Page 21 of How To Not Need You

Noah, from his corner, finally decides to play. He stands, walks over, and plants himself on my other side. His presence is quiet, but it draws the attention of the three people in line behind us.

“He doesn’t know? Luca,” Noah says, smooth as ever. “He needs to be told.”

“I am right here,” I mutter, but nobody’s listening to me.

Ben grins from his seat, leaning back like a man who’s just ordered the tasting menu and knows dessert is coming. “This should be good,” he says.

Luca gestures grandly with his free hand, like he’s presenting the solution to world hunger. “Liv likes you.” The words hang in the air for a second, as if even the café regulars need a moment to process them.

I nearly choke on nothing. “What?”

Luca nods, face absolutely sincere now. “She may be fighting it. But she does.”

Noah nods solemnly, as if this is an intervention and I’m some sort of addict. “It’s true. She’s here nearly every morning and she always glances at the door when it opens. I see it.” He shrugs. “She tries to hide it.”

Ben is beaming. “Told you.” He looks at me like a proud parent at a middle school talent show.

I stare at them. “That doesn’t actually confirm anything.”

Luca ignores me. “Do you like her?”

I open my mouth, but Ben is already moving. He stands, crosses the space, and claps a hand on my shoulder with more force than necessary.

“He sent me a text after the wedding,” Ben announces to the group, to the new barista, to everyone within earshot.

I freeze. “Ben.”

He grins, delighted, choosing to ignore me completely. “Called her the hottest woman he’d ever seen.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “The. Hottest.”

“Ben,” I say, louder.

Luca looks at me, then at Ben, and nods. “That’s all I needed to know.”

Noah leans in. “So what’s the problem, Jake?”

I swallow, try to assemble an argument that doesn’t make me sound thirteen. “We barely know each other. I have a kid. It’s complicated.”

Ben laughs. “Mate, this is Seabrook. Everyone has complications. You think Liv’s gonna be shocked by a kid? You said that Tilly was already invested.”

I glare at him. Why is he my best friend again? The man can’t keep a damn secret to save his life!

Luca pours my coffee with unnecessary flourish, sets it down, and levels a look at me. “She’s a good woman. You’re a good man. Sometimes you don’t need more than that.”

Noah nods, approval radiating off him. “I think you deserve a good woman, Jake.”

I feel my ears heat. I want to laugh or to brush them off, but the weight of their attention is too much. I look down at my coffee, wishing everyone would find something else to talk about.

Ben grins, apparently already celebrating a victory won. “It’s decided then.”

I blink at him. “What’s decided?”

Luca answers, leaving no room for debate. “You’ll ask her out.”

I stare at him. “That’s not how dating works.”

He shrugs, all nonchalance. “It is in Seabrook.”

Noah sips his coffee, and for the first time I notice the faint smile at the edge of his mouth. “Just talk to her. Doesn’t have to be a whole thing.”