Page 72 of Full Court Crush

“Oh, um, a caramel latte, please.”

“A caramel latte and a luxury mocha, please.” Amelia got her purse out of her coat pocket.

“Hey, I can’t let you pay again.” Keira tried to intervene.

“It’s just coffee.” Amelia shrugged.

“It’s like, the third time in a row you’ve paid for something.” She couldn’t break the habit of tracking every penny, including every penny other people spent on her. She didn’t want to be Amelia’s charity case.

Amelia shrugged. Keira looked at her sternly.

“Look, buying you coffee is least I can do. So let me, please?” Amelia asked.

“Fine,” Keira acquiesced with a sigh. “But I’m buying the cake.”

Amelia took their drinks to the small table by the fire, while Keira carried two slices of warm apple pie, so large the corners of the crusts were overhanging the plate. There was also a generous serving of whipped cream next to each piece, looking like a little white Christmas tree.

Patrons occupied a few of the other seats, including an older couple at a faraway table. The man cut his slice of cake in half and handed his spoon to the woman. They ended up laughing when they got chocolate in the corners of their grins.

“Warming up yet?” Amelia asked, blowing on her mocha before taking a tentative sip.

“Just a little,” Keira said, shedding her jumper. Her t-shirt rode up with it, exposing her bare stomach. After lifting her garment past her face, she caught Amelia staring. Putting her jumper over the arm of the chair, Keira smirked. She picked up her drink and didn’t say anything as Amelia’s face flushed red. Even if she had agreed to just be friends, she enjoyed knowing she could still affect Amelia, who was now squirming in her seat.

“We should do this more often,” Keira said, clutching her drink in her stiff hands, closing her eyes, and leaning back in the chair.

“Yeah?” Amelia said, with a hint of hopefulness in her voice.

“That’s what friends do, right? Go out for coffee and be bad influences on each other’s sugar intake.” Keira laughed.

“True, true. Whenever Evie and I grab coffee, there is always cake involved.”

“Of course, you need to find the optimal cake to training ratio.” Keira leant forwards and used the side of her fork to slice a piece of apple pie, before transferring it to her mouth. Amelia’s gaze tracked her every movement. Keira made a show of licking stray crumbs from the cutlery.

“Mmmm, that is good,” Keira said, pouring on the satisfaction. A small, petulant part of her made her want to rub what Amelia was missing in her face.

Amelia’s mouth hung open a little.

The older couple on the other side of the cafe finished their shared cake. The man picked up a newspaper, which rustled as he unfolded it and began reading. The woman placed a large ball of yarn, attached to what looked like a blanket and a crochet hook on the table. The man would make occasional comments to his wife about something he was reading. It just looked so…easy.

Keira shifted in her seat, knocking over her bag, giving her a flash of the neatly wrapped present nestled inside.

“Oh, before I forget.” Sheepishly, she picked up her bag and opened it as casually as possible. “I, err, got you something.”

Her heart pounded in her ears, and all her bravado dissipated.

She placed the small, beautifully wrapped present on the table and slid it towards Amelia.

“It’s not much,” she whispered self-consciously. She'd put a lot of thought into the gift, which now felt silly, considering the abrupt change in their relationship dynamic. But her heart still fluttered, desperate for Amelia to like it.

“Can I open it now?” Amelia asked, sounding hesitant.

“It’s up to you.” Keira shrugged, despite how badly wanted Amelia to open it now, so she could see her reaction.

Amelia picked up the present as if it was the most precious thing in the world. She carefully opened the paper and slid out the cardboard box. She turned the box over. On the front, Keira knew, was an image of a small wooden Ferris wheel, with twelve heart-shaped photo frames hanging where the carriages would be.

Amelia said nothing.

“I can return it if you don’t like it?” She spoke quietly as the pulse in her ears got louder. She didn’t know if this was okay. She’d didn’t want to cross any lines. Not that she knew where the lines were anymore.