Caramel Mocha

Treyton

"Be safe," Bear's mom said as she squeezed the life out of both of us, "both of you need to come home to us."

I found it odd that Bear's mom could act so damn motherly, but mine was quick to give me up. Even when I located her after I turned eighteen, she made it abundantly clear she had no desire to have a son.

"Ma," I said as I tried to maneuver out of her clutches, "we come home every time."

I heard the hiss out of Bear's mouth before I felt his mom release us. She leveled me with a gaze that had me looking to my left for Bear, only to find he left me to my own defenses. "Drew, man, I thought we were a team."

Bear threw his hands up as he slowly backed against the nearby wall. "Not when it comes to Mom. All on your own."

I turned back to the woman I had been affectionately calling Ma for the last four years, Delila Stevens. She was still leveling me with a stare I didn't want to be directed at me, but then I saw it—the sheen of unshed tears. "Don't cry, Ma."

"Don't tell me, Treyton James," she said, making sure I knew she meant business by using my middle name, "that y'all came home every time. This is the first time the two of you have gone on an actual mission. A secret mission that I know nothing about. I don't know where you will be. I won't know if y'all are alive or dead. Don't you realize how much we love you? You're our son, Treyton."

With no defense whatsoever, I only nodded as I brought her back into my arms. "Yeah, Ma, I know. I love you and Dad too."

The front screen door slammed, causing Bear and I to look at it. Ma sighed as she said, "Both of you need to talk to her. She isn't doing too well."

"We will, Mom," Bear said as he nodded towards the door, signaling for me to follow.

I followed Bear out the door, finding Abigail sitting on the porch swing. Her gaze snapped to ours as she said, "What? Came to rub it in?" Neither of us said anything as we sat on either side of her.

We sat in silence, swinging back and forth. "Did y'all just come to ruin my alone time, or there's a reason?"

"Chill with the attitude, Cub," I said as I bumped her shoulder with mine.

Bear threw his arm around his sister as he said, "We know this is hard for you."

Abigail scoffed as she rolled her eyes. "Y'all don't know anything. You and Trey are only worried about where y'all going and how far y'all can get away from here."

"Nope," I said as I threw my arm around her, laying it on top of Bear's, "not true. I'm immensely worried about cold coffee."

The corner of Abigail's lip tipped upwards. "You're ridiculous."

"Never denied that fact."

"Trey may be worried about cold coffee, but you want to know what I'm worried about?" Abigail turned to her older brother by four years, waiting for him to continue. "I'm worried you'll find someone else to hike with, I'm worried you'll get a random boyfriend without my approval, I'm worried your heart will be broken and I won't be here, I'm worried I won't sleep without our nightly sports game, I'm worried you'll get used to me being gone."

Abigail sniffed before she asked, "You are?"

Bear nodded before I said, "I'm worried you'll find someone else to make your coffee. I'm worried you'll grow out of me calling you my cub. I'm worried...I'm worried you'll love me a little less."

Without another word, Abigail softly kissed Bear's cheek, then mine. "Never. I will never get used to you being gone, Drew. And I could never love you any less, Trey."

The screen door opened, followed by Ma and Dad walking onto the porch. William Stevens, Bear and Abi's dad, looked between us before he said, "I'll be in the car. It's time to head to the airport."

After we watched him get into the car, we stood. Abigail launched herself at Bear and me. "Come back to me. Promise. Y'all have to promise to come back."

"I love you, baby girl," Andrew said before I said, "Love you, Cub. Gonna miss you."

As Bear and I walked off the porch, Abigail screamed, "Y'all didn't promise! Y'all were supposed to promise!"

As we drove away from the house that welcomed me four years ago, I allowed a tear to fall. Ma was hugging a hysterical Abigail. I didn't promise Abigail I'd come back because that's something I couldn't promise. But I'd do everything in my damn power to come back to my family.

Brinley

While in high school, I couldn’t wait for the day I was out of my parent’s house. Not for any other reason than I wanted the feeling of being free. Free from my over-protective brother. Free from my cold father. Free from my overbearing mother. I love all of them in my own way but, there came a point where I needed to be away from them. I needed to know I could think, feel, and say anything and everything without the fear of being stomped on.

Graduating on a Friday worked out perfectly. I left Saturday morning without looking back. I flew three states away to enter into some random college. Knowing from a young age I wanted to work with children, I joined the courses to obtain my degree in Early Childhood Education. I could minor in Business eventually. Owning a daycare would be in my perfect world.

