Coffee and Cafés - Book Two of the Café Latte Trilogy

Espresso Martini

Hello!!! One of my favourite chapters comin' right up. Thank you again for your patience, I got a virus (not COVID, fortunately) so I'm very tired and somewhat gross.

Love, Cam

♡

Espresso Martini

When I told Harper what I had talked to Angelo about, his face went through about fifty different levels of bitch-face before I finished. He ended on a truly spectacular bitch-face, too, with him scrunching his eyes up in disbelief.

"Ross," he declared, "is a fucking idiot."

"Well, I can't help but agree, yes," I nodded. "But Angelo suggested that you might have better luck talking to him than I would, because it's y'know, about me."

He made a noise of annoyance, taking out his phone and scrolling to find Ross' number and pressing his phone to his ear. He waited for Ross to pick up, but didn't wait for him to say much more than 'hello?' before he took a deep breath and said, "Ross, you are a fucking idiot."

I heard an indignant voice on the other end of the phone, and Harper snorted. "Ross, do you love me?"

"Yes," was Ross' answer.

"And does that mean you love Jasper any less?" Harper asked, getting a reluctant 'no' from Ross as he realised what this phone call was going to be about. "So why would him loving Tom mean he loves you any less?"

"It's different," I heard Ross say.

"Why?!" Harper asked, exasperated. "We've had sex, doesn't stop you loving Jasper. And if I had sex with both you and Jasper, it wouldn't stop you loving Jasper. Why should it be any different for Jasper?"

There was silence on the other side of the phone, so Harper continued. "Jasper is freaking besotted with you, you dickhead. You two have such a good relationship, don't fuck it up because he's close with someone else."

Ross replied quietly with something I couldn't hear, and Harper softened a bit. "Yeah, Tom's great. I agree with you there. But guess what? You're pretty great too, when you're not being a colossal tit. And Jasper wants you. Still does, even though you're accusing him of stuff he's not done."

It seemed like it was going to Ross' personal insecurities, which I knew he wouldn't want me overhearing, so I got up from my chair. Cyri was heading over soon; Edward had gone to pick her up from the station. We were all going to get ready here and head out to a bar for a bit before we went dancing.

I walked into my room, opening my wardrobe and having a look at my outfits. My phone lit up with a message, and I looked at it.

Did everything go okay with Jasper and Ross? 

It was Angelo. I smiled and typed back my response.

Harper's on the phone to Ross now, I think it'll be okay. What time are you meeting us? x

I sent the message, and then swore. I had put a kiss on the end. Balls. I blamed my mothers; they always put at least one on every single message they sent to me. Fuck. Okay, I just had to play it cool. Tons of people put kisses on their texts with their boss, probably... okay no, even my brain couldn't do the mental gymnastics necessary to make that leap in logic.

A message appeared. I reluctantly looked at it.

Eight, I think. Depends on how long it takes Cinzia to do her hair. It might take all year. x