Coffee People - Pedro Pascal by Emma Star

Chapter fifteen, Sweater Weather

I decided to tell my friends the truth about what happened the night of the masquerade ball. I should've told them already but I just couldn't work up the courage. And when a few days went by and we stopped talking about that night, it was easier to just pretend it didn't happen. Weeks had gone by and wanting him hadn't faded. The ache I felt had only intensified. I could no longer pretend this wasn't happening.

So when we finished eating on Wednesday evening I told them everything. From the way he had followed me to the way he'd kissed me. I was blushing furiously the entire time. I knew I had nothing to be embarrassed about with my friends, but I'd never been very vocal about these kind of things.

I had asked them to hear me out without interruption. I gave Lydia a pointed look when I requested it. It took me a few minutes to explain everything to them. Jessie's jaw was on the floor the entire time. Lydia was trying really hard to keep her mouth shut and only interrupted me once by gasping when I told them how I'd walked away.

God. Telling them about all of this was making me relive the moment and I suddenly wasn't so sure I could see Peña tomorrow or ever again for that matter. In both fear of embarrassing myself further and fear of jumping him the second I saw him.

What is wrong with me. No one has ever made me act like this.

When I finish talking it's quiet for a moment. Then Lydia talks.

'Oh. My. God.' She says slowly, 'For the first time in my life I genuinely don't know what to say. I don't know if I should scream at you for not telling us sooner or praise you for pulling Javier fucking Peña.'

'It was just a kiss.' I say, mostly trying to convince myself.

'It was not JUST a kiss. That was a make out session honey.' A hot one from the sound of it.' Lydia laughs.

Jessie barks out a laugh and I look at her, she hasn't said anything.

'So what now?' She asks me.

'We've avoided each other most of the time.' I tell her.

'Wait what?' Lydia says, she looks so scandalized I laugh.

'I told you, it was just once. To get it out of our systems.'

'And is it out of your system?' Jessie smirks at me.

'Fuck no, if anything it has made it worse.' I admit.

'And he hasn't tried anything since?' Lydia asks, surprised.

'Well.. He offered to help me tackle my writer's block.'

Jessie and Lydia look at each other in shock.

'Help you how?' Jessie asks, smiling mischievously.

'Not like THAT, I mean I don't know what he has in mind, but he's picking me up tomorrow after work.' I say.

They look at each other in shock again.

'And you've discussed this how?'

Now I smile a little, 'He asked for my number when we were discussing my writer's block.'

I've shocked my friends I to silence again.

'Give me your phone Mila.' Lydia demands.

I take my phone from the back pocket of my jeans, unlock it and hand it to her. Not because she demanded it but because I trust her. Lydia takes the phone, she laughs when she reads the first response I sent Peña. (What, are you stalking me now? Talk about mixed signals.) She angles the phone to Jessie beside her and she laughs too.