Lovers and Friends

Distance

The next morning, Olivia stepped into a coffee shop next to campus. She wanted to try to get some writing done so she crept out of the room, knowing Bri was a late sleeper.

She wished she could follow Bri's example but her brain wouldn't let her, too busy playing last night over and over.

You good?

I got you

He likes you too

Hi, I'm Taylor

Writing would have to be her distraction today. She stared blankly up at the menu board without really seeing anything when the guy in front of her turned around to look at her while still giving his order to the barista.

"And I got whatever she's ordering, if that's cool with her," he said with a smile.

Olivia gaped at him in surprise. Points for creativity, she thought. She was preparing to nicely turn him down but something stopped her.

Hi, I'm Taylor

Olivia's mouth snapped closed. "Sure, thank you. A hazelnut latte with oat milk, please," she smiled.

While he paid, she truly looked him over. Tall and lean, his skin complexion was only slightly darker than hers and he had a curly high top fade. He turned to her once he was done with a wide smile and held out his hand as he moved towards the pick up counter. "I'm Nick."

She smiled and shook his hand, "I'm Olivia. Um, thanks again for the coffee."

"Well you're welcome but what if I said I'd also like to buy you dinner sometime?"

Her eyebrows shot up. "You don't waste any time," she said with a short laugh.

He laughed and held up his hands, "had to catch you before you leave."

Olivia nodded and looked at him for a moment. "Uh, sure. Dinner sounds... great."

"How about tonight," he grinned hopefully. She raised her eyebrows.

"Okay," laughing again at his eagerness.

They exchanged numbers before he grabbed his coffee and backed away. "See you tonight? I'll text you."

Olivia nodded before he turned and left the shop with a smile.

With a sigh, Olivia took her coffee to a cozy corner of the shop and settled into the seat in her cream, wide-leg lounge pants and black Aaliyah crop top.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Jordan about an hour into her writing that made her mutter a curse. 

They were making Sunday brunch with each other a thing and usually went out, just the two of them. And of course Jordan would break the pattern today when it was his turn to pick.

Can we stay in and order some homemade cinnamon rolls from that bakery? Don't feel like moving 🤕

She rolled her head to look at the ceiling. Any excuse she could think of to get out of it would just end with him at her dorm later.

Fine. I'm out, I'll pick up

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

She walked into Jordan's dorm behind him to a thankfully empty common area an hour later.

"Want to watch something? Mindless TV is a good hangover cure." Jordan settled into the couch with his plate full of cinnamon rolls.

"Sure." Olivia sat cross-legged next to him on the couch while he turned on cartoons.