Love Is Always Write Volume 4

Chase's, and he felt his heart speed up again. "You mean early in the morning?"
    Chase leaned down and spoke into Owen's ear, "I promise you won't be disappointed."
    He watched Chase walk away. It took a few moments before Owen could move again. His ear was still burning from Chase's heated breath. And there was a lingering hint of woodsy cologne surrounding him. Owen inhaled. He needed to commit that smell to memory.
    "Sorry." Jay came up behind him. "I thought for sure you would get lucky tonight."
    "He's really dreamy," Grace said as she slipped into one of the booth seats.
    Owen looked at his friends and smiled. "This night is about us."
    Jay patted him on the back. "It's okay. Maybe you'll get lucky with someone else."
    "No," Owen said and sat down in the seat Chase had occupied. He inhaled searching for the woodsy cologne. "I'm meeting him on Saturday."
    "What?" Jay said and slid into the booth next to Grace.
    "You have a date?" Grace smiled.
    "Yep." Owen looked down at the card in his hand. "At Hearty Boys Bakery. With one Mr. Chase Heart."
    "Wow," Jay said and fell back against the seat.
    "I think it's wonderful!" Grace clapped.
    "That's because you're an old married woman." Jay sighed. "All you breeders want to do is couple people up."
    "One day," Grace poked Jay in the chest, "you will find someone who makes your palms sweat and your heart race. Then you'll understand."
    Owen swallowed wrong and started coughing.
    "Honey, are you okay?" Grace reached across the table and patted the back of his hand.
    "Fine," he coughed again.
    "I'll get us some drinks." Jay started to get up.
    "Let's get out of here," Owen said. "Let's go hang out in Wildwood."
    Everyone agreed and stood up. Within minutes, they found Grace's car and piled in. They sang along to Scissor Sisters the entire drive back. Grace parked in the only available spot she could find, in front their neighborhood pizza place, Organically Thrown Pizza. The restaurant was packed as usual when they looked in the window. They waved at Ric, the owner, and headed down the sidewalk.
    Owen stopped in front of the old bakery. It was under construction. He looked up at the new sign, The Hearty Boys . He pulled Chase's business card out of his pocket and looked at it. No wonder he got up at five in the morning.
    "And now you put the pieces together," Grace hooked an arm in his. "Chase and his brother, Stuart, are The Hearty Boys."
    "I thought he was a caterer?" Owen glanced at her and then back at the building.
    "This is Chef Sexy's place?" Jay stepped up on the other side of Owen.
    "Yep," Grace said. "He used to be a chef and caterer. Now, he's specializing in cakes and pastries."
    "How did he cater your wedding without his place being open?" Jay peered into the window.
    "Ric let him use the kitchen at Organically Thrown." Grace pointed next door.
    "Inventive," Owen leaned in and peeked through the window. He couldn't see much, aside from some ladders and paint containers. Everything else was covered in drop cloths. He looked up at the sign again. His heart fluttered for a brief moment. He could get up early for this. Then he wondered why he thought that.
    "Hey, let's stop in my dad's café, and I'll make us some coffee." Jay started walking again. "We can take it down to the flat rock at the riverfront. And just hang out."
    "Sounds like a plan," Owen agreed.
    "I'm hooked on that tiramisu mocha your dad created," Grace said.
    They walked next door and went inside Greene Beans Café. They were instantly greeted by Jay's dad, Kelsey. The café was packed just like Organically Thrown. Owen wandered over to the bean roaster. He had always loved this place. It was an old church that Kelsey had renovated and turned into a local gathering place. The rich colors on the walls, the old, stained glass windows and exposed beams were comforting. Owen knew how much the café had inspired his artwork as a teenager. It really was good to be home.
    "Here's your Americano," Jay handed him a large cup.
    "Thanks." Owen looked at Jay. "I hope you don't hold yourself back when you're in London. Embrace it, yourself, and your life. Okay?"
    "Okay," Jay nodded.
    Grace joined them, looking very pleased as she lifted her coffee lid. "This is heaven in a cup."
    They took their usual route to the riverfront. As they passed the Broussard Center they each touched the corner of the building, a good luck charm they had made up when they were in third grade. It was second nature, but this time