed like the kind of guy who would turn up early. She opened the door to hear the chiming sound.

  She looked around, only to find out that all the booths were taken by other students and faculty members. The only two seats available were the stools near the counter where they had sat down yesterday. Seeing no other alternative, she sat down there and waited for Katy, who was buzzing around the room. Her curvy figure, shiny black hair, and charismatic smile seemed almost as iconic as the fifties-themed diner itself.

  Eventually, Katy made her way around the counter, giving Brooke a bright smile. “Good to see you again. Brooke was it?” she asked kindly before pulling out her little notepad. She could remember any order with impeccable precision, but she liked to write everything down anyway. It made customers feel secure, and that’s what mattered.

  “Yeah. I’m surprised you remember,” Brooke commented, thoroughly impressed by the middle-aged woman’s memory. She wished her own memory was that good. It would make taking exams a lot easier.

  “I try to remember the names of all my customers. Now, what can I get you, sweety?” Katy asked, tilting her head so that her black hair falling across her shoulders.

  “I’ll have the BLT, hold the bacon again,” Brooke answered.

  “Oh right. How could I forget? I managed to mix up your order with Justin’s, who always orders his BLT with extra bacon. That was rather silly of me, don’t you think?” She chuckled at her own folly.

  “Yeah a little, but at least it got me a date. I probably wouldn’t have talked to him otherwise?” Brooke admitted truthfully.

  “Well, in that case, I am glad I could help you.” She smiled and walked back to the kitchen where she gave Brooke’s order to the cooks. Moments later, Katy came back with a fresh BLT sandwich with no bacon.

  Brooke looked down at it, noticing that all the ingredients looked just as fresh as before. She smiled to herself but refrained from taking a bite just yet. She would wait for Justin and eat then. She pushed her plate to the side and checked the time on her phone. 12:05. Justin’s late. Hmmm. Five minutes isn’t really late, per say, but it seems odd that he isn’t here.

  “Aren’t you hungry, dear?” Katy inquired when she saw the girl pushing her plate away. “Did you want me to get you something else?”

  “No, no. I’m just waiting for Justin. He was supposed to meet me here at twelve,” Brooke replied.

  “Ah. So I take it last night went well then?” Katy asked with a wink, a knowing smile on her face.

  Brooke looked down at her hands, wondering what she should tell her. May had listened to her last night, but May’s sexual comments had made her uncomfortable. Brooke was positive, however, that the sweet woman that stood in front of her would do no such thing. “Yes. It went very well,” Brooke finally said.

  “What did you guys end up doing? Back in my day, a boy took you out to dinner and a movie, but I don’t think you youngsters do that anymore.”

  “You act as if you’re so old. You don’t look a day over thirty,” Brooke said.

  The woman’s bri
ght green eyes sparkled at the undergrad’s comment as the characteristic smile reappeared on her face. “Why, thank you. That means a lot to me. But I’m actually forty.”

  “I would’ve never guessed it.”

  Katy moved to the counter, cleaning up the counter where several patrons had already finished their meals. “So what did you guys do?”

  “We went out to the Bay, but it quickly turned into a wild adventure.”

  “Oh?” Katy straightened up a tad, raising an eyebrow in Brooke’s direction. “How so?”

  “Well, first we got lost getting there.”

  “Oh no.”

  “Then, we didn’t know how to turn on the boat engine.” Brooke shook her head as she recounted the experience, but as she lingered on the memory, she also remembered how her body had felt, pressed up against his. Her heart kick-started in her chest at the feeling and her skin tingled with nervous excitement as if Justin were right there behind her. Brooke paused in recounting her tale and took a quick peek at the door. She almost expected him to be there, but he wasn’t. She frowned and turned back to Katy.

  “Then, I got seasick… but by the end of the night, some dolphins surrounded our boat, and we went swimming with them.”

  “That sounds like a pretty magical night,” Katy said with a smile on her lips. “I’m glad you had a good time. I’m sure Justin will be here soon. He’s a good kid, and I doubt he’d keep a lady waiting.” With that, Katy made her way to the other side of the diner, serving some of the other patrons, always keeping a bright smile on her face.

  Brooke sighed when she was left alone. She looked at her phone again. 12:14. He should’ve been there by now. Maybe he was just running a little late. Brooke decided to give him the benefit of the doubt as she started to look through her apps. Finally, she tapped on a puzzle game and stared at the level that had been bothering her for weeks now.