The guy was suddenly laughing and flashed his toothpaste-commercial white teeth. Thankfully, they weren’t straight but slightly crooked. It made him seem more real, not an illusion. He said something, but I missed the words.
My insides fluttered to life in a way none of the boys at Wildwood High could muster. Was he new to town? A senior? No, he looked too mature for high school. But still. Oh, please be a new student, I thought.
He waved a hand in front of my face, his smile getting bigger, so it reached his eyes.
“Sorry, what?” I said, shifting from one foot to the other and blinking furiously.
“Coffee,” he said.
“What kind?” I hovered over the register, waiting to push buttons.
“Just plain coffee, thanks, uh,” he bent down to read my nametag. “Diana. That’s a pretty name.”
“Thanks,” I said but was still stuck on his order. “Did you want cream or sugar with that? Maybe a pump of caramel?” I lifted a brow. “Whipped cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon?”
He was back to chuckling, and some of the pressure weighing on my chest lifted. “Coffee. Black. That’s it.”
“Oh, okay.” The heat started at my collarbones and rushed up to my neck like my veins were on fire. I fanned myself and quickly rang him up. “That’ll be a dollar twelve.”
He handed me a five, and the tips of our fingers brushed.
There was a flash, and I saw in my mind two wolves running through Wildwood’s treacherous forest. One was black and the other silver. The silver one, which was slightly smaller, turned back and nipped at the black one, and they started to play, wrestling among the brush. Another moment and the vision was gone.
Weird. I really needed to get some sleep. Between work, school, and taking care of my mom, there wasn’t enough time. I bit my lip as I stuck his money in the drawer, made the change, and handed it back. “Just a sec.” I couldn’t meet his eyes, feeling too self-conscious. At the coffee station, I filled a regular cup. My hands were shaking, and there was a giddiness in my throat. After putting on the lid, I turned and placed the coffee on the counter in front of him. “Here you are.”
“Thanks, Diana.” He’d used my name twice, but I didn’t know his.
“Sure. What’s your name?” There was a noise from behind me, and I knew it was Ember. She’d been in the back and was probably dying over the beautiful man, the same as me.
“Wyatt,” he said and stuck out his hand.
“That’s unique. Nice to meet you,” I said. Instead of shaking his hand, like a regular person, I grabbed his fingers. No doubt, my face was redder than chili pepper. Too late, I tried to correct my mistake.
He pulled back and picked up the cup. “You too,” he said. Then he stepped back. “Have a great night.” He walked backward a few paces before spinning around.
“Thanks, you, too,” I said and watched him go through the front door.
“You’re the biggest dork,” Ember said, slapping my arm.
“I know,” I moaned, bending over, leaning against the chrome countertop and hanging my head. I was a little lightheaded. “But you saw him, right? He was totally gorgeous. I think I might be on fire.”
Ember squeezed my arm but didn’t say anything.
Someone cleared their throat.
I glanced up. Wyatt was back. “Hey,” I said, a new level of mortification burning my cheeks. I tried to play it cool. “Did you forget something? A donut, maybe?”
He had a strange look on his face. One I couldn’t read. Then he smiled. “Want to get something to eat after your shift tonight?”
My thighs turned to jelly. He was Captain America with longer and darker hair. I thought if he tried, he might even be able to pull off a man-bun. I swear I was melting.
“Um.” I did want to go with him. Bad. But Ember and I had racquetball. “I would, yes, but I have plans at the rec center tonight.” My lips were trembling.
“Some other time, then.” His smile disappeared, and my heart clenched. “See ya, Diana.”
“Bye,” I managed, grabbing hold of the counter like it was my life-line.
When he was gone, Ember blew out her breath. “I changed my mind. You’re not a dork, but the world’s most enormous idiot,” she said, glaring.
“But we do have plans,” I said, leaning against the counter to stay upright. There was a girl code, and I didn’t want to break it at the first sign of a beautiful man.
“When a guy like that asks you out, you screw the code and go for it. Damn, girl. I love you, but I would’ve canceled in a second for a hottie like him.”
Ember was right. Idiot was putting it mildly. “Stupid,” I said and followed her to the back where I hung up my apron. I walked over to the clock and punched my time card. “Do you still want to play?”
She removed her apron and grabbed her timecard. “Definitely. I need to feed my dog babies, and then I’ll meet you there.” She smiled. “Thank you for your friendship. Not that I ever doubted you loved me, but we are good. Remember that next time, okay?” She put a hand on my shoulder.
My mouth was dry, and I was still internally kicking myself. But whatever. Aside from running outside and chasing the guy, nothing more could be done. “Okay. See you at eight,” I said and headed to the employee exit.
“Yep,” Ember called. She mumbled something under her breath. Probably calling me an idiot again.
Not that I blamed her.
I hurried to my old Camry. The bronze paint was faded, and all the rims were missing, not to mention there was a dent in the back driver's side where a car slammed into me last winter after a scary snowstorm. It also had more than two hundred thousand miles on it, but
