Page 18 of Second Alarm

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"I don't want it." I cross my arms over my chest.

"You drank the last one I made for you."

"That was a courtesy."

The corner of his mouth curls. "Sure. A courtesy."

"Stop saying sure like I'm lying to you."

"I'm not saying anything about lying."

"You're doing your sure face." I point at him.

"I'm literally — " He looks at me. One eyebrow goes up a quarter inch. "I'm literally not doing a sure face, Hanna."

"That's the sure face."

"This is my regular face."

"Your regular face is the sure face. That's the problem." I know I sound ridiculous, but I'm committed now.

"Okay."

"Don't — "

"Okay."

"You're impossible."

"Drink the coffee, Hanna."

"No."

"It's going to get cold."

"That's the point."

"That's the stupidest point."

"Don't call my points stupid." I can hear my own voice climbing and I don't care.

"Hanna."

"What."

He puts both hands on the counter and looks directly at me. "I'll ask tomorrow. If you want it. I'll ask. I'll do it your way. But for tonight — "

All my anger falls away. "Ty."

" — for tonight, just let me have this one."

I look at him. I look at the mug. I look at the coffee pot. I look at the doorway, because I need to know where the exits are.

I pick up the mug.

I take a sip.

It's exactly the temperature I like it. He let it sit for a minute. I didn't see him set a timer, but he set a timer.

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