Small Town Girl, Big City Dreams • Kate Martin

Chapter 23: Coffee Talk Part 2

Inspiration Song: Shut Up Kenny by Walker Hayes

After fighting off the worst hangover of my life and spending all of yesterday in bed, I got up early to meet Jade at Sinsations to grab coffee. The only thing I had managed to do yesterday was text her to ask if we could talk. She, surprisingly, had said yes. Other than that, I had slept most of the day and swore off drinking for good, which I knew would be impossible with my teammates.

The bell on the door of Jade's shop jingled as I stepped in, reminding me of all the other times I had come in, still half asleep, only to be greeted by Jade's sweet smile. I felt a pang in my chest at the memories. I saw Tyler wiping down counters, getting ready for their morning rush. Jade was out of sight.

"Hey Kate," Tyler greeted me with a smile when he looked up. "Long time no see."

"Yeah," I agreed, settling down at a barstool. "It has been a while. Everything been going okay?"

"Yeah," he nodded his head enthusiastically. "Business has been booming lately. It's been awesome."

"I'm glad to hear that," I replied. I heard a door shut from the back and looked over to find Jade walking out of her office.

"Just Kate," she smiled at seeing me. She walked behind the counter and grabbed two cups. "Your usual?"

"Sure," I agreed, smiling back. I was cautiously optimistic about her smile and how things had ended the other night. She grabbed her phone, pressing skip on the song that had been playing when "Come Over" by Kenny Chesney started playing. I watched her make the matcha, always in her element at work. Tyler disappeared somewhere in the back, so I figured I should break the silence. "Since when did you become a country fan?"

I saw her shoulders shrug but couldn't see her face to tell if she was blushing or not. I had sneaking suspicion her face was red though. "You played it so much that it kind of grew on me."

"Hmm," I hummed, a grin forming on my face. I saw Jade glance back at me quickly. Her face was red. She threw a straw at me.

"Shut up."

"I didn't say anything, Lauton," I laughed. "You're the one that got embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed."

"You shouldn't be. Country is the best."

"You don't even believe that," she clapped back. She was right. While I had grown up on country and did enjoy it, it wasn't my favorite genre of music.

"Alright, alright," I conceded.

She turned around and handed me my matcha. I gladly took the drink with a smile. I was so excited to take a sip. I had been craving the way Jade made her matchas the past month. As soon as the liquid hit my mouth, I sighed contentedly.

"That good?" Jade quirked her eyebrow, clearly amused at my reaction.

"I-uh," I blushed. "Yeah. I've been craving one so badly."

"The store didn't move," she said casually.

"I didn't know," I started, swallowing the lump that appeared in my throat. "I didn't know if it was a good idea to come in."

I watched her nod, taking in my words. "Fair enough."

We were both quiet for a minute. Nothing but Kenny Chesney on the radio and both of our thoughts seemingly swallowing us whole. While I thought it was cute that my listening to country had worn off on her, it kind of hurt knowing I wasn't getting to share in those moments with her. I wanted to hear her gush about the newest country song that she suddenly found herself singing to. I wanted to know which man singing about losing his love and driving his truck in a song was breaking her heart. I wanted to know it all. At the same time, I wanted to know none of it. It was too painful.