Terms and Conditions

Chapter 17

I wasn't sure what to wear. It wasn't a date; it was just coffee. So, wearing a pair of jeans, a pink shirt, and flats was good enough, right? When I stepped into the coffee spot, I saw Luis' sitting at a table and watched his eyes light up; maybe my outfit was just right.

I smiled at him as the door shut behind me. The table he sat at felt so far, yet so close. I wasn't sure if I should sit or stand. "Hi," I said.

"Hey." Luis was dreamy. Wearing all black with his necklace shimmering around his neck, I stared at it before I looked at his face. Freshly shaven, he smelled like buttercream and cologne. His smile made me melt. When he moved his arm to pull out the seat beside him, I looked at the lean muscles on his arm.

Instantly, I was a puddle.

"Siéntate," he said.

Of course, yes, I had to sit down. Standing in front of him like a gawking schoolgirl couldn't be a good look. So, I did. I took the seat next to his at the square table and made myself as comfortable as possible. Because I had stared at him so much, I didn't notice the foam cups in front of him. One of them had his name, the other had mine.

Luis reached for the one with my name and placed it in front of me. "Cream and sugar, right?" he asked, his smile never dropping. "I didn't know if you wanted the extra syrup or anything so—"

"No, this is okay." When I reached for the cup, he hadn't let it go all the way. The tips of our fingers brushed together. Warmth crept up my cheeks.

This was real. It wasn't the game. No alluring magic to set of sparks. That tingle, that tickle that made me blush, which was real.

I lifted my gaze and looked into his eyes. He is real.

I was staring again, I knew it. He chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head. "So, what made you send me the message? I know I promised café, but I thought, maybe, it would be me to ask, no?"

"Was it wrong to ask?" I pulled at the flap off the top of my coffee's lid and put the cup to my lips. One quick sip.

"Oh, no." Luis leaned against his hand. His smile slipped into a crooked grin with a single dimple. "I'm happy you asked."

"Oh?" Bigger sip.

I was nervous. My heart raced. I tried to focus on anything else in the shop. There was the counter behind him, the cashier looking at her phone while she waited for another customer. There was a mother with her daughter sitting two tables over; the mother broke her daughter's doughnut into two pieces.

It made me smile. It reminded me of my grandmother and how she made sure my sweets were evenly divided for me to eat.

"Was there a reason?" Luis' voice broke my train of thought and I looked back at him. His smile hadn't left. The only change to his face was his brows. They lifted when we locked eyes. "Dime, talk to me."

"Um..." I hadn't thought this far into what could happen. I didn't think the message would lead to meeting him for coffee. But I couldn't say no. I wanted to see him. I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't dream of his kiss.

I bit the insides of my cheeks. Think, Chari. "I was reading," I said.

"Reading what?" Luis reached for his coffee and slowly sipped. "A good book?"

Small talk? He wanted small talk. He was better at people-ing than he made it seem. Was it because we broke through the wall and touched? Was it because our mission last night felt a little more than just a game?

Was it because we kissed?

"No," I cleared my throat. "I was reading the terms for the game. Did you read them?"