Red Shoes, Black Coffee (Red & Black #2)

30 | Plus one

Jed

"This is disgusting." I look over at Carla, finding her watching me with a frown. "This lovelorn expression you wear. It's terrifying."

I laugh at that, shaking my head. 

"Really." She pushes. "The last time I've seen you this miserable was when we first met."

"I'm not miserable." I reply. "I'm happy."

"Same thing." Carla shrugs. She isn't looking at me as she focuses on steaming milk for the chocolate frappe with double cream she's making. "That dreamy, far-off look on your face. It worries me."

I flip her off with a chuckle as I move on to prepare an order of my own. I know Carla's just grumpy for the lone sake of being grumpy. I'm sure that deep down, she's happy for me. She did, after all, lock me and Ada in my studio that one time. Because of that day alone, I'm positive she discreetly wants Ada and me to be together.

She's just not ready to admit it yet.

Just like I'm not quite ready to wrap my head around the fact that we are, indeed, together.

"Speak of the devil." Carla murmurs next to me. I glance at her quizzically and she just her chin toward the front door. My eyes follow her gaze and I feel my heart jump in my chest when I spot said devil heading towards the counter. Too caught up in my own head, I haven't heard the bell ring.

And to think it was my idea to put the thing there.

"Try not to drool too much into someone's coffee." Carla throws my way before sauntering off.

Not caring one bit about somebody's coffee, I don't tear my gaze away from Ada. Her golden eyes meet my own and hold as she nears me. There's the sweetest flush coloring her cheeks, giving them that rosy shade I love. The redness deepens the closest she gets to me and I can't help but marvel at the fact that I'm able to influence such a reaction on her. By the time Ada stops in front of my side of the counter, I'm grinning like a loon, gazing down at her.

A smile of her own grazes Ada's lips and she gives me a little wave. "Hi."

She's so adorable it's almost too much to take.

Rather than answering, I brace my hands on the counter between us and lean over. I inhale Ada's surprised gasp when my lips find hers, stealing a thorough kiss. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I'm aware of Carla's snort but right in that instant, I couldn't care less. Closing my eyes, I give myself fully into the kiss, drawing it out for as long as I can.

Ada surprises me with her response. Knowing we're right in the middle of a coffee shop, surrounded by lots of people, I expected her to shy away and draw back immediately. Instead, my little devil kisses me back with a startling intensity. We stay like this for a moment, only our lips touching, until someone clearing his throat causes us to part.

I draw back slowly, grinning wildly. My eyes linger on Ada for a moment longer, taking in her cheeks - now fire engine red - and teeth sinking into her lower lip. Giving her a quick wink - something I did when she first came to Caffair back in Ann Arbor, when she accused me of being old-fashioned - and move my gaze to whoever dared to interrupt us.

Everything becomes clear when my eyes fall on Teddy Bear. He's standing a bit off to the side, his brows raised over eyes that keep farting from me to Ada. "Is this some sort of a new promotion? Do you do that to all your clients?" Teddy Bear asks. "Because if so, I'm not ordering today."

I chuckle. "No, I guess it's only Ada who's special enough to get this extra attention." I tell him. "You don't need to worry. Your virginity is safe with me."