Lads & Lattes (High School Clowns & Coffee Grounds Book 1)

by A. J. Macey

  “Holy crap! Emma Brooke has some arcading skills!” Reid exclaimed, wrapping me in his arms until my back was flush against his chest and his arms around my chest. “How’d you learn to play like that?” I felt his stubble rub against my scalp as he propped his chin on my head.

  “There was one of these at the movie theater near my house in Cali.” I chuckled at Kingston’s still stunned facial expression and Jesse’s surprise. “Played it a lot.” I shrugged, Reid’s arms moving in time with my shifting shoulders.

  “I’m thoroughly impressed,” Kingston responded, finally coming to from his surprise. “Want to head out and go binge on snacks and a movie at Emma’s?” A round of yeses went up around the group, and we eagerly headed out, my face hurting from how much I had been smiling. I had to make a mental note to print out the multitude of photos we had taken tonight for my album.

  Maybe Nebraska isn’t so bad after all.

  Well… we’ll see.

  7

  September 18th

  It’s been exactly 8 days since I last heard from my dad.

  #WhatAmI #ChoppedLiver #TickedOffTuesday

  The bell above the door dinged as I walked through the shop’s entrance. Lyla’s red hair was bright in front of me as she wiped the counter against the wall, making extra care to not knock any of the large machines. I had my bag slung over my shoulder to put in the locker room and headed around behind the counter. Lyla lit up when she saw me, her smile bright.

  “Hey,” she greeted cheerfully, “your work shirt is in the back if you want to go put it on. There’s two of them, so you’ll always have an extra. I typically keep my spares in the locker in case I spill on myself.” I nodded and headed back, my head darting around the hall as I made my way back to the breakroom. Rick was working in the office surrounded by piles of paper. The click of typing was the only noise back here other than my shuffling footsteps. I continued on my way back to the locker room since Rick was so engrossed in his work.

  The Coffee Grounds shirt was a dark color, but I couldn’t tell if it was black or blue in the fluorescent light. The front held the shop’s circular logo, Coffee Grounds in white typography with “Hand Crafted” and “Best Coffee” above and below the title within the two golden, circular rings. Slipping off my current shirt, I pulled the soft cotton shirt over my head. I pulled out my slip-on Toms from my backpack, not wanting to work for several hours on my feet in my slightly heeled ankle booties. Once I had changed my shoes and shirt, I locked my bag in the locker, putting my phone on silent in my back pocket in case I needed it. Taking a deep, calming breath, I went back out to the counter.

  “Ready?” Lyla chirped happily. “I’ll just be explaining all the equipment today as well as the register. We’ll work on making drinks on Thursday, but the best thing to learn is the menu and the register.” She pulled out a stapled stack of paper, photos of different drinks that accompanied explanations of what they were and how they were traditionally made. “I think this should help if you want to look over it before Thursday. You don’t have to have everything memorized, but it’s easier to make if you know the basics ahead of time.”

  “Awesome.” I nodded while flipping through the packet. The most common drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas were on the first page followed by more complex drinks as well as the different flavorings we had and how they could be used. “I’ll look at this when we’re done going through the stuff behind the counter.”

  Lyla was a great teacher. She explained things quickly and efficiently but not to the point I couldn’t understand. There was a lot of information, and she never made me feel dumb, like when I mixed up what one thing did when in actuality it was something else. After about an hour of running through the machines and where everything was kept behind the counter, she started explaining the register. It was a similar system to the one we had at the cafe I had worked at during the summers, the only differences were the category names which included drinks, syrups, and extras, and the actual buttons which didn’t include food except for the small selection of baked goods behind the glass enclosure to the left of the counter.

  The stream of people coming into the shop was slow but steady, allowing me to observe Lyla a few times before attempting to use the system under her watchful eye. I had about fifteen minutes before the end of my shift before someone I recognized came in. The familiar hazel eyes sparkled as they located me behind the register.