The most contact I had with my family in two years was text messages from my brother. He was twenty-five while I followed him at twenty years old. I think he finally understood my sense of adventure and the need for freedom. He was on his way to visit today, so I figured I would calm myself by coming to my local coffee shop. A caramel mocha with whip cream on top always did the trick. I had no idea why seeing my brother after two years had me so apprehensive.

As I walked into the coffee shop, I took a deep breath. The smell of coffee beans filled my nose, causing me to smile. I walked up to the older lady who owned the shop. She warmly smiled as she saw me approaching. “Hey there, Brinley. Would you like your usual?”

“Yes, ma’am. Grande Caramel Mocha.”

Nodding her head, she turned to begin making my drink. The chiming of my phone caused me to look down. My brother’s name flashes across the screen.

“Landed. See you in thirty.”

“Get dropped off at the coffee shop I told you about.”

“Ok, Pipsqueak. Love you.”

As I rolled my eyes at my ridiculous nickname, I stuffed my phone back in my purse. I wasn't even short, dammit.

Mrs. Graham handed me my coffee, and I walked to my usual corner booth. I enjoyed being away from everyone. People-watching was a favorite pastime of mine. I didn't judge them, per se, it was more of predicting where they came from or where they were heading.

Hearing the bell of the door chiming, I squirmed excitedly in my seat. My first victim-er-person walked into the shop. I took a sip of my coffee as I watched a tall, dark-haired, caramel skin toned, muscular, but not too muscular, dude walk inside. I choked on my coffee as his gaze shifted in my direction. No one ever looked this way. It was the main reason I sat here. “Holy mother of all the good things in this world.”

He smirked as if he read the words off of my lips. Now, instead of watching him, I was slinking down in my seat, trying like no other to disappear.

Did I succeed in disappearing? No, so I watched him. I watched as he ordered from Mrs. Graham, as he paid, as he grabbed his grande-sized coffee, and as he made his way to me. “Shit on a stick! He’s coming towards me. This is a disaster waiting to happen.”

When he reached my table, I peered up at him. He nodded his head in greeting as he said, “Hey, my name is Treyton. Mind if I sit with you?”

I blinked a few times as he continued to smile at me. It should have been against the law to have such beautiful green eyes accompanying a near-perfect smile. His head tilted at my continued silence. I inwardly scolded myself for my awkwardness as I nodded. “Sure. Go ahead.”

As he sat across from me, I quickly realized there would be no people watching, and I wanted to text my brother to take the long way here. For the first time in my life, I welcomed this attention. “So, you know mine. What’s yours?”

Tilting my head slightly, I asked, “Huh?”

The chuckle that came out of him was infectious. I giggled as it hit me. He meant my name. “Oh! Sorry. I’m Brinley.”

“It’s my lucky morning, Brin.”

My eyes widened at my shortened name but also reveled in the sound of it leaving him. “Um, how so?”

After placing his elbows on the table, he leaned over the table. “I wasn’t expecting to meet a beautiful girl because of coffee.”

I felt my face heating as he straightened in his seat. I didn't take compliments well at all. Did I say thank you? Did I say thank you and you, too? No, who the hell would tell a man he’s beautiful? As the neverending questions caused me to spiral, I felt a warm hand grasp mine.

My eyes lifted to find Treyton's and his concerned expression. “You’re alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry. I’m being all kinds of awkward. I don’t usually do...this.”

When Treyton laughed this time, it caused me to relax. “Brin, we’re just talking. I saw a beautiful girl in the corner by herself and knew I needed to fix that pronto.”

I shrugged as I looked down at my coffee. “I like sitting in the corner to people watch.”

“No shit? Me, too. Look at that guy. He’s looking like his goldfish died. When in reality, the goldfish were only flushed. The dang fish is happily swimming in the sewers.” As I turned to look at the guy, he pointed out, and I nodded in agreement.

When the bell rang again, I nodded at the woman running inside. “See her? She hurried over here before her little one woke up. She needs to make it back before her husband leaves for work.”

As time passed, we people-watched while learning things about each other. We were both twenty years old. We liked the same sports, we loved the outdoors, we depended on coffee to determine our moods, and we had one sibling each. The only difference was he was the big brother while I was the little sister.

"So, do you go to college, or you're out in the real world already?"

Shaking his head, he said, "Neither. I'm part of the Navy Seals."

My eyes widened at his admission. "Wow."

