Free Masquerade by Cambria Hebert

I’d been to
Portland several times, but I didn’t recognize this
place.
    He smiled. “Well, it isn’t Starbucks,
but it’s pretty good. Different.”
    He was around the truck and opening my
door before I could say anything. My stomach fluttered when he
lifted me out, and I was slightly disappointed when he stepped
back, putting distance between us. I followed him onto the sidewalk
and trailed after him, smiling to myself at how huge his sweatshirt
was on me. Yet I loved it. Suddenly he stopped, and I ran into the
back of him. “Sorry,” I stammered as he turned.
    He gave me a crooked smile and leaned
forward to ask, “Do you trust me?”
    “ Yes.” I didn’t even have
to think about it.
    He blinked at my fast
response and then grasped for my hand, frowning when he couldn’t
find it in the huge shirt . I fumbled with the material to free my hand,
suddenly cursing the very shirt I loved for keeping me from his
touch. When my hand was free his large hand closed around mine, and
he towed me through an open door.
    “ Bubble Maineia?” I
asked.
    “ What’s your favorite
flavor?”
    “ For what?”
    “ For anything.”
    “ Umm,
strawberry.”
    He seemed pleased by this and sat me
in a comfy chair before going to the counter to order. The people
around me all had drinks with huge straws sticking out of them. The
place was really cool and kind of funky. I looked around eagerly at
all the color and decoration until I caught someone staring.
Quickly I ducked my head, letting my damp hair hide my face. How
could I have forgotten?
    A pair of scuffed boots appeared in
front of me, and Sam scooted a chair over and sat down directly in
front of me, blocking me from view. “I got you
something.”
    I looked up to see him holding out a
dark pink drink. It too had a big straw that measured at least half
an inch. At the bottom of the clear cup were a bunch of marble
sized balls. I reached out and took the drink, fiddling with the
straw. “What is this?”
    “ It’s called Bubble Tea.” I
watched him take a long pull from his own drink, which was a shade
of brown. “Try it.”
    He eagerly watched me, and I couldn’t
help but get swept up in his fun. With a smile I tried the drink.
It was sweet and creamy, tasting of strawberry. Then, one of the
balls from the bottom made its way through the straw and into my
mouth. It was like a big gummy bear. It made me feel like a
kid.
    “ This is really good,” I
declared, taking another drink. Then I paused. “What’s in
it?”
    He laughed. A deep, husky laugh that
drew stares from some of the women in the shop. He didn’t seem to
notice. “It’s tea mixed with cream and sugar. Yours is strawberry
flavored. The balls at the bottom are called tapioca
pearls.”
    “ What flavor is
yours?”
    To my surprise he held it out for me
to try. The thought of my lips touching the same straw as his made
me shiver. He noticed and frowned. “Are you cold? Maybe I should
have gotten you coffee.”
    “ No. This is perfect.”
Before he could pull the drink away, I took a sip. When I pulled
back he had that unreadable expression on his face.
“Chocolate.”
    “ You like?”
    “ Mine’s better.” I held it
out for him. His eyes widened, but he leaned forward and took a
sip. A little thrill went through me.
    “ I think you’re right,” he
agreed.
    “ I didn’t know this place
was here.”
    “ I found it last summer.
Been coming here ever since.”
    “ Thanks for bringing
me.”
    Just then a loud group of guys walked
through the door, and I automatically tensed, ducking my head.
“Let’s get out of here,” Sam said, standing to return his
chair.
    Outside the rain had slowed to a soft
drizzle. Sam pulled me close to the buildings and pulled the large
hood on the sweatshirt up over my head. “Are you ready to go
home?”
    I shook my head.
    His smile was one of relief, and it
made me a little sad. There was something about him that seemed
lonely, and it made me want to take it