  “Hello, ma’am,” Reid teased, “I’m looking for this new hire who’s about this tall and is really awesome at the shooting zombies arcade game.” He held his hand up to how tall I was before making little finger guns making me laugh.

  “Hey, Reid,” I chuckled. “What can I get for you?” My heart was full, and my stomach filled with fluttering butterflies, knowing he’d made the effort to stop by after lacrosse practice just to see me.

  “Hm,” he hummed looking at the menu with rapt attention. “Can I just get a small latte?” I started entering it in, my confidence having grown over the last two and a half hours of using the machine.

  “Just plain or do you want a flavor?” I pointed to the syrups. “We have vanilla, caramel, peppermint, pumpkin, hazelnut, toffee, raspberry, and a sweetener.”

  “Pumpkin, I like to get my basic on during the fall.” He flashed me a wide smile that made me chuckle again.

  Or was I giggling?

  Oh, well.

  “That’ll be three dollars,” I took the five he held out for me and quickly made change, Lyla moving swiftly behind the counter making his drink.

  “You off soon?” he asked as he waited. Nodding, I looked at the clock.

  “Yeah, ten minutes. You want to hang out, don’t you?” My lips curled up at his excitement. “Are Kingston and Jesse going to join?” He nodded and pointed out the windows where they were climbing out of a new Chevy Impala. My brows shot up not realizing Kingston had a car since he was always riding with Reid.

  “Hey, Emma,” Kingston greeted sweetly while Jesse attempted a friendly smile. Honestly, it was clearly forced, but at least he was trying.

  “You two want anything?” I asked. Kingston looked over at the drink Lyla had just handed Reid and pointed. “You want a pumpkin latte?” He shrugged, looking lost, but nodded his head anyway.

  “No, thank you,” Jesse said quietly, following Reid to a table in the far corner. I slightly shook my head as I entered the information and made Kingston’s change.

  “How’s your first day?” His smooth voice washed over me.

  “It was good, I really liked it.” I looked over to Lyla and hitched a thumb. “She’s a good teacher.”

  “Of course I am, I’m awesome,” she teased throwing me a playful smile. “Besides, teaching runs in the family. You might know my older sister, Leena Ester.”

  “She’s my history teacher,” I told her, surprised at how small the world suddenly felt. She nodded as she handed the drink to Kingston, his long legs carrying him over to our friends quickly. “Crazy how small the world feels sometimes,” I mumbled as she came over to me.

  “Yeah, trust me I know. Rick”—she waved a hand to the employee area—“that’s my cousin. So,” she changed the topic quickly, “they’re cute. You like any of them?” I felt my face flare, and she gave me a knowing smile. “Yeah, I figured. Which one?”

  “All of them,” I coughed under my breath so they couldn’t hear me. Lyla was asking her questions quietly, but I was still worried.

  “Ah”—she nodded—“yeah I can see why. You did good.” She nudged my arm and left the conversation at that, much to my surprise. I liked Lyla before for her warm and welcoming behavior despite me being new to the city, but now I liked her even more since she didn’t pester me for details on the boys. Rick’s head popped out of the door right before the end of my shift.

  “Everything good out here?” We nodded in response. “Awesome. Emma, you’re good to head on home, we’ll see you on Thursday.” With that, he headed back to his office, Lyl
a shaking her head at him as he ducked away.

  “He tends to get sucked into the paperwork portion of the businessing, leaving me to actually run the front,” she explained with a warm smile. After she had revealed they were cousins, I could see the resemblance with the same hair color, eye color, and build. “Here’s my cell number by the way, if you ever want to hang out sometime.” Lyla scribbled on a notepad, tearing off the sheet when she was finished.

  “Definitely, I’ll text you when I get home so you have my number.” I left my first day of work feeling accomplished and accepted. The guys had been including me in all of their activities and conversations, and making friends hadn’t been nearly as hard as I originally thought. Being surrounded by people who made me feel good, who helped me laugh despite having my life in upheaval for the last two weeks, was definitely a blessing.

  So far so good here in Nebraska.

  Never thought I’d say that.