Giving me a small smile, Treyton said, "I'm unsure if that's a good or bad wow."

"Good, Trey. That profession is admirable. I know I couldn't do it."

Treyton's laugh nearly echoed through the shop. "Stop. Your dream to own a daycare is an admirable profession. Handling a shit ton of heathens all day on a daily basis? Yeah, I respect you more."

Picking up my cup, I took a sip and had to force it down my throat. I grimaced as the cold coffee slid down. "Cold coffee can lay right alongside wet socks in the wasteland of despicable things."

“Well, damn,” Treyton said, “I never thought someone would feel as strongly as I do concerning hot coffee gone cold and wet socks.”

“Yes! I’m no longer on my lonely island alone.”

His small chuckle caused me to smile. Treyton's hand reached across the table to grasp mine. I looked at our hands for a moment but didn’t pull away. This was crazy. We just met. What the hell was I doing?

When my eyes lifted back to him, I felt like a moth being drawn to a flame. What in the world was going on? I had never felt this connection before. Was it even possible to feel a connection fifteen minutes into your first conversation?

Squeezing my hand, Treyton asked, “You want me to go order you another? What’s your poison?”

I softly shook my head as I smiled. “Thanks but no. My brother will be here soon. He’s flying in for a visit.”

“There you are, Badger. We’ve been waiting on that damn bench for an eternity.”

When I looked up, two guys around our age were standing at our table.

“Don’t mind, Animal. He forgot his filter at home.”

I looked back at Trey in confusion as he rolled his eyes. “Brinley, meet my brothers in the field. Drew aka Bear and Matt aka Animal.” Turning towards the guys, he said, “Boys, meet Brinley.”

The one known as Animal looked at our hands then back to Trey. “Ah, I see now. Needing to get you a piece before we leave?”

My eyes widened as I yanked my hand out of his. “I...I need the restroom.”

Jumping up, I nearly bolted from the table. As I was leaving, I heard a smack to the back of a head as Bear said, “Nice going. Can you try to hold your damn tongue when she comes back?”

I stood in the bathroom, staring into the mirror above the sink. I needed to somehow muster up the courage to walk back to the table. I couldn't sneak out of the coffee shop since I stupidly left my purse at the table.

Lowering my head, I tried to reason with myself. Trey had been nothing but kind. He never said anything inappropriate or tried hinting at anything. Hand holding was just that–my hand tucked blissfully into his. As I took a deep fortifying breath, I nodded to myself in the mirror. “You got this, Brinley.”

When I yanked the door open, I met up with the man that ingrained himself in my mind and inched himself close to my heart. “Hey, Brin.”

“Hey, Treyton.”

He winced a little at his full name. “Ouch. Back to my full name.”

Treyton backed up a little to allow me to exit the restroom. “Where’s Bear and Animal?”

Nodding to the door, he said, “Outside. We need to get going.”

I swallowed as I looked up at him. “Going?”

Treyton grabbed my hand then looked at his thumb grazing my knuckles. “We're leaving for a new mission."

I nodded as I processed what it meant. Navy Seal. New mission. "Guess this is goodbye. It was great to meet you, Treyton."

"Trey. Please, call me Trey."

Offering him a small smile, I said, "You were a pleasant surprise today, Trey."

After lifting my hand, Treyton kissed it. His lips lingered a moment, allowing me to savor the zing flowing through me. "You're beautiful beyond words inside and out. A different time in life or just more time in general, I would make you mine." My eyes widened as he continued, "If there is ever another moment we meet, you best believe, Bri, you will be mine."

As I watched Treyton walk away, I stayed frozen to my spot. The moment he walked out of the door, the wind left my sails. I couldn't let him go like that. He couldn't leave on that note.

I ran out of the coffee shop in hopes of catching him. Instead, I ran smack dab into my older brother. "Pipsqueak? What's going on?"

"Let me go. Let me go!"

My brother released me from his arms as I looked around frantically. For him. For Bear. For freaking Animal.

Feeling someone touch my shoulder, I spun around to see my brother. "Brinley? Are you okay?"

"I lost him."

"Who?"

"The one man to make me feel something. Treyton."

He looked at me confused as I shook my head. "Come on, big bro. I need another coffee."

I entered the shop a little melancholy. I quite possibly just missed out on the best thing I could have ever had. I could only hope our paths crossed for a second time. For now, Treyton would need to be my tall, dark-haired dream. Maybe, just maybe, he would see me in my dark corner again.