“Ha. Well, I can’t help you with that, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to go. I’m working the morning shift,” she said, her voice groggy.
“I won’t see you there then. I’m operating in the morning and then going to see Branson play in a summer basketball league. Do you work Friday?”
“Yeah. Only eight to twelve, a short shift.”
“I’ll be sure to pop in.”
“Night,” Murphy whispered.
“Sweet dreams, Murph.”
As we hung up, I wished we could have stayed on for a lot longer. It was easy between us in a way I’d never had.
Murphy’s mind and her body got me equally revved, and I couldn’t help my hand sliding south, taking hold of my length, which was as hard as a rock. I needed to handle business before falling asleep. With memories of Murphy against her door, me sliding to my knees, and a flashback to her in my bed, it didn’t take long.
23
Ben
I pulled into the Busy Bean’s parking lot in a daze, having spent the entire drive there worrying about Branson. He didn’t seem right the night before. The kids seemed to leave him out of the team huddle, and he appeared relieved to hang back on the bench. He didn’t give the game any effort, and I didn’t like what I was seeing.
I might not have appreciated the opportunities thrown at me—football, boarding school, Harvard—but I always gave everything I did my all. In a world full of rich kids who didn’t care about underachieving because they had trust funds, I was the one who always strove for overachieving.
Branson seemed like he was getting complacent, and it ate away at my gut. My sister worked too hard and wasn’t around enough, and I was too close to the situation.
Yanking open the side door to the Bean, the one closest to the coffee bar so I could catch a glimpse of Murphy, I considered sending Branson to Pressman. Christ. I shook my head to relieve myself of the idea.
“Hey, Zara. How are you?” I said at the register.
With a twinkle in her eye, she said, “Can’t say I’m surprised to see you in here. Murphy’s about done.”
I nodded. “No getting anything by you.”
Zara laughed. “Hey, Dave said if you stopped in for me to ask you if you have any contacts back in Boston. He has a friend who needs a hip replacement.”
After thinking for a second, I said, “I wish. I know a great team in Brooklyn. I’ll do some asking around.”
“Thanks. The usual?” Zara asked.
“Yes, but I forgot my mug.”
With a raised eyebrow, she looked me over. “That’s unlike you.”
“A lot on my mind, but I’ll be okay.”
“No worries. In fact, I’m going to gift you a Bean Yeti.” She grabbed a dark green one off the shelves and rinsed it out. “Murph, an extra hot Americano on the house,” she said, waving the mug in the air.
It was the first Murphy and I had made eye contact since I came in, and in an instant, a wave of calmness washed over me. Putting my worries of Branson behind me, I looked forward to spending the afternoon with Murphy.
Slipping a ten into the tip jar, I moved down toward the end of the coffee bar and waited for Murphy to finish making my drink.
“Here you go, hot and ready to go in your new mug.” Murphy held the Yeti until I took it from her, our fingers brushing.
“How about you? Are you ready to go?”
“Where? We didn’t make plans.”
“Now we do. Thought we would take a hike. I even brought sandwiches and snacks.”
With a wide grin, Murphy asked, “What kind of snacks?”
“Oh, that’s a secret.”
“Sweet or salty?”
“I wouldn’t dream of salty when it came to you.”
“Deal.”
Murphy quickly untied her apron and washed her hands. The new kid slid under the counter to take her place, waiting for his turn at the sink.
“Hey, buddy, don’t mess up,” Murphy teased before yelling, “See you on Sunday, Zar.”
Zara gave us a wave, and I waited for Murphy to grab her purse.
“Oh, shoot. Look at my shoes,” she said when she reappeared from the back.
“Yeah, those aren’t going to work,” I said, taking in her fashion sneakers. “I was counting on you wearing your boots.”
“I’m sure you were.”
Taking her hand in mine, I led her toward the side door. “We’ll swing by your place so you can grab something better.”
“Hey, are you Murphy?” A young girl in her mid-twenties peeked out from behind her book and asked.
“I am,” Murphy said, giving her all her attention.
“I heard about the book club. I can’t wait. If you need any recs, I’d be happy to share. This is awesome.” She held up a book with a sexy couple on the front, sitting on the kitchen counter, making out.
Whoa.
“Oh,” Murphy said nonchalantly. “I have that one on my to-be-read list.”
“It’s really good so far.”
“Terrific. What’s your name?”
“Corrie.”
“Fabulous. I’ll see you at the first meeting, Corrie, and I can’t wait to hear your recs.”
“’Bye,” Corrie yelled after us, but Murphy was on a mission to get to the car.
“Did you hear that?” she asked with a huge smile.
I nodded. “Told you it was a great idea.”
Holding her hands together as if praying, she said, “Finally, something is going my way.”
“It’s only up from here,” I told her, and she gave me a doubtful look. “Really.”
“Fingers crossed and toes,” she added.
After a sip of my Americano, we were off to grab her shoes.
“This way I can use the bathroom too,” she said.
“But no makeup or any of that. We’re going on a hike, and you look beautiful naturally.”
“Deal, and thank you.”
Once Murphy had her running shoes on, we got back into the Jeep.
“Hungry?” I asked her.
“For the snacks?”
“No. How about a
