Chapter 1

Maria

The sun shines through the windows at The Brew, warming the coffee shop despite the air conditioning pumping at full blast to cool the afternoon patrons from the hot summer day. The Brew smells of delicious coffee beans, and today, Maria is filling orders of iced coffee. Go figure.

Maria has been working as a barista at The Brew since she dropped out of college. She can get a regular job if she wants to, but she likes the atmosphere, her co-workers, and her trusting and friendly boss. If she ever needs a day off, which is rare, someone would always step in for her, just as she'd do for them. They're like a family. She found her best friend here, Darius, and they moved in together last year due to living costs.

Living anywhere in California is expensive. San Fransico is no different. She could move to a different state, but just like The Brew, she loves it here. Even though it's blazing hot outside, she'd take it over blizzarding snow any day. Being cold isn't her thing.

"Sara!" Maria shouts when an order is fulfilled. The customer smiles as she takes her iced coffee, and Maria thanks her. As soon as she turns to leave, Maria works on getting a hot coffee for her favorite customer who is waiting at the coffee bar.

The Brew isn't a large place, but there are a few tables scattered throughout the old building. It has large and inviting floor-to-ceiling windows that were installed last year, modern lighting that she had helped her boss pick out, and a coffee bar that is off to the left of the barista station. Few people stay long enough to sit at the bar, but Chase sits there every day. At the same time of the day. Like clockwork.

She grabs a mug, fills it with dark brew and cream, and heads over to Chase with a smile. She's always liked the man. He is elderly, probably a stud in his day, and he makes it a point to tease her every chance he has.

His gray hair is swept to the side, and God must have blessed him because he has yet to show any signs of balding. With a crooked nose, Maria can only guess that he had broken it a few times. She's never asked about it because that would be rude, but she imagines that he had gotten into fights in his youth. The theory fits him perfectly. She'd bet her last dollar that he was a wild man in his twenties.

Somehow, he caught himself a woman though. He still wears the wedding ring, even though his wife passed away a few years ago before Maria had started at The Brew. Her boss had told her when they were talking about Chase one day. Her heart had broke for him at the time, but he seems to be getting along just fine on his own.

Maria places the cup in front of Chase and folds her arms across her chest. "There you go, grandpa." He isn't her grandpa, obviously, but just as he gives her shit, she gives it right back. It's their thing.

Chase frowns down at his mug. "What happened to my little foam leaf?"

Maria's grin broadens. "I thought the heart would be better." When he raises his frown to her, she winks.

"Are you flirting with me? Is that what this heart is for and that mischievous little wink?"

"Of course, I am, Chase. You're my favorite."

He leans across the bar, and in a hushed tone, he says, "You're beautiful, Maria, but I like my girls a little older." He always tells her how beautiful she is, but Maria lets it wash over her. She's definitely not someone she would consider beautiful. She won't correct him though, because some part of her likes to be complimented, even if it's false.

She laughs. "What's wrong with younger women? I could use a sugar daddy, you know."

Sitting fully back on his stool, he harrumphs. "You'll have to look elsewhere."

"Such a shame," Maria mumbles in a tone so sad, that he chuckles under his breath. "We could be great together."

He shakes his head, looks behind her, and points to Darius. "Maybe you should ask him out on a date. He seems like he'd be a good lover."

Maria looks in Darius' direction with a raised eyebrow. Darius is busy fulfilling another order and has no idea that he became the topic of their conversation. He smiles brightly at the customer who is chatting with him.

Darius is attractive, with mocha-colored skin, a stocky build, a naturally charming smile, and the greenest eyes she's ever seen, but there's a problem. Two problems, actually. First, they're roommates and best friends, and two . . .

Maria snorts and turns back to Chase. "Oh, he wouldn't be interested. Trust me."

"No?" He gulps down some of his beverage as Maria shakes her head. "How could you possibly know that?"

How does she put this? "We're on the same baseball team."

He scowls. "What does baseball have to do with anything?"

She places her hands on the counter and bends her hips to look him square in the eye. "Same team, Chase."

His scowl only deepens. "I heard you."

Maria crosses her eyes for a moment. "Oh, for Christ's sake. He doesn't like women."

"Oh," Chase breathes. He looks at Darius again. "Oh. I see. Well, whatever works for him."

"Hear that Darius?" Maria says over her shoulder. "Chase approves."

Darius is always talking about how he gets shit for being gay all the time. He doesn't look gay, and that's the problem. Women are always falling for his good looks and charm.

