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Birdie’s eyes lit up at the assortment. “It all looks so good.”
Chris patted my shoulder. “She’s a keeper, Co.”
Now I was the one blushing while Birdie giggled.
“Do you make all this here?” she asked.
Gayle nodded proudly. “Chris is a genius in the kitchen. I don’t know how he does it. Every time I try to make bread, it falls flat.”
“It’s the pH of your hands,” Chris explained. “Some people just don’t have the touch.”
Gayle swatted his shoulder. “Okay, cool your jets or your head won’t fit in here anymore.”
Chris pretended to whoosh the air out of his head and said, “Enjoy, you two.” He gave a pointed look at Gayle. “We’ll give you your space.”
She gave him an annoyed look before waving at us and walking back behind the counter.
Birdie smiled after them. “They’re so cute together. They remind me of my grandparents.”
“Yeah?” I said, opting for the plain coffee so Birdie could try all the special options.
She nodded, sampling the mocha. “They were high school sweethearts. Met when he was sixteen and she was fourteen. They dated and got married as soon as she graduated high school. It’ll be sixty years this May.”
I shook my head in awe. “That’s incredible.” Being divorced myself and knowing first-hand how difficult marriage could be, it was hard to believe anyone made a marriage last that long, much less had a happy one.
“I agree.” She took another sip of the mocha. “It’s nice though, knowing it’s possible.”
“It is.” I glanced toward the register while Gayle worked with customers. I used to be jealous of what she and Chris had, wondering if I’d ever find it for myself. Now... I couldn’t let myself think that far ahead. Instead, I asked, “What do you think of the mocha?”
“It’s amazing,” she said.
I nodded. “If I lived closer, I’d come here every day. You should try the latte too. And the hot cocoa. It’s perfect for wintertime.”
She sampled both and let out an adorable little moan at the hot chocolate. “Can they start serving this at the concession stands? Every time I go to a game now, I won’t be able to drink what they serve!”
I chuckled. “Maybe you could put in a good word.”
“You can bet I will.” She gazed at the plate. “I want to try the cupcake, but I haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“So?” I said. “The only reason I ever made Ollie eat healthy food first was because it was the only way I could get him to eat the green beans.” We both chuckled. “But you’re not five, and Gayle didn’t bring any green beans, so...”
She grinned at me. “So.” She picked up the cupcake and tried a bite, her teeth sliding through the dessert and frosting landing on her nose. With the bite in her mouth, she closed her eyes, chewing. “Oh my god, it’s so good.”
“Right?” I said, my eyes following her lips. I wanted to lick the crumbs from them and taste the frosting on her tongue.
Noticing my gaze, she smiled shyly. “What?”
“You have some...” I reached out and swiped the frosting off her nose with my thumb. And then I put it in my mouth, tasting the sweetness.
Her cheeks heated more, and she crossed her legs. “Thank you.”
I took my thumb out of my mouth and smirked at her. “You’re welcome.”
30
Birdie
Confession: I’m a beak geek.