  September 29th

  At least the practice test is over. Now I can focus on fun things, like my friends!

  #IgnoreTheTestAnxiety #CalmingThoughts #StressFreeSaturday

  Rick waved at me as I headed into the locker room. I was already dressed in my work outfit, so I just needed to drop off my purse. My head was pounding with a headache, and the sharp thuds within my skull had me gritting my teeth. I wasn’t sure if it was because I hadn’t eaten much today or if it was from the practice ACT test I had taken this morning. I never seemed to do well on tests, I panicked and overthought everything and despite this morning only being a practice, I felt my heart racing.

  I pushed the worries down and focused on getting ready for work, but my mind drifted to other thoughts. The last week had moved at lightning speed in a blur of classes, studying, and work. I had barely seen my mom since we moved; the house only felt homey when Reid, Kingston, and Jesse were there to keep away the loneliness. That last boy was still being stubborn toward interacting with me, but I think I was wearing him down ever so slowly. I had even caught him smothering a smile at something I had said when we walked to class. At least I think it was a smile, it could have been a grimace, but I decided to take it as a smile.

  Baby steps.

  The crowd in the shop was fairly busy since it was early Saturday afternoon. People who worked nearby would come in for a quick lunch break and to refuel before heading back to their jobs. Lyla was scheduled to get off at the same time as me today, so I would be finally meeting the other employee. Taking up my usual position behind the register, I started to take orders. Lyla would help me with the machines after the lunch rush was over.

  The headache didn’t ease as the shift went on, the only reprieve the lull in customers allowing me to zone out for a little while. It was nearing six in the evening when several familiar faces came into the shop, only this time it was faces I didn’t particularly want to see. Ivy and Iris were wearing matching olive green dresses, the tops were v-neck with tank straps, and the skirts ending nearing their knees. Ashley was in a dark blue strapless dress with crystals lining the bodice and a floofy skirt that reached a little past mid-thigh. I kept my face polite, but my body thrummed with tension at their nosy gazes.

  “Hello, Emily,” Ashley started. Keeping a sigh inside, I corrected her.

  “Emma. What can I get you?” They rattled their orders and paid without further snark or interrogation, but that didn’t last long.

  “You’re not going to homecoming?” Ashley’s brow raised, her heels clicking on the shop floor tile as she walked out of the way of the register. Ivy and Iris followed behind her as they always did, each standing behind their respective shoulders.

  “Nope.” I popped the p of the word and prayed another customer would come in so I wouldn’t have to be questioned by the school gossips.

  “None of your boys asked you to the dance?” Left Twin asked, the words laced with snotty intonation.

  “I had work scheduled, so… ” I trailed off with a shrug letting them believe they didn’t ask because the schedule had already been written, not the other way around. A ding from the bell cut off anything they were about to say.

  “Cali girl!” Reid practically shouted his sentimental nickname for me. Kingston trailed behind him, but Jesse was oddly absent. Both were in their typical outfits and not in fancy suits or dress clothes, meaning I was right in thinking they weren’t going to the dance. I tried to not let it bother me that we hadn’t brought up the dance in any of our numerous conversations over the last week. “How’s my Emma’s shift going?”

  “Not bad.” My smile was genuine despite the slight sting of the previous thought. Ashley tittered slightly as she turned to them.

  “Not going to the dance, Reid? Kingston?” Her words were innocent enough, but I knew better and apparently so did my boys.

  “Nah”—Reid smiled toward me—“we’d rather come see Emma. Can’t do that at a dance that she isn’t at, now can we?” A blush flourished on my cheeks. Lyla gave me a sly smile from the other side of the girls as she placed the cups on the pick-up counter. Ashley’s statement was cut off once more as Lyla informed them that their orders were finished. Thankfully, they left after getting their drinks, leaving the shop filled with only Lyla, Reid, Kingston, and myself. Well, Rick was still here, but he was doing inventory in the stock room. Remembering Reid and Kingston hadn’t been properly introduced to Lyla, I waved a hand toward her.

