Falling Forward ✔

Chapter Eleven - Reece

The café is bustling with customers, college kids rallying with coffee after pulling all-nighters, women in pencil skirts heading into work, men in suits and gelled hair.

I feel like a puppet being pulled in several directions at once. There's a line at the register, people waiting for their orders, and only myself and Kaila behind the counter.

Correction, there's only me.

"Kaila!" I bark, a flash of blue hair pops around the corner, apron only partially tied to her body. "Get out here!" I demand.

She flashes me a finger, mouthing "one minute." I roll my eyes, bustle back and forth, try and keep up with the foot traffic. Someone pounds on the counter, yelling for me to hurry up. Another customer talks over them, leaning so far over the counter that they nearly topple over it.

"Back up please, I can take your order," Kaila's voice sasses at my back. I give a silent sigh of relief and hand completed drinks off to frustrated people.

We work in a frenzy of voices, drinks, and rude demands for a while. The morning sun burns through the windows, casting an orange-yellow tint over the dining area.

Eventually, the hubbub dies down as the typical nine-to-fivers and parents with schoolchildren depart to play their respective roles, coffees and pastries in hand.

I cap the last drink, hand it to Kaila who turns and sets it in the customer's outstretched palm. "Here you go, have a great day!" She says cheerily, the patron smiles, thanks us, and slips out the door.

We sag against one another in relief, adrenaline pumping through our veins. "I hate the morning shift, ungrateful, impatient bitches." I whine, Kaila giggles at my side, pats my hand in mock sympathy.

"Aww, poor Reecie, she can't sit and drink coffee with a certain boy for most of her shift."

I jab her shoulder. Kaila squeals and slips away, smiling slyly. "You're one to talk!" I argue, yanking my thumb toward the break room and eying the beard burn along her neck. "Don't tell me you didn't have your tongue down a certain boy's throat just now!"

Kaila laughs, her cheeks burning. "What can I say? He's a good kisser." She states, not even trying to hide it.

I cross my arms and lean back against the counter. "You realize it won't last, right?".

"Maybe, maybe not. You can't know for sure." Kaila sucks her lower lip between her teeth and shrugs, but she doesn't meet my gaze.

"Kaila, he's a player. They all are."

Her eyes flash defiantly. "Even Bastien?"

I shift on my feet, suddenly fascinated with my shoelaces.

It's been days since the Adopt-A-Thon but he's been on my mind every moment since. Him and his goofy fluff memes and stupidly gorgeous body keep invading my thoughts, my focus, my entire being. My resolve against dating, my fears of relying on another person are starting to sound less and less reasonable.

I hate it.

I love it.

I hate that I fucking love it.

"What about Bas?" I sass back, Kaila snorts.

"You like him Reecie," she says, tone softening. "You don't think I see it?"

I set my jaw and shake my head, "No, I don't. We're just friends."

"He wants more," Kaila rebuffs.

Her phone pings. Saved by the bell. She digs it from her pocket, a Cheshire smile cracking her face when the screen lights up. "Spencer?" I assume.