The Silicon Valley Connection

9 | faith - coffee dates & barriers break

"Hey. Thanks a lot for that back there," I say, catching up to Aidan just as he gets to his car. I don't know why I didn't say anything back to Hunter, and I knew that I would get an earful from Nichelle when I got back to the dorm.

He shrugs and leans on his door, crossing his feet at the ankles. "That's what allies do Faye, they stand by each other, especially when stigmas and society, in general, prevent us from doing so."

Allies, huh? I briefly brush his wise words away. "I saw your eyes light up when Marcus mentioned my design portfolio near the end of class. I actually have a couple of rough sketches that might be good for this year's theme based on the game teaser." I scramble to open my manila folder with the mess that are my printed drawings dating back to my sophomore year of high school. He rests his hand on the folder before I can get my first design out. The pads of his fingers just barely brush over my knuckles, and I will myself to look up. There it is--a crooked, megawatt smile plastered on his face. The sun doesn't help either, as it just makes it even brighter.

Note to self: Wear sunglasses when looking at him.

Faith: 0, Aidan: 1

"Mind telling me about them over coffee? I am heading over for a study group with Riley and Oliver, but they're normally late anyway..."

"Just as long as you don't steal them," narrowing my eyes. Usually, I would chafe at how early and quickly a guy would be so confident in throwing in a quick date offer, but this is strictly business.

He clutches his shirt and turns away from me dramatically. "The fact that you think I would do such a thing...it hurts me...right here," tapping his heart with his fist. "I'm nothing like those types of guys," holding his hand out in front of my face.

I move his hand out of the way, laughing the whole time. "More jokes from you?"

He snaps out of character and rests his chin on the roof of the car. "Well, obviously, Faya. I've made it my personal mission to make you happy any chance I get."

If only you knew how much work that would really take. "Just because you can make me laugh doesn't mean anything whatsoever," I grumble, sliding into the passenger seat.

He closes the door on my side and leans down to face me at the rolled window. "Oh? We'll see about that, now won't we?" he says, both of his dimples making an appearance for the first time.

Damn. I just may receive my first failing grade...ever.

aidan

When she looks up from her phone, her eyes dilate, taking in her current surroundings. A pleasant surprise hidden in her voice makes my heart skip a beat.

"You know about The Coffee Press?"

Maybe this is my chance to redeem myself from the rooftop disaster.

"Yeah. My mom used to take my siblings and me here every Saturday morning when we were younger for the cinnamon sugar toast," I reply, unaware of the twinge of sadness in my voice.

Her eyes soften, and I curse to myself, thinking that she might be right...a relationship like ours would never last. I guess it's a good thing the dating idea I proposed was conjectural after all. I clear my throat, trying to relieve a sudden scratchiness that nearly makes my voice useless.

"Should we get going? I'm really looking forward to hearing about what you designed."

She searches my eyes, but I turn away, hiding my threatening tears as I open the door to get out of the car a little too quickly.

Faith: 1, Aidan: 1

faith

He immediately turns to exit the car, and it's his turn to avoid eye contact with me now as we both walk to the coffee shop entrance...in another awkward silence.

I'm alternating between sipping my iced coffee and sorting my designs when Aidan comes back, balancing his caramel latte in one hand and two orders of cinnamon toast, both piled with spiced peaches in the other.

I point to one of the plates. "I hope you don't plan on eating both of those."

He raises an eyebrow and takes a seat across from me, setting the food and drink on the cherrywood table.

"And what if I am? I paid for it."

"Being smart with me is not going to get you any brownie points."

He grabs a slice of toast doused with butter and spiced apples. "Well, hopefully, this does."

Just as he leans forward, I repel myself backward and fold my arms, frowning at him. "I'm very capable of feeding myself, thanks."

"You know, you're ruining the romantic vibe I'm trying to create here."

"Good. I don't recall this being an actual date to begin with."

"Hmmm. You're right." With the shuffle of his chair to my side of the table and shifting of plates, he turns my wooden chair towards him so that we're now face-to-face.

We're too damn close. Again. Like knees touching, feet interlocking close.

"Is this a better hypothetical scenario?" he questions sweetly. I scoff and take a cautious bite and purse my lips together, unwilling to give him any hint that it was indeed the best slice of bread I've had, probably since its inception.

"There's...some sugar...right there." His thumb lingers millimeters from my bottom lip as

if he's deciding whether to risk an alternative route to erasing it. He takes the high road and brushes the crumbs away, but that option is no better because he slowly licks the sugar away from his thumb while keeping eye contact with me.

"Tastes ten times better than before," he smirks.

Faith: 1, Aidan: 2

With a self-satisfied grin on his face, he pushes the ceramic plate away from us and rests his chin on his knuckles, keeping our legs interlaced.

"Now that you've had a taste of the best breakfast in San Francisco, we can get back to business," steering his eyes to my pile of CAD drawings.

Damn him. I scramble to pull myself together.