All the Cuts and Scars We Hide by Garry Michael

Sixteen: Kai

Breakfast Carrot Muffins

Ding! Ding! The sound of the metal antique bell ringing paired with the delicious scents of fresh-baked sweets and coffee had become an integral part of my walks to the pier every morning since I’d arrived in Friday Harbor. Only this time, Wyatt had joined me. Had it only been a couple of weeks? The time had been dragging me along with my guilt, but after meeting Wyatt, my life was finally turning around.

“Hi Kai,” Andrea called from behind the register while waving at us.

“Mahalo! Or is it Aloha?” Pete, the barista and Andrea’s boyfriend, asked.

“Aloha, Pete. Mahalo means thank you, so technically, both are fine. A little out of sequence, but fine.”

“Just how often are you here?” Wyatt asked while we walked to get in line. “Everyone knows you here. I don’t even think Pete knows my name, if he does, he’s never used it.”

“I’m here every day, I love it here.” I looked back at him while taking another step to the counter once the line went down to two people in front of us.

“We’ll have two of those carrot muffins and two mochas,” Wyatt blurted without saying hello. The same person who complained about not being called by his name.

“Wait, did you say carrot muffin?” I chuckled.

“Sure did.”

“Those are muffins?” I asked as I pointed to the glass countertop showcasing the items in question.

“Yes,” he deadpanned.

“They’re covered with frosting.” I glanced at the counter and found Andrea trying to hide a smile.

“That’s not frosting, it’s a topping, see the granola bits on top?” Wyatt explained as if it was the most mundane thing on the planet.

“I think those are carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting.”

“No, they’re breakfast carrot muffins with toppings. Look at their shapes, Kai.”

I was amazed that he was saying all of this with a straight face. “I’m looking at them. They’re shaped like cupcakes, Wyatt.”

Andrea turned her back on us and Pete was now watching what I could only assume was the craziest interaction he’d ever witnessed. All of it was so comical, but I couldn’t seem to stop.

“Oh, Kai, you’re precious,” Pete said, in between plating our muffins and handing them to us over the counter. “I’ll bring your coffee to your table.”

“We’ll be outside. Thanks, Pete,” Wyatt said.

The look of surprise Pete gave Wyatt after he’d used his name was priceless. I hoped that the surveillance cameras inside the café captured that moment. That couldn’t be the first time Wyatt ever acknowledged Pete, could it?

I winked at them both after I settled our order.

Andrea pointed at Wyatt and gave me a thumbs up while mouthing the words, is he okay?

“He’s fine,” I whispered while covering the side of my mouth closest to Wyatt. The not-so-subtle move earned both Andrea and me a glare which was followed by a headshake that ultimately led to him walking out the door to get one of the spots outside.

“I hope we didn’t make him upset,” Pete said, putting his arm around Andrea’s shoulder once Wyatt was out of earshot.

“Nah, he’ll be fine. It’s good for him, but I better go do damage control.”

The metal chair was cold when I joined Wyatt at the table closest to the sidewalk overlooking the water. He slouched in one of the chairs, one arm was resting on a neighboring chair, while the other was resting on the table. He looked like a freaking model, striking a pose.

“Well, that was fun!” I teased, grabbing the white saucer with the gold trim containing the muffin and examining it.

“For what it’s worth, I think you’re right. Those are cupcakes. But on the random chances, I’m lucky enough to come here with Elijah, he calls them muffins. And since he’s learning how to read, Andrea changed the menu for him. So they're cupcake-shaped muffins,” he explained before taking a big bite, leaving a smear of frosting on his upper lip.

“That’s cute,” I smiled, wondering if I’d ever meet Elijah. “You have something…” I pointed to his lips.

Wyatt darted his tongue out and licked the soft frosting, taking me back to when I was the one getting licked. I wished I could’ve licked it for him, but it wasn’t good table manners out in public.

“Here’s your coffee gentleman.” Pete placed a hand on my shoulder before continuing, “Can I get you anything else?”

Wyatt’s eyes focused on the hand resting on my shoulder before his grey eyes flicked back to Pete’s face. “We’re good, thanks.”

“What made you decide to move to San Juan?” He took a sip of his coffee after Pete left, his eyes never leaving mine. I’d since learned that the brightness of his grey eyes mirrored his mood. The stormy grey hue I saw the night we met had been non-existent ever since. “Most people would have chosen Seattle, you know, the bigger city,” he continued before he enjoyed another sip of his mocha.

His question, although a very simple one, was loaded with so many nuances I wasn’t sure I wanted to discuss anything right then and there, especially not before coffee. But I couldn’t expect him to continue opening up if I wasn’t willing to do the same.

“Forget I asked,” Wyatt said, watching me play with my fork and the muffin.

I became hyper-aware of my fumbling when under his piercing scrutiny. Exhaling a breath, I tried to calm my hands. “San Juan Islands just seemed like a nice place. I’m surprised you didn't order a black coffee?”

“Actually, I hate black coffee. I like my coffee sweet,” he confessed.

My mouth dropped open at the revelation. “I ordered you the wrong drink and you didn’t say anything?” This man was the sweetest person on the planet, and he had no clue.

Instead of answering my question, Wyatt just smiled and took another sip.

We started our trek to The Cascade Mountain Range after our breakfast at the café. Wyatt was going to take me on an official date, but he wouldn’t tell me where we were headed. I didn’t care, as long as I was with him. We had an amazing time on our last road trip to the ocean and this date shouldn’t be any different.

I rolled my window down when we entered a mountainous part of the freeway and I stuck a hand out. I loved the feeling of the cool breeze against my palm and made airplane motions with my hand. “Where are you taking me? You’re not a serial killer, right? I really should’ve asked, before I got in,” I teased.

“So impatient,” Wyatt chuckled. “And no I’m not a serial killer. It’s just I’ve always wanted to try my away game, you know?” Wyatt said while grinning ear to ear.

“Away game? That implies having a home game—or game in general. I don’t think you have either.”

“Hey, I got game. You’re sitting there, right? That’s because of my game,” he quipped. He grabbed my hand to kiss it before putting it on his lap.

“We’ll see,” was all I could say. I focused my attention back on the hillsides covered with beautiful trees.