“I knew I should have taken that off the menu, but Kerry insisted,” Theo muttered.
“You did that to stay on her good side, right?” I asked with a laugh.
He shrugged. “You want the same thing you got last time?”
“Yes, and I’d also like ...” I trailed off. What would Dean like? Did he even drink coffee?
“Are you ordering for someone else?” he asked.
“No. Why would you ask that?” My voice rose in pitch.
“Write down who.” He said it so lowly I almost couldn’t hear him. He stared at me, and then handed me a pen.
“What do you ... oh. Good idea.”
Theo was the kind of guy who knew the town drama, but never added to it. If anyone would know I was buying a coffee for Dean, it could be him.
I passed the notebook back and Theo nodded.
“Coffee with cream and sugar,” he said.
“You knew it off the top of your head?”
“Coffee orders are easy to guess,” he said. “By the way, you should try the hazelnut cappuccino. I think you’d like it more.”
“But the?—”
“Caffeine? It’s got about the same. It shouldn’t make you jittery.”
I blinked and then nodded. “You know what? I’ll do both. Thanks, Theo.”
I paid for my order and walked to the pickup counter.
“So, can I know who this is for?” Kelsey asked.
“Will you tell people?” I replied.
“Maybe if it’s interesting.”
“Then no.”
Her bottom lip poked out. “Rude, but fair.”
She started to make the two drinks, which still kept her near me, and my eyes drifted back to Theo. I wondered how long he would wind up staying out of the news or if he would find his way into it.
“Don’t even, girl.” Kelsey set my drinks down. “You’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“I wasn’t barking up any tree. He doesn’t date.”
“And thank God for that,” she said. “At least for me. It keeps people off my ass about working here. But I know a few people are bummed about it.”
“Why aren’t you?” I asked.
“He’s not my type. I like them nerdier.”
I laughed. “Are you sure you and Wren aren’t related?”
“We’re starting to question it,” she said with a shrug. “And anyway, it’s sorta nice having a boss who isn’t in my business like Mom was.”