Darius looks over at them, having fulfilled the last order, and started typing on his phone. "Approves of what?" He pockets his phone and crosses the short distance to them.

Rotating her wrist, Maria waves him off. "Oh, nevermind."

Chase chuckles again. She's always liked his soft laugh. "So, who can we set you up with then?"

Maria's brows pinch together. "No one. I don't want a boyfriend." It's a blatant lie and they both see right through it.

"Bullshit," Chase barks.

Sighing, resigning to the fact that she'd been caught fibbing, she admits, "Okay, so maybe you're right, but there's one problem."

They stare at her, waiting for her to relay this problem. She sighs and gestures to her size. Maria is no small girl. She gained a bunch of weight in college and hasn't been able to get it off.

"I don't get it," Chase says after a moment. "You're single. Purple hair isn't my thing, but that's what seems to be popular now. And you got looks and those striking blue eyes to boot. What is the problem?"

Darius rolls his eyes. "She thinks she's too fat for a boyfriend."

Maria's cheeks heat up and she glances at the bar beside her hip. "Exactly."

She's had boyfriends, but they always tried to change her into what they wanted her to be: a skinny girl. A few times, she tried going to the gym, but the relationships never lasted, so she quit working out. Maybe she should have kept it up. She could be skinny by now and with a boyfriend on her arm.

"That's foolish," Chase grumbles.

Maria shrugs one shoulder. "It's just the truth."

He points at her. "You should be proud of your body."

"It's what I've been saying," Darius chimes in.

She pokes the bar top with her pointer finger. "But I'm not, and the men aren't, so here I am."

Darius mumbles under his breath, throws up his hands, and goes to bus a table.

Chase finishes his drink and stands up. "Well, I think you're beautiful."

"Thanks, Chase. Sure you don't want to take me on a date?" She wiggles her eyebrows at him and places her palms on the counter. She's hiding behind humor, something she's completely good at. Talking about her weight makes her uncomfortable and she tries not to show people just how much.

"Nice try. You'll find someone." He reaches and pats one of her hands. "I've got to jet. You be good, you hear? Don't get into any trouble while I'm gone."

She smiles warmly at him. "I'll try not to. Same time tomorrow?"

He returns the smile. "I wouldn't miss it," he says before turning, striding across the floor, and exiting The Brew.

Maria watches the space he once occupied, nibbling on her bottom lip, but when Darius sneaks up behind her and taps her shoulder, she jumps. She swivels to face him, her hand over her heart. "Jesus, Darius."

He shakes his head but then turns somber. "He's right, you know."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

He shakes his head again. "You don't believe us, do you?"

"Not a single word," she says immediately because they're absolutely one hundred percent wrong.

He sighs through his nose. "You'll find someone."

Her long purple hair falls across her temple when she tips her head to the side. "How?"

Twisting his lips to the side of his face, he thinks it over for a moment. When he comes to some kind of conclusion, his eyes brighten. "Let's look at your friends."

She gives him a serious expression. "I barely have any friends. You're my best friend and the only guy friend I have. I don't see how this is going to help."

He raises his eyebrows. "I'm touched."

"You should be."

Leaning his hip against the counter, he says, "But seriously, open your social media app and we will see what we have to work with."

She grumbles under her breath, pulls her phone out of her back pocket, and opens the app. She heads to her friend list and starts scrolling. In truth, she doesn't even remember half of these people. She met them at parties back in her college days and had nearly forgotten about the rest. No one pays attention to her anymore, so she lost touch with them.

"What about him?" Darius points to the tiny screen.

Maria makes a disgusted sound from the back of her throat. "Do you see that nose?"

Darius points again. "And him?"

"I've seen him in real life. He's shorter than me, and that's saying something."

He looks up at her. "Short guys are a problem?"

With her finger poised to keep scrolling, she glances up to meet his gaze. "I don't want to bend down to french kiss my man. I already have weight issues. I don't need height issues too. What if I want to wear heels?"

"You don't own a pair of heels." It's true. She's a dress and flats kind of girl, but that's totally not the point.

"But what if I decide someday that I want to? I won't be able to because I'll be married to someone I could squash under my heel with one misplaced step."

He snorts. "You have issues, you know that? You're too picky. That's your problem."

Maria chuffs. "We're talking about dating here. Possible future husbands. I have the right to be picky."

"Fine." He huffs and sags his shoulders in defeat. "Just scroll for a while and see what you come up with. Don't make any decisions without me."

And with that, he strolls off to refill the coffee beans in the grinder.