A Cup of Coffee

c h a p t e r 0 8

Elizabeth

"Elizabeth, did you cook all this?" Henry asked as he reached out for another serving of spaghetti. I smiled shyly from across the table as I nodded at him, continuing to eat my chicken.

"Who taught you to cook so well?" Henry asked smiling, he was really impressed, it's probably the sauce that's doing the job. Katie and Nathan tensed up and hesitantly looked at me. The rest of the table didn't seem to be bothered by the question.

"Oh, hmm, it was my sister."

"That's wonderful, how old is she?" I felt a huge lump forming in my throat and I could feel tears threatening to fall.

"She was 24,"

"Im sorry sweetie," he offered me a empathetic look and I smiled at him. He probably lost more loved ones that I did in his entire lifetime.

After a while, the conversation was forgotten and the table was filled with lots of chatter and laughter. Nathan brought up tons of stories and knowing Nathan, he could talk for hours. I mean it, the guy never stops talking. I think that's why Katie loves him so much. You can never be bored with Nathan, even if you just met him, he would make you feel comfortable just being around him.

"Okay so I remember this one time my mom asked me to get some groceries for a party. I needed to make two trips for this one because I couldn't drive back then. So I had to take the bus," he paused and chewed a lumpia.

"I was strong even back then," Nathan said making me choke on my chicken, his ego though was way over the top.

"Pfft, yeah right," Katie groaned as she piled her plate high with some more food.

"Let me finish babe, okay so I instead of making two trips, I managed to condense it into one trip. But the thing was, the bus going back to town was packed, packed like sardines," Phoebe and Henry nodded as they continued listening.

"I could barely hold onto the railings and the groceries, when the bus suddenly turned really quickly, I came stumbling out of my position. I was just on this couple's laps and we were just staring at each other until the bus stopped turning," he reenact the scene in front of us causing me and everyone else to laugh hard at his reenactment. Expect Nathan to be in these types of situations.

The night continued on like that, with questions about me or Adam or Katie popping up here and there. Adam tried to involve himself in the conversation but he kept quiet in the most part. I could feel his eyes on me at times because hunny, I was glancing at him from time to time too. He was so handsome and I just feel like melting every time we catch each other looking. At times he would smile but we were both rather confused with everything going on with us.

I wasn't sure if we're each other's soulmates. I mean it's pretty obvious but he doesn't seem affected or whatsoever. I was hoping we really were but a little part of me fears what the future holds for us. We continued eating to our hearts' content and that's when I decided to stand up from my seat to take the cheesecake out from the fridge.

After I took out the cheesecake, I tried to take the fancy dessert utensils but they were kept in a box tucked in the top cabinets. Because I was a barbarian and use normal forks to eat my desserts.

"Let me get that for you," Adam offered, standing up from his seat as he was the nearest to the fridge. He towered over me by a whole lot. I was barely over five foot so almost everyone is taller than I am. I was unsure whether to be surprised that he noticed me or that he was actually saying more than five words.

He brushed past me, the familiar mixture of cologne and aftershave basically getting me drunk just smelling it, and he reaches over the cabinet easily, taking the box out. He handed it to me, our fingers touching for a moment. Our slight contact sent electric current running through me. I'm sure he felt it too because he took a step back. Mind you, when I say the kitchen is small, I meant it. We were lucky enough to fit six people in here.

His bum touched Henry and that caused me to laugh because he have some fine booty going on down there - not that I was checking it out, or maybe I was, who knows? - so when it touched Henry, the poor man got shocked and dropped his fork.

"Hahaha that was funny, are you okay?" I laughed looking at Adam's mortified face, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. I'm sure he didn't mean it. Henry laughed it off and picked up his plastic fork from the floor, replacing it with another one after tossing it in the trash.

"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his neck and looked at me.

"Thanks for helping me,"

"Welcome shorty."  I stared at him horrified as he casually sat back on his seat and munched on the remainder of his food.

Shorty.

SHORTY.

Me? Shorty??

Well excuse me. I took out the foil I used to cover the cheesecake and placed it beside all the gifts. There was a large heavy box that was from Phoebe and Adam, a bouquet of flowers from Henry and a small box from Nathan and Katie. Mom and dad sent me extra money as usual every year.

I tried not to let his comment about me being short bother me and sliced the cake into eight pieces, washed the dessert forks and carried the cake to the table. I came in between Henry and Nathan to place the cheesecake right on the center of the tables.

"Dearie, I love cheesecake!".

"I was not expecting dessert!" Nathan gushed and immediately dived right in for a slice. Katie however didn't take a slice.  After making four batches this week, I'm shocked that she hasn't puked all over seeing another cheesecake.

Everyone else took a slice and we continued having conversations over dessert. By the time everybody finished their cake, it was almost ten in the evening. I walked the visitors to the door to bid them farewell.

I gave Henry a big hug and thanked him for coming by. Katie asked us to pose as she took out her phone to snap a picture of us. After saying his goodbyes, he stepped out, slipped his shoes on and headed for the elevators. Nathan held me tightly as he told me his birthday wishes for me. Katie snapped a picture for us, in which we took numerous poses and Nathan reached over once it was done to plant a kiss on her lips, making Katie blush like she always does.

"See you guys later, nice to see you again Phoebe," hugging Phoebe slightly and he extended his hand to Adam again, "Adam, nice to meet you man," they shook hands and he left to go after Henry, disappearing as he turned to the corner. 

I went to hug Phoebe next and thanked her profusely for coming by, we took a picture together and she stepped out to put on her shoes.

"Thanks for coming,"

"The pleasure 's all mine," he smiled slightly, his dimple at his right cheek showing. After a minute of just standing around, we managed to give each other a hug and it was as if we couldn't let go. Eventually we did, we posed for a picture together and said our goodbyes once again.

"Take care you two," I called after the pair as they headed for the elevators. I waited for them to turn the corner before I closed the door. Adam looked back as he turned and catches me looking.

He paused for little bit and held his wrist up, pushing his sleeve up a little bit. He mouthed to me "I felt it too," and continued walking with Phoebe, leaving me rooted at the door.

A/N: I kinda struggled to write Adam cuz I don't know how I want him to act as a character. Haha do comment and vote!!