Free Exception by Patty Maximini Page B

name is Taylor.”
    Josh wrote the order and went to get their food, before informing them of the amount due and taking Taylor’s card.
    “You didn’t have to do that, but thank you,” Emily said with a shy smile as they moved to the end of the counter.
    “I know I didn’t—I wanted to.” Taylor chuckled and winked at her. “The good company is worth every penny spent.”
    A female, blue-eyed barista with long blond hair tied in a ponytail, delivered their order and plenty of smiles to Taylor, who didn’t spare a single glance at her. Taylor picked up the tray and followed Emily to one of the couches by the window.
    “May I ask what exactly is in the usual?” he asked, handing her the paper cup.
    She took a large gulp before answering. “A whole lot of bold coffee, some skinny milk and a drizzle of cinnamon, why do you ask?”
    He took a bite of his food and shrugged. “Josh may not be around the next time I decide to buy you a cup. Now, I believe you were going to tell me about Charlotte.”
    “Yes, I believe that’s why we’re here and it’s only fair, right?”
    He laughed and wondered if she was stalling. “That’s right. You know both my siblings and I can bet that your sister isn’t half as embarrassing as Gabe. So, shoot.”
    “You’d be surprised.” She laughed. “Now she’s a respectable married woman, but Charlie used to be a loose cannon when we were younger. But she has always been amazing. A real force of nature, you know? Like a hurricane,” she said. “She’s pregnant and I can only imagine the hell on wheels she’ll be for the poor child.” The pride in her voice spoke volumes; there was no doubt how much she admired her sister.
    Taylor listened attentively as she shared stories of Charlie as a teenager. She was careful to stick to funny memories that didn’t require too much information—things that wouldn’t let her troubled past show too much, like the way Charlotte loved to party, and how she was the one who’d introduced Emily to rock bands. During the entire time Emily talked she only once briefly mentioned how Charlotte had looked after her as they grew up. Her gratitude when he didn’t probe for more information was immeasurable.
    The comfortable and trusting feeling she had whenever she was around him got stronger the more they talked. When she slipped a second time, telling how Charlotte was her only family, she didn’t mind as much as she had before.
    Their food and drinks were long gone when the conversation turned to Taylor and his childhood memories. Mostly he shared stories of their travels, and how Gabe drove everyone crazy. On both sides, the conversation was easy and relaxed.
    The sun was beginning to set as Taylor told her his favorite Gabe story. “After spending all day with Gabe using my stuff and drinking my soda and stealing my food, I had the worst headache. Being the useless bastard that he is, he refused to get me an aspirin, which meant I would have to cross the hall to my parents’ room. No way was I going to look for pants just to go get an aspirin in the middle of the night. I looked up and down the hall and, seeing that it was completely empty, I went outside in my underwear and a t-shirt, got the aspirin from Mom and hurried back to my room.
    “When I got there the door was closed shut. I knocked and asked Gabe to open it, but the idiot just laughed and asked me for a password.” Emily started to laugh herself, imagining the situation. “All of a sudden I heard the beep of the elevator, and a bunch of women came out of it. Apparently there was some kind of womens’ retreat going on in the hotel.”
    Emily’s stomach was starting to hurt from all the laughter and Taylor couldn’t help but to laugh with her as he continued. “The women were getting closer and closer and there I was, in my tighty-whities and holey tee. I told him to open it, that there were people in the hall, and pounded so hard on the door it nearly came loose from