Page 13 of Home Brewed (The Perfect Cup #1)

She must have turned up the volume on her phone, because even I can hear the response from the person on the other end. “ Yeah, and Justin’s not even that good of a lay. Some people are too pathetic to be alone, I guess.”

My coffee curdles in my stomach. I look over at Hazel and her olive complexion has gone completely pale.

She’s avoiding looking behind her to where the woman has finally reached the counter, placing an order that is way more complicated than it needs to be.

Stella repeats it back to her, but she must have gotten something wrong because the stick lady begins to berate her as well, clutching her phone to her clavicle.

“I’m sorry, I know you’re too stupid to do anything other than work in a coffee shop, but would you mind doing your job competently? Or do I need to call for a manager?”

Okay, this lady is starting to really piss me off. I make eye contact with Stella, who subtly shakes her head at me. She’s tough as nails, and if she feels she can handle it, I’ll let her. She knows I’m here if she needs.

Hazel is statue-still. If I look hard enough, I’m sure I’ll see her breathing, but I’m certain she’s holding her breath right now. My chest aches to see her in such distress.

“Hazel! Oh em gee, it’s so good to see you! Stace, I have to call you back, Hazel is here!” Stick lady hangs up, not before I hear the cackle of ‘Stace’ on the other end of the line.

“Hi Marie, how are you?” asks Hazel, her posture and tone stiff. She makes minimal eye contact. She’s obviously doing her best to be polite. Because that’s the type of person Hazel is. Kind to a fault.

“Oh, I’m great! I’m SO sorry to hear about you and Justin breaking up, it’s so sad you guys couldn’t get past this.” Marie gives the fakest pout I have ever seen in my life, puffing out her too-thin lips.

“Well, it’s kind of hard to look past serial cheating, you know?” Hazel sounds like she wants the earth to swallow her whole.

“Is it, though? Everyone knew about it; I’m surprised you didn’t. I guess we only see what we want to see, hmm?”

“ Everyone knew? Why wouldn’t anyone say anything to me?

” I hear the tremble in her voice that she tries to hide, “I mean, we were all friends, I don’t see why someone wouldn’t say anything.

” Her breath has picked up in pace, and I wish I could whisk her away from this train wreck, but I don’t know how.

Even though I don’t know if I should be here, leaving her to deal with this piece of human trash seems crueler than witnessing it. I’m frozen, unsure what to do.

“Well, sweetie, it had been going on for two years, we figured you already knew or you didn’t care.

No harm, no foul, right? Besides, Justin is our friend.

It’s our job to protect his secrets.” This woman is getting honest-to-god pleasure out of taking chunks from Hazel’s pride, implying that, for all these years, she didn’t mean anything to the people she thought were her friends.

I hesitate to call women bitches—feminism and all that—but this lady is a straight up cunt.

That’s it. I’m done. I stand up, placing myself between Hazel and bitch-queen Marie. “I think that’s enough. Thanks for stopping by Mary.” I fold my arms over my chest. I’m not a scary dude, but I know my size can be intimidating enough that most people know when to fuck off.

“It’s actually Marie,” she drawls, looking me up and down as she puts on what I assume she thinks is a sultry gaze, “And who might you be?”

“Actually, Mary, I don’t care, and you don’t need to know. What you do need to do is leave.”

“Are you sure?” She studies me. “Maybe I’ll stick around and get to know you more. You know, it’s not often you meet a real man, and I think you would really enjoy getting to know me.” She stares at me like I’m a steak she wants to tear into.

Or maybe a low-fat muffin.

I have no idea where this lady keeps the audacity. I know I’m not a bad-looking guy, but even this is laying it on a little thick, and I have a feeling she’s only doing it to get under Hazel’s skin.

“I sincerely doubt that, and I’m not kidding, you need to leave before I make you leave.”

“Ugh!” Her sultry gaze immediately sours, her eyes turning into little slants as what I assume is her real personality emerges.

“You can’t kick me out of here for catching up with an old friend!

I know the owner, you know. I can’t believe one of their customers would be so rude to me!

Asshole! They’re going to ban you from this place!

” She stomps her little kitten heel like it will give her more power than she has.

“Funny, seeing as we’re just meeting now.” Her face screws up in confusion, “I’m the owner, Philip Beckett, nice to meet you. I actually do take offence at people insulting my customers and staff, so again, I will ask you to leave, or you will be escorted off the premises and asked not to return.”

She glares at Hazel next to me, who has fallen quiet and is gladly taking the shelter I’m providing by letting her hide behind me.

“Oh, I see how it is. Seems Justin wasn’t the only one getting some on the side.

” She flips her hair. “You think this will be good revenge on him? Trust me, you did him a favour by dumping him, now he can go find someone who actually knows how to please a man.” Her face is red from exertion by the time she’s finished, and rage pours out of me watching her talk to another person this way.

Especially someone as kind as Hazel. I take another step towards her and hold up my phone.

“Leave. Or I’m calling the police and having you removed and charged with trespassing and harassment.” It’s a strong stance to take. When I look over and watch a singular tear tumble down Hazel’s cheek, I stop caring whether I’m overreacting.

