I See The Light (Book #3 in LA Series)

Chapter Twenty-One

Beth's POV
I was officially back out the front of the cafe. Georgie's cast has come off and she is back, better than ever.

"Hey, how are we today?" I ask, walking up to a gentleman sitting at a booth by himself. "Are we waiting on another person?"

"Yeah," he murmurs. "She's about five minutes, but can I grab a coffee while I wait?"

"Sure," I chirp. "How do you like it?"

"Just black," he answers.

I walk over behind the counter and start making him his coffee. The bell jingles on the door to say it's open but I pay no attention focusing on the coffee machine. I've already burnt myself on it today.

I take it over to the man and stop short when I see he is on a date with Jade. I replaced Jade here at the cafe. She also used to hook up with Dan.

"Thanks," the guy says as I place down his drink. "Jade you want something?"

"No, I didn't even want to come here," Jade snaps. She glances up at me and scowls. "You work here now?"

"Yep," I answer.

"I hear you with Dan," she says. "Sorry to tell you it won't last."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I deadpan. I smile politely at the man. "Was we after any food today?"

"I will just stick with the coffee," he answers.

I walk off and see Georgie peering out from the kitchen. "What is she doing here?" She hisses.

I shrug. "On a date, I think."

"I can't believe she showed her face," Georgie growls. "After all those horrible things she said about Cole."

"Yeah, she's a bitch," I agree.

I continue with my shift and glance over at their table now and again. Finally, they got up and left and the man Jade was with left me a $5 tip.

What's a guy like him doing with Jade?

I finish up my shift and head out back to the kitchen to say bye to Georgie. "She's gone," I tell her.

"Great," she sighs in relief. "You going?"

"Yeah," I tell her. "Off to Dan's."

"You guys doing good after our last conversation?" She asks.

"Very good," I answer.

She raises an eyebrow. "Why are you smiling like that?"

I bite my bottom lip. "I watched him Jack off."

Georgie's eyes widen. "Holy shit."

"It was super hot," I murmur.

"That's a big step," Georgie says. "And you liked it?"

"Yeah, I did," I say. "I'm not ready to touch him yet, or for him to touch me, but I want to give him something you know."

"Don't make it seem like you need to pressure yourself into this," Georgie says.

"I'm not," I say. "It turned me on."

"Good," Georgie murmurs. "Get him to play with his piercing, Cole seems to like that."

*
"I need to shower," Dan says as we walk upstairs to his place. "Maybe you could order us some Chinese?"

"Ooh and get those little fortune cookies," I gush excitedly. Dan kisses me and then rushes off to the bathroom. I go into his takeout drawer and get out the Chinese restaurant phone number.

"Thanks for calling Chen's Takeout How can I help you today?" The lady on the phone asks.

"Hey, I was just wanting to make an order for delivery," I say.

"Sure!" She chirps. "Your name?"

"Bethany Smith," I answer.

"And where are we delivering to?"

"Dan's Bar," I tell her.

"Oh yes, they have such attractive people working there," she comments.

I giggle a little at that. "Can I get two, sweet and sour chicken and a side of those fortune cookies?" I ask.

"Sure," she says. "Were we wanting to make that a meal?"

"Yes please," I say.

"What drinks were we after?"

"Oh, can I get one Coke and the other lemonade?"

"Of course," she says. "That should be there in about twenty minutes."

"Thanks so much," I murmur.

I hang up and go to put the menu back, but see a photo tucked into the middle of two other menus.

I pick it out and smile down at it.

It was Dan in his graduation cap and gown and what looked like to be his parents. His mum looked tense and she was barely smiling at the camera. She had her hair tied up in a bun and what looked like office clothing on.

His dad was smiling from ear to ear. He had his arm wrapped around Dan's shoulder and his eyes shined bright.

"You go snooping in other people's places too?" I hear Dan ask.

I look up from the photo. "It fell out of the menus when I opened the drawer," I say. "You have never mentioned your parents?"

"We don't talk," Dan murmurs. "They weren't happy that I ran off with Emily and got married."

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

Dan shrugs. "Dad still sends birthday cards and shit, but my mum refuses to speak with me."

"She doesn't look happy in this photo," I comment.

Dan chuckles and takes it from me. "I just told her I wasn't going to college."

"Yikes," I sheesh.

"Dad was proud of everything I did," Dan murmurs. "It upset him that he couldn't be at my wedding."

"Why did you elope?" I ask.

"Emily's parents hated me," Dan says. "Thought I was a bad influence."

"You? Never," I gasp.

Dan chuckles. "They tried to force her to break up with me, so Emily said why don't we get married so they can't control me anymore."

"Romantic," I say.

"I loved her," Dan says. "I would've done anything for her."

He said loved her. As in the past tense

Oh my god!