You ever want to get together some time, share tips?”
Colin felt himself go red. “Thanks, but it’s all Marvin.”
“No baby, it’s all you,” shot back Trick.
Judd butted in to order a specialty protein shake. He practically growled at the dratsie, suddenly grumpy for some reason.
Trick rolled his eyes at the enforcer. “Big baby, I know he’s yours. Which flavor you want?”
“Beef and cheese,” grumbled Judd, looking part ashamed, part satisfied.
The regulars didn’t order shakes, mostly because they were human, but also because the café’s blender was louder than a turbine engine. However, Judd wasn’t the type to limit his desire just because it inconvenienced others.
The blender whirled up. Floyd flinched and glared at them. Colin knew his face must be red. Amara, the writer who liked the front corner table, stood up ostentatiously, and flounced out the door.
“What I do?” Judd asked, looking around.
“No one gets the blended drinks here, Judd. Too noisy.”
Trick banged the blender to loosen the contents.
“See,” said Colin.
“Pathetic, the lot of you.” Judd rolled his eyes at Floyd.
The knitting human flipped him the bird.
Judd laughed and took his drink from Trick, slurping it as loudly as possible.
Trick shook his head. “Go on with you. I’ll bring yours over, Colin.”
They joined Max at the back, although Judd was twitchy about it, too far from the door. He insisted on sitting facing the entrance, and didn’t pull Colin into his lap. That hurt a bit, until Colin realized Judd wanted to be able to move quickly. So Colin sat as close as he dared to the enforcer, and let himself enjoy that their arms remained touching.
“Well, don’t you two look cozy as shit,” said Max, by way of greeting.
“Disapprove, do you?” Judd was instantly on the defensive.
“Only that it took you so long to get with the fucking.”
Colin could feel himself blushing again. Fortunately, Max didn’t notice. He was looking at Judd.
“Sorry for the delay. Did we inconvenience you with our lack of sex?” Judd shot back.
Max gave a vicious grin. “It’s exhausting watching you two bob around each other. You should have been considering our finer feelings and screwed this one’s little ginger brains out sooner.”
“I object, my brains are not at all little,” said Colin.
Max rolled his eyes. “Fair point.”
“And if any brains were screwed out, they were mine,” Judd added, taking a big gulp of his shake.
Max didn’t even arch a brow. “Really? Well, I didn’t know you had any left to screw out, old man.”
“Oh, very nice.” Judd slurped his drink again, then smacked his lips.
Max gave him a disgusted look. “Must you?”
“It’s really good.” Judd waggled the glass at him. “Wanna try?”
Max was horrified. “Smells liked congealed ass, no thank you.”
“Like I said, really good.”
Trick brought over Colin’s foamy goodness at that juncture.
Colin whipped out his phone. “Trick, would you do me a favor and take a look at a few photos real quick? Let us know if any of these people look familiar to you?”
Trick, who really was a very good barista, checked the line and said, “Let me finish with that last dude? Then I’ll come back over.”
Max sniffed. “Oh, so you had purpose in coming here, Judd, not related to slurping congealed ass? And… wait. Wait. What is that you’re drinking, Colin?”
Colin looked at Max, scared of judgment. “Decaf latte with whipped cream on top?”
Max was instantly affronted. “Decaf. Decaf!” he sputtered, and then, “Did you say whipped cream on top? Real whipped cream?”
“Uh, yes,” Colin practically whispered. He couldn’t help it. Max was really intimidating.
Max threw his head back. “Patrick Inis, get your sexy ass over here!”
Trick came trotting back over. “I was coming. Line’s just finished.”
Max waved a hand at him. “Yes, yes, but Trick, darling, java king of my wounded heart…”
“Yes, Max, glorious prince of the sweetest shit I can pour?” Trick responded in kind.
“Why did you not tell me I could have whipped cream on top of a latte? Am I nothing to you? Do you not care for my soul? Do you ever even think of me with affection?”
Trick placed a hand to his chest. “Max, my own, my true one, my pudding cup – I had no idea. What kind of freak wants whipped cream on a latte? Except Colin of course. No offense, Colin.”
Colin sipped his drink and glared at both of them. “That’s genius freak to you two.”
They both ignored him, caught up in the drama of it all.
“Trick. Pay very close attention now, beautiful boy.”