Free Forged in Stone by Alyssa Rose Ivy

maintained a youth the rest of their generation didn’t.
    “Yes please.”
    “What’s your usual?” Brad came up beside me. For a moment I’d forgotten he was there.
    “Black coffee with a chocolate biscotti.”
    He nodded. “I’ll have the same.”
    “You don’t have to get a biscotti if you don’t want.”
    “Worried I’m having too many sweets?” He patted his stomach.
    “No, just letting you know.”
    “I appreciate the concern.” He turned to Louise. “I’ll be getting hers as well.”
    “I can pay for my own.”
    “If you won’t let me drive you, I’m at least going to pay for your coffee.”
    “What does one thing have to do with the other?”
    Loud laughter had me turning around. My eyes locked with James’. My heart sped up. “You’re early.”
    “I finished my shopping faster than planned.” He walked over. “What are you getting?”
    Brad turned to James. “Excuse me, who the hell are you?”
    “I’m James. You must be Brad.” James said his name with distaste.
    “Is this the friend who’s driving you home?” Brad continued to glare at James.
    I groaned and turned back to the counter. “Ignore them. Please get us three coffees and biscotti.”
    “Coming right up. Looks like you’ve been busy.” Louise winked.
    “Not by choice.”
    “Still good to be out there again. You’re too young to give up after one bad apple.”
    “Dale was more than a bad apple.”
    “Either way, glad to see you trying again.” She placed the three cups and three pieces of the handmade decadent biscotti down on the counter.
    “Who’s Dale?” Both guys asked.
    “No one.” I grabbed my coffee and biscotti.
    I took a seat at a table in the corner. Brad sat down next to me and scowled at James. “If you’ll excuse us.”
    “Absolutely. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your date.” He sat down at the table right next to us.
    “You can’t be serious.” Brad looked at me instead of James. “How is this a date if we’re being chaperoned?”
    “I told him to come at ten.”
    Brad’s mouth fell open. “At ten? You thought we’d hang out for an hour?”
    “We’ve already hung out for an hour. It’s fine.”
    “But you didn’t know that. You didn’t know I’d show up early.”
    “It doesn’t matter. You wanted to see me, and you’re seeing me.”
    Out of the corner of my eye I noticed James smiling.
    “You know what. Forget this.” Brad stood up. “We’ll have to reschedule, Ainsley.”
    “Oh, sorry to hear that.” James immediately took Brad’s seat. “Wonderful to meet you.”
    “Fuck off.” Brad scowled.
    In a blur James was in Brad’s face. “Did you use profanity in front of her?”
    “What do you care?” Brad glared.
    “Apologize to her. Now.”
    “No.”
    James took Brad’s arm and pulled it behind his back. “Apologize to Ainsley, now.”
    Brad grimaced. “I’m sorry. “
    James released his arm, and Brad pushed him.
    James barely moved, and he smiled. “Thanks.” He walked right back to the table.
    Brad shook his head. “I’ll call you, Ainsley.” He skulked out of the coffee house.
    “What’s his problem?” James sipped his coffee.
    It took me a moment to process what had happened. Normally I’d have been outraged at a guy acting like that, but it was different with James. It was chivalrous somehow. “I shouldn’t have agreed to see him. Grace pushed me, but I should have said no.” A tiny bit of guilt set in. At one time it would have been a lot, but I was beyond caring now.
    “Remember that next time.”
    “There won’t be a next time. You don’t get treated that way twice and come back for more.”
    “He’ll be back.”
    “Just because he said it doesn’t mean he will.”
    “He’ll be back. He’ll just be more careful to make sure he gets your undivided attention.”
    “He’s not going to.”
    “You don’t like him?” James sipped his coffee again.
    I took a bite of my biscotti. “He’s too pushy. He reminds me of my