Page 3 of Obnoxious Bad Boy

“What will it be for my favorite customer?” Kai asks, sliding back behind the counter and gently urging the barista out of his way. His hair is pale blond, with teal dye where it rests on his shoulders, and a little crystal stud shines on the side of his nose. I hate the fact that because of his work here, he gets to have a bit of Vex’s attention, whereas I’m here, breathing in the air around him and not allowed anything else.

Vex laughs and his warm baritone resonates all the way through my bones when he speaks. “The usual. Three big iced lattes, one with caramel, aaand…” He looks to the muffins, which means I have to step back to make room for him and almost slam my elbow into a child’s face. His gaze slides over me for two heart-stopping seconds, but I forget that smiling would be the normal human reaction. His eyes are such a striking icy blue, and his lashes so dark and long. “Three muffins in different flavors.”

“Miscellaneous muffins. Got it,” Kai says, flashing Vex a flirty grin, even though the dude is always surrounded by girls. Maybe he tips well.

I try to make myself small and pretend I don’t see the kid’s mom slicing me up with her gaze, but Kai’s eyes are on me the moment Vex touches his card against the reader. “Aaron. Are you here to apologize for almost making me trip?”

“I… No. I didn’t mean it,” I say, trying to find words in my lust-scrambled brain.

My whole body goes rigid when Vex turns to me. “Accidents happen to the best of us,” he says, but then walks off with his muffins to the far end of the long counter where Quinta is making his coffees.

I’m left stuck in place. Does he mean the coffee-on-laptop incident? Does he remember it?

Kai leans a bit closer over the counter and whispers, “I’d let him trip me just so he picks me up. Have you seen those arms?”

I make a conscious effort not to stare and pretend I’m focusing on choosing a drink. “What? Not my type.” Because if everyone knew he was, they’d think I’m a shallow, thirsty gay boy.

Kai rolls his eyes. “Oh come on. He’s a bit of an asshole, but you’re not blind,” he says, pocketing the tip Vex left for him on the counter.

I glance at the cakes, pretending I’m taking my time choosing. “Asshole? He’s literally a criminal.”

Kai shrugs. “Wasn’t that ages ago? Big deal. What did he even do? Slept in someone’s bed, drank their milk, and played with their cat.”

My eyes widen. “He broke into someone’s house.”

“Yeah, and went to jail, and never did it again, blah, blah. End of story. I know you want the espresso,” Kai says and raises his brows at me. “I also know why you came to the counter instead of waiting until I pass your table.”

My mouth goes dry. I shouldn’t have come here just to smell a guy. It’s creepy and weird. But am I not allowed a moment of madness? It’s for the sake of research for my novel after all.

“Just get me the espresso,” I mutter, defeated.

Kai smirks. “Coming right up.” But as he taps something on the register, the cafe fills with a noise so shrill, it makes me cover my ears in panic. I look back to see a red light flashing at the ceiling, and then, as a door behind the counter opens, I smell the hint of something burning.

“Please, stay calm,” Kai shouts through a tube made with his hands. “But you need to go outside until we make sure it’s safe.”

I stay still, wondering if it’s even worth the effort, since it’s most likely someone burned a panini in the cafe’s kitchen, but Kai pokes me right in the middle of the chest, reaching across the counter. “Have you not heard me?”

For someone so petite, he seems weirdly authoritative.

“I’m going, Jesus.” I raise my hands in defeat and follow the small crowd out onto the pavement in front of the cafe with my arms crossed on my chest. I do as I’m told, but it doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.

I head toward the door, carried along by a stream of students following the same path. We’ll be back inside in a matter of minutes, so I don’t bother gathering all the things left on the table and step into the warm air outside. The academic year started earlier this week, so the weather is still summery—almost too much so for my taste—and I don’t mind this unscripted break from my writing. Still, while all the other patrons gather in groups, discussing what just happened, I’m left stranded and long for my laptop.

Like any other human being left to their own devices, I pull out my phone for some brainless scrolling. Maybe I could take a dip into Vex’s Instagram, because why not? The fire alarm is still blaring inside, and I’m curious if he took a photo of his coffee like the obnoxious influencer he is—

“I think this is yours,” a deep voice says, making me look up like one of those bobblehead figurines people keep in cars. I first see the headless shoulders in armor peeking out from under a thin tank top, and as my gaze moves up to meet the hypnotic gaze I already know settled on me, my legs turn into marshmallows.

Vex is somehow even hotter up close as he hands me my computer.

I can’t turn off my phone fast enough, mortified about the possibility of him knowing I check him out online. I take the laptop as I pocket my phone, but I’m too blindsided to say anything witty.

“Oh. Thanks,” I say as it dawns on me that I might have not clicked away from my erotic story when I was in such a rush to stand behind him in line. He couldn’t have possibly seen it, could he?

“It’s nothing,” he says, and as his shoulders lift in a shrug, all I can focus on are his thick, tattooed arms. There’s all kinds of creatures there, straight from medieval manuscripts, but I can only watch snails in armor for so long and meet his icy blue gaze, all breathless.

He smiles.

So do I, deep-frying in the sense of awkwardness. What good is my wit if I can’t tap into it when it counts? But as I worry I’m about to self-combust, he scratches the back of his head. “Actually, I wanted to apologize for spilling coffee on you that one time. I was careless.”