Limoncello

Chapter 5

"A morning coffee is my favorite way of starting the day, settling the nerves so that they don't later fray." ~ Marcia Carrington

—

Steam rose from a powder blue mug filled with freshly brewed coffee. Maeve slid the colorful ceramic carefully across the stark white counter and in front of Nick, making sure that none of the scolding liquid sloshed over the sides. She did not want coffee rings on her clean countertop. She turned back to the coffee pot and poured some into a pale yellow mug for herself. Nick grabbed the handle on his mug and slowly lifted it from the counter to his lips. He leaned against the counter as he blew the steam away in an attempt to cool it down. He took a tiny sip, flinching slightly as the heat bit his tongue.

Maeve looked over her shoulder at him with a gentle smile as she stirred sugar into her coffee. She turned to face him as she set her mug to the side so she could let it cool for a moment. She placed her hands on the counter behind her and hoisted herself up to sit, crossing her ankles once she was settled. "So," she hummed. "Got any fun plans today?"

Nick shrugged as he took another small sip of his too hot coffee. "Not really," he started, taking a few steps closer to her. "Just gotta work on some stuff for our gig in a few days. You?" He set his cup down next to hers and stood directly in front of where she sat on the counter.

"I was gonna work on packing some orders for my online shop," she shared. She leaned back, her back resting on the kitchen wall, her shoulders relaxed. "Where are you guys playing?"

Nick rested his hands on the counter and distributed his weight between them, one hand on each side of Maeve. "Just some shitty dive bar a few blocks away. Nothing too special," he sighed. His eyes drifted from her face to his hands, "You can come watch if you want."

She could feel her skin start to tingle and her head begin to spin as she looked at Nick. The position seemed so intimate to her. She cleared her throat, "Do you want me to go?" Nick looked up at her with a shy smile and wide eyes, nodding at her. Maeve held back a fond smile, "Then I would love to come watch you guys play," she beamed as she lifted one of her hands and reached forward, ruffling his hair and reveling in the way he leaned into her touch.

"I was hoping that would be your answer," he grinned, eyes fluttering closed as the playful ruffle turned into Maeve just running her fingers through his hair. He had to force himself not to frown when she finally withdrew her hand. He stood up straight again and grabbed his coffee.

Maeve couldn't help the way her eyes drifted to his hands. They widened as she had an idea. Wouldn't that be hot, she thought. She sat up straight and looked at Nick as he took another sip of his coffee. "Hey, let me see your hands," she said.

Nick furrowed his eyebrows as he set his coffee back down, "Okay...?" He held his hands out, curious as to why she wanted to see his hands.

She took his hands in her own and gave them a good once over before looking up at him, "You know what would be really cool?" she asked. Nick shrugged. Maeve let go of his hands, "If you painted your nails. For your gig."

Nick's eyebrows shot up and he looked at his hands, considering the suggestion. "Yeah, that could be pretty sick," he agreed. "But I don't know how to paint my nails."

Maeve broke out in a huge, excited grin. "I'll paint them!" she beamed, almost too enthusiastic about the idea. She grabbed one of his hands again and wrapped both of hers around it, "Please? I'll do a really good job! I have a really steady hand. And I even have some black nail polish," she pleaded.

Nick started to laugh, squeezing her hands that were clasped around his. He loved the idea of Maeve painting his nails. He loved how excited she was to do it. And even though she said she would come watch them play, he loved the idea of somewhat having a piece of her with him while he played. "I find it hard to believe that you own anything black. You're like the fuckin' color wheel," he teased. "But if you really do have black nail polish, that'd be sick if you could paint my nails."

She squeezed his hand a little harder. "Yay!" she squealed. "It's gonna look so cool!"

—

After a cup of coffee each, Maeve led Nick to her bedroom. As she looked through her vanity drawers for the black nail polish, he sat crisscross on her unmade bed. "So you said you have an online shop?" Nick questioned.

"Sure do!" Maeve chirped, grabbing the two bottles she needed and closing the drawer. She turned around and walked over to the bed. She sat down right in front of him, mirroring his crisscross position as she set the top coat bottle to the side and began to shake up the bottle of black polish.

He nodded. "If you don't mind me asking," he started. "What do you sell?"

Maeve shifted closer to him, their knees touching, as she opened the bottle. She grabbed his hand, "Hold this." She passed him the open bottle as she held the brush. She then grabbed his other hand and started on the first finger. "To answer your question," she said, running the brush along his nail. "I put together little gardening kits for different flowers and herbs. People love it."

Nick cracked a smile, "That makes sense for you. With your green thumb and all." Maeve only hummed in response, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth in concentration.

Her delicate touch on his hand made him feel fuzzy all over. He had to remind himself to breathe. She would occasionally grab his hand that was holding the bottle to dip the brush back in before returning to the other. She eventually took the bottle from his hand and had him carefully hold it in the hand she just painted to repeat the process on the next hand.

When she was done, she closed the black polish and tossed it to the side. She grabbed both of his hands and started to blow a thin stream of air onto his nails. Nick couldn't believe how giddy he felt. He was doing everything in his power to not smile like a lovesick moron, but it proved difficult as his entire body felt like it was buzzing.

She blew on his nails once more after applying the top coat. Once she was sure they were dry enough, she looked up at him with a grin. "So what do you think?"

"Sick as all hell," he grinned. "Thank you."

"Of course! Now don't mess them up," she teased. "But if you do, I'll fix 'em."