The Barista

Reach

"Take that moment with you!" Abby's drunken mouth spills the words out like water. "You should have kissed him, Elle!"

"Shh!" I try to cover my hand over her mouth while my heart sinks to my stomach and my eyes quickly analyze the living room. "Abby! Holten and Liam are both in the kitchen. I don't want him hearing us!"

"Oh stop!" She argues. "I kissed Holten. And I'm thinking about doing more with him! You should be doing the same with Liam."

"Abby!" I exclaim in shock. "You did not! Are you...no freaking way! You two? I never for a second thought you two would...what!"

She flashes her eyebrows. Sober is not her friend right now. "I kissed my tongue all over his sloppy lips."

I lower an eyebrow. "You what? Are you sure he even kissed you back?"

She nods with her eyes closed, looking complete. "Mmhmm. It was magical. He called me his principal."

"He what?"

She opens her eyes. "Princi...princ...princess! That's the word!"

"Oh, okay. That I can understand. And..."

"Hey, ladies," Holten says as he and Liam walk into the dining room. "We will probably head out for the...well...it's morning now."

Abby's eyes shoot wide open. "Wait, what? You don't...you don't want to come upstairs and see my bedroom?"

Holten smirks. "Abby, I'd love to. But number one, you have an apartment, there is no upstairs. And number two. You're a bit too drunk. I'm not doing anything like that with you while you're this intoxicated. I can't say I wouldn't sleep in the same bed as you. But even then, the way you were in the car tells me you wouldn't be able to control yourself."

"I would too!" She drunkenly argues. "That kiss was magical."

Holten looks concerned. "That kiss smelled like whiskey, vodka, and old vomit all in one. But yes, Abby. I'd love to be able to spend more time with you. Just not while you're intoxicated."

Abby takes her hand to her mouth, quickly blowing into it and smelling her breath. "That's not how I wanted you to remember our first kiss."

"It was for me," Holten argues with a warm smile. "It'll be a story to tell our children someday."

Liam's eyes widen. "Settle down, brother. You don't even like kids. You just met Abby and you're already discussing children?"

"Leave him be." Abby drunkenly argues. "If he wants kids with me someday, then he can have kids with me someday. I'm not going to argue."

"Bye, beautiful," Holten adds, pulling on Liam's arm, trying to drag him out. "We will see you two tomorrow. And I'll expect a better kiss then."

Abby raises her hand. "I brushed my teeth already. And used mouthwash..."

She can't finish talking before Holten rushes over to her, sliding his hands up her neck and across her cheeks, bringing his lips to hers.

He's quick to slide his tongue into her mouth and Liam watches with what looks like disgust. I want to chuckle, but Abby is my best friend, so I want to be happy for her.

The two of them look happy and in a deep passionate kiss. And I never thought my best friend would be dating an Easton brother. It makes sense from my point of view when I look at the two of them. They look like they'd be a good couple.