  “Guys, this is Lyla. She’s Miss Ester’s younger sister.”

  “For real?” Reid questioned, his hand coming over the counter. “Nice to meet you, I’m Reid.”

  “Kingston.” His tanned arm followed suit and shook Lyla’s hand. She nodded her head respectfully before pulling her hand back.

  “Jesse would be here too, but he got caught up in some work stuff,” Reid explained to me in between sips of the drink Lyla had just handed him. “But we figured we’d come stop by and see you before going to pick him up to take him home.”

  “That’s good.” My hip rested against the counter as I crossed my arms snuggly over my chest. “So what’s the real reason you guys didn’t go to the dance?”

  “Didn’t really want to,” Reid explained, looking to Kingston who nodded in agreement. “The only girl we’d want to take had to work, like a responsible adult,” he teased, but both Kingston’s and his eyes sparkled with an honesty that made my breath catch.

  “Well, next time there’s a dance,” Lyla said as she started wiping the counters down as she talked, “just tell me, and I’ll make sure she isn’t working so you all can go.” She directed her statement at Reid and Kingston who smiled as if they would do just that.

  Don’t I get a say?

  Not that I’d complain about going to the dance with either of them.

  “We’ll do that.” Kingston surprised me by being the one to respond when I’d thought Reid would crack a joke about it instead. Lyla nodded before taking the dirty rag back into the employees’ area to drop it in the laundry cart. I raised a brow at them when we were alone.

  “What is this ‘we’ stuff? I couldn’t go with both of you to a dance,” I challenged, playing it down, but my heart seized at the thought of having to pick between the three of them.

  Wait, did I just say three of them?

  I guess Jesse weaseled his way in the ‘Emma’s crushes’ department.

  “Why not?” Reid asked, his tone serious, probably for the first time ever, as he looked at me. “We do everything as a group, so why couldn’t the four of us go together?” I smiled at the fact that I wasn’t the only one who was considering Jesse as a part of this crazy idea.

  “Well.” I pursed my lips in thought as I stared at them. “Next time there’s a dance, ask me and we’ll see. How about that?”

  “Deal.” Reid’s hazel eyes lit up at my compromise making my heart go from constricted with worry to pitter-pattering its way into my throat. Kingston’s laidback smile curled his lips as he nodded in agreement. The ding of the bell saved me from having to t
ry and fill the silence with conversation after their admission of wanting to share me as a date. “We’ll see you tomorrow, Cali girl. Text us when you’re off, we need to go grab Jesse.” Reid gave me a wink, and Kingston waved as they left me alone with the customer and my crazy thoughts. Hopefully the sharing conversation wouldn’t make it too complicated between us.

  I suck at complicated.

  Clocking out, I left work before Lyla as she was relaying what needed to be done to Cara, the other Coffee Grounds employee. The air outside was comfortably warm as I walked to my car and drove home despite the darkening sky. The windows were rolled down so the nice weather could brush across my face. The music from the radio kept my attention away from the thoughts of dances and boys until they were pushed into the back of my mind.

  The house was empty when I got home, my mom working on an event set-up for her client. I didn’t try to understand her schedule since it was so busy here. Back home it had been relatively normal because the company they worked with was large but not enormous or taking multiple contracts like her new one does. I ground my teeth together at the oppressive silence, growing increasingly more irritated. The longer I listened to the empty house the more I was reminded how broken our family was.

  No, I still didn’t know why my parents divorced.

  Or why I had to move to the middle of nowhere

  Or why my parents seemed to have completely forgotten I existed.

  Why even bother to push? To try and force an answer to a question they seemed determined to ignore? It’s not like it really mattered anyway now. We were here, in Nebraska, and there was nothing I could do. All I could do now was focus on those who were actually making this new life into some sort of home.

  With that, I shook myself out of my stupor and walked into the kitchen content to focus on something other than the thoughts of my broken family. Searching through the cabinets, I decided to just make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich not wanting to cook or clean the dishes. I had just taken a bite when my phone buzzed.