Page 11 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“Ha ha, very funny,” Ellis says with an eyeroll. He’s not exactly notorious for making friends easily. Hell, the only reason he became friends with Jordan is because he was bullied into it. Jordan is one persistent fucker.

“Met a girl?”

“Oh, yeah. Amanda,” he jokes.

“Cal’s PA?”

“My PA.”

“Ah.” Jordan’s lips curl in a knowing smile. “Is it true what they say about her?”

“It’s not untrue.” He leaves it at that.

Jordan whistles. “Nice. You need someone to keep you on your toes since I can’t.”

“I don’t know. You seem to be doing just fine long-distance.”

Jordan laughs, his head thrown back. This banter is what Ellis misses the most, though he never thought he’d say that.

“Speaking of, how about I fly up once the dust has settled?” Jordan offers.

Ellis perks up at the suggestion, but quickly dismisses it. “You really don’t have to baby me.” They’ll both have their hands full in the foreseeable future, and Jordan knows that. He just offeredbecause he thinks Ellis will work himself into an early grave if he doesn’t keep an eye on him.

“Maybe I just miss you.”

Jordan’s tone is teasing, but Ellis knows him well enough to recognize when he’s being serious, scarce as it may be. Unlike him, Jordan’s always been generous with words of affection, something Ellis has yet to get used to. Or reciprocate. He has a much easier time with actions.

Before he can put together a coherent sentence, Amanda’s voice pours from the intercom.

“Your eleven o’clock is here, boss.”

He makes a face, both at the form of address and the notion of getting back to work. “Gotta go,” he says to Jordan.

“Sure thing,boss,” Jordan says mockingly and laughs when Ellis gives him the finger. “Hang in there, mate. It will be okay.”

Yeah, Ellis seriously doubts that, but it doesn’t stop him from hoping.

He just needs something good for a change. One good thing, that’s all he’s asking.

Ellis swears he doesn’t know how he ends up in front ofLost and Groundonly one week after having sworn to never come back. He vaguely remembers getting in his car and checking the GPSfor road work updates as usual. The next thing he knows, he’s pulling up in front of the café. Just great.

He blames it on his subconscious that must have led him here. Ever since he tried the coffee from this place, the stuff in his office tastes like burned rubber. He doesn’t know what witchcraft this is, but it has absolutely ruined him.

He considers putting the car in gear and taking off, the memory of his previous visit invoking an unexpected surge of shame in his gut. Not that he has anything to feel ashamed of. He might’ve said some rough words, but they were justified. He was in a rush, and tired, and the service was subpar at best.

But then the barista had to fuck with his head by giving Ellis all those smiles and sending him off with the best cinnamon roll to ever leave an oven.

Add to that the message on the cup that sounded like something straight out ofThe Secret(which Ellis has not read, he just skimmed through the book, okay?!), and you’ve got yourself a pretty elaborate mindfuck.

“You’re overthinking,” he says to himself, staring at the entrance to the café like it’s the gate to purgatory. “Just get your coffee and get out.” With a bit of luck, the barista won’t remember him. They must get over a hundred people here every day; surely they won’t remember every single face.

Unless the face made an impression, and not a good one.

With a long-suffering grunt, Ellis gets out of the car, stopping to check how he looks in the window. Hopefully he looks more composed than he feels. He’s not sure what to expect when he walks in, but finding the place nearly deserted, save for a couple of occupied tables, takes him by surprise. Did he get here beforethe morning rush? He’s only about half an hour earlier than last time. Figures that there will be no long wait when he doesn’t have to rush anywhere.

There’s no one standing behind the till this time, nor behind the coffee machine. Maybe the universe is giving him an opportunity to turn around.

Just order your stupid coffee, for fuck’s sake.