I fix Mary with an unwavering glare and jerk my head towards the door.

She gives a final, prissy humph and stomps off, abandoning her drink and leaving the two of us as the only patrons of the café.

Stella is pointedly not looking over at us as she cleans up behind the counter, providing us as much privacy as she can.

I sit back down next to Hazel, not sure what to say next. I go with “Well, she’s pleasant.” Hazel lets out a watery laugh, wiping her face with the sleeve of her dress.

“Yeah, Marie has never been a particularly nice person, I just didn’t think she was such a bitch.” Hazel’s trying to laugh it off, despite the fact that I can hear pain threading its way through her words like barbed wire, ripping and tearing at her dignity.

“I’d say that you should ignore her, but I think we both know that’s not going to happen.” My arm on the table is almost touching hers, I can feel the warmth radiating off of her. If I could only get a little closer…

“I guess I should go,” Hazel says, quickly sweeping her belongings back into her messenger bag and stacking the papers I had printed for us to go over.

“I don’t want to take up too much of your time, I think I have what I need.

” She offers me a thin smile, her shoulders tight and raised, holding her bag between herself and me.

She’s embarrassed , I realize. I know if I were in her shoes, I would be losing it. Hazel appears determined to tough it out.

“Yeah, no worries, would you want to come back, though? I could really use more of your help. Today has been invaluable,” I ask. She’s truly been so helpful. That, and she’s plain old fun to be around. I’m a little bummed that I can’t poach her or steal more of her time for myself.

She probably wants to use her vacation to actually relax and recover from her traumatic week though… I’m surprised when she brightens.

“Really? I would love that. This is way more interesting than what they have me working on at my real job!” She looks excited, “This would be a great distraction, and probably more fun than just moping in my apartment.”

“Even with your swanky new interior?” I throw her my most charming look. Seeing her mood brighten is like watching the sun peek out from behind the clouds. Talking to her is so easy, I’m not looking forward to returning to my silent office to stew over numbers by myself.

“Yeah, even with that, it’s still nice to get out of the house.”

“Well,” I start, “I could hire you as a freelancer? You’re worth the dough if you can help me get this off the ground, and I think we make a good team.

If it goes well, I could bring you on for other business development opportunities?

And if you’re enjoying it, maybe come on permanently?

” Yup, one hundred percent professional.

No ulterior motives for someone I just offered to hire. None at all.

“Umm, I don’t know if I can…” she looks around nervously.

Oh no, have I blown this already? I was prepared to play the long game, wait until she was ready for me to shoot my shot, but I’m overeager.

“I could! It’s not that, I also think we’d work really well together…

” Her face turns bright pink, and I have to hold back a smile at how cute it is, “I would never want to make someone uncomfortable in their own business, and I know we maybe had a moment? Yesterday? At least, I think it was. I would never want to presume anything…” I’m so confused and stare at her as she rambles.

She must have read it on my face, because I can see her throat bob before she continues.

“Because entanglements between coworkers are usually frowned upon, and I wouldn’t want to jeopardize my position, especially on a project that I could see myself being passionate about.”

“I think we’re on the same page there, and I know what’s been going on in your head, but I think we could manage.

” She perks up, tilting her head adorably, waiting for me to continue.

“I can promise that nothing untoward will happen, I’ll be a perfect gentleman, and I can promise that your position here will never be compromised.

I know it’s a lot to take a stranger at their word—"

“I wouldn’t classify you as a stranger necessarily.” She smiles to the ground.

“All that to say, I know I want to have you on my team. I know that you just broke up, and he used to work here, which might be weird for you…” The pink splotches on her cheeks darken.

“Honestly, I think it’s been over for a while.” Her lips twist as she thinks, and confesses, “I think maybe we were comfortable, scared of change. It sucks, and I’m hurt, but I feel a little bit… free? If that makes sense.”

“Of course.” I take a risk and reach forward for her hand.

“Either way, it won’t be an issue. ”

“How about you come back tomorrow, we do some work, and maybe you’ll let me buy you lunch?” Her fingers lightly grip around the outside of my hand as she worries the edge of her lower lip.

“I’m down for that.” She finally meets my gaze, and it’s an effort not to get lost in those deep brown eyes. “Maybe I could give you my number?” I did notice that she hadn’t texted me to give me her number yet, and my heartbeat gets louder as I reach into my back pocket.

I smile and hand her my phone, unlocked, without hesitation.

She blinks at it and pauses for a moment before she takes it.

It’s an odd reaction, but she seems fairly shy, so I don’t question it further.

She quickly pops in her details, handing it back to me.

I check to see what goofy name she’s saved herself under, as many women who have put their numbers in my phone do and see that it is her government name.

Hazel Nucci. That does seem more her style, I suppose.

I pocket it and look up right as she pulls out her own device.

“That’s perfect, I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

“Me either, see you then.” Phone in hand, she swiftly jaunts out the door with me staring after her, feeling infinitely lighter than I did this morning.