Page 80 of Heartland

“Coffee delivery!” calls a female voice from the doorway.

It’s Kaitlyn. She’s basically the last person I would have asked to help me tonight. In fact, I didn’t ask. But she tagged along with us after the concert, sucking up to my sister, who doesn’t know I’m pissed off at Kaitlyn.

“Thanks,” I say a little stiffly.

“I got a grande for everyone, and I bought a quart of milk, because I think goat’s milk in coffee sounds a little weird.”

She would think that. Honestly, how did I ever convince myself to be her boyfriend?

At least the coffee smells good. “Just…put it anywhere.” There are piles of sugar, vanilla, butter and waxed paper everywhere. It’s going to be a long night. “Where’s my sister, anyway?” The two of them had gone off together.

“Right here!” Daphne says, walking in. “And I brought doughnuts.”

“Aw,yes!” Keith hollers. “I knew you were the nicer twin.”

Rickie laughs and turns around to greet my sister. His eyes widen in surprise.

Daphne notices him and frowns thoughtfully.

“You two know each other?” I have to ask.

“No,” my sister says. “At least I don’t think so? I’m Daphne.”

“I know,” my roommate says with a snort. “I’m Rickie.”

Her face still looks blank. “Have we met?” she asks.

“Yup.” He turns around, leaving it there.

“Where?” she counters.

“You’ll figure it out eventually,” Rickie says, back still turned.

My sister slowly shakes her head. “Okay. Well, here are all the apple cider donuts you can buy at ten thirty on a Friday night in Burlington.”

“Can I stop stirring long enough to eat a donut?” Rickie asks.

“Yeah, but if any crumbs fall into that pot I will cut you. Daphne, the hairnets are on the end of that counter. You’ll need one.”

“Yessir!” she says, saluting me.

“What about me?” Kaitlyn asks, coming closer. “Put me to work.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. “Thanks, but we’ve got it. Thanks for making that coffee run.”

“Dylan,” she whispers, coming closer. “I’m trying to apologize.”

“Then apologize,” I say under my breath. “But maybe I’m not the one who most needs to hear it.”

She blinks. “You mean to Chastity?”

“Of course, I mean Chastity,” I hiss. “You made her feel like dirt. It doesn’t matter if you were jealous. You don’t get to say that shit to people.”

She looks stricken. “You love her, don’t you?”

“What? Don’t make this about me. You went apeshit at someone who doesn’t have a thick skin like you do.”

She blinks. “I was angry at you.”