Page 58 of Sangre
Chapter Fourteen
The café satnestled between antique and craft stores, framed by several large maple trees that provided some shaded relief for customers seated on the patio. A large coffee cup with steam rising from it and a piece of cake on a small plate were etched in white upon the front glass window along with the name of the place—Sugar & Spice Café—written in a fancy font.
Inside, most of the round tables that sat two to three people were taken, and Isla glanced around, trying to determine which table would be empty soon. The scent of freshly baked muffins, scones, and sweet breads mingled with the dark aroma of roasted coffee beans, and Isla made her way through the throes of people to stand in front of the glass-fronted counter that held an array of cakes, pastries, and sandwiches.
“May I help you?” the barista asked.
“I’m waiting for a friend. Is there any seating out back?” Isla craned her neck toward the patio door, but the wooden shelves lined with prepackaged coffees and teas obstructed her view.
“Let me check,” the woman said as she dashed away. From behind her, she heard the impatient sigh of a customer. A few seconds later, the barista came back. “There’s a table out there. I put a reserved sign on it for you.”
“Thank you so much,” Isla said. “I’ll have an iced cinnamon macchiato made with almond milk, please. And a mozzarella, tomato, and basil panini.”
“Did you want your sandwich warmed up?”
“Yes, please.”
With drink and panini in hand, Isla maneuvered her way to the patio and sat at the small wrought iron table near the fence. Multi-colored umbrellas adorned the tables, and boxes filled with an assortment of colorful flowers dotted the outside area. When she sat down, she took out her phone and glanced at the empty screen, her mouth set in a semi-pout. Even though it was bright and sunny on the patio, grayness clouded her mind. Sangre had yet to respond to her texts. She’d sent him two the night before, after recording, and one before she left her house to meet Madison at the café. Nothing. Her mood ricocheted between low and lower.He’s ghosting me. What if he never contacts me again? Like he did all those years ago after I left him that letter. I can’t believe he’s doing this to me.
“There you are. Sorry I’m late.” Madison flung her purse and several shopping bags on an empty chair. “I’m so glad that you got us a table outside. I love it here. It reminds me of being on vacation. What did you order?” Isla told her and she crinkled her nose. “I want real milk. I want all the calories and decadence they can shove into one cup.”
Isla laughed. “Go for it.”
“I plan to. I’ll be right back.” She walked back into the restaurant.
Isla nibbled on her panini, not really very hungry but knowing she had to have something considering she hadn’t eaten since the morning before. When Colt came over earlier that morning to pick up the lemonade, she’d been sullen and had tried hard to be interested in what he was saying. If she hadn’t promised Carly and Letty she’d make the lemonade, she wouldn’t have answered the door. When Madison called proposing a coffee break, she’d almost said no but knew all she would do instead was check her phone a million times and brood.
“It’s so crowded in there. I guess everyone had the same idea we did.” Madison plopped down on the brightly-colored cushion on the black iron chair. “So what’s new?” She stirred her coffee and licked off the foam from the small wooden stick.
“Sangre and I kissed yesterday.”
Madison held the stirrer in mid-air, her eyes wide. “What the hell did you say?”
Isla pressed her lips together and leaned forward slightly. “Sangre kissed me, and it was so fuckin’ incredible.”
“Is that all that happened?”
“Yes, but that’s because Arsen came over and interrupted us. I know if he didn’t, things may have gotten out of control. I wanted to be with Sangre so bad. He was so ready.”
Madison laughed. “Was he hard as hell?”
“Oh yeah. I kind of freaked when Arsen was there. I know he thought I fucked Sangre. I felt weird about that, and the whole way to the studio, I kept telling him how it’s good to have a friend whom I’ve known for so long. I told him all we do is talk, talk, talk, but I knew he wasn’t buying what I was saying. It would’ve been better if I had just kept my mouth shut.”
“So he thinks you and Sangredid it?”
“I’m pretty sure he does. He would never tell me that. He doesn’t get involved with stuff like that, but I know he was thinking about Benz.” She groaned as Benz’s anger-filled eyes flashed in her mind. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve never cheated on Benz, and there I was, kissing Sangre like I was single or something.”
“You’re attracted to him. Face it, you always have been. I think you even liked him before high school.”
It was true. As she got older, her first and only real love had been Sangre. When she’d turned twelve, she started to think of him as her boyfriend. Of course, she’d never told him that, but whenever her dad would rant and rave about all the time she was spending withher boyfriend, it had made her feel warm and fuzzy. Each and every time. “You’re right, but he doesn’t feel that way about me. Remember the letter and me pouring my heart out to him the summer I had to move? He hasn’t even mentioned that letter. I think he’s just looking at us as a ‘friends with benefits’ type of relationship. I’m sure he has a ton of women around him. He always has.”
“Have you brought up the letter to him?” Isla shook her head. “Why not? I think it’s real important you find out why he dissed you after you poured out your feelings.”
“Maybe I don’t want to hear him say that he never cared for me as more than a friend. The kiss was from a man who liked the way I looked. It had nothing to do with feelings.”
“How’s he acting now?” Madison took a bit of her sandwich.
“He’s ghosting me, but I think he’s pissed because I told him not to come over after recording. I told him the band was going to jam, and he didn’t believe me.”
