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"Coffee!” Nicole Haught yelled. She knew she sounded unhinged, but she couldn’t help it. Panic was seeping into her bones, knotting in her stomach, rising like bile in her throat. If she didn’t find Coffee soon, she might actually throw up. “Coffee! Coffee!”
Walking down the sidewalk, through the sleepy town of Purgatory, seemed like the most reasonable place to start looking. The street was quiet, lined with flower boxes and creaky wooden signs that swung in the morning breeze.
But still, Coffee was nowhere to be found.
“Dang it,” Nicole mumbled under her breath. “Just my luck.”
She spotted Waverly Earp, Purgatory’s sweetheart, standing at the entrance of Shorty’s, the bar Waverly owned. Ever since Nicole moved back to Purgatory a month ago, she had been trying to work up the courage to talk to Waverly, but her nerves of steel had obviously been left in the Amazon.
When Nicole escaped from the small Canadian town, she was a gangly eighteen-year-old who had been too tall, too redheaded, and too much for such a contained area. Nicole had left to find all the things she thought she was missing: peace and quiet, hope and love, and something like home. Strangely enough, everywhere she had gone over the past ten years had left her longing for the things she had left behind.
It was weird to learn that it was better to be known as the strange queer person with no family and no hope than not to be known at all.
“Coffee!” Nicole shouted again. Her voice cracked at the end as she tried to shake herself out of the gloom that was overtaking her. It hadn’t been all bad. There had been moments of brightness in the dark days when she had been in Purgatory. There had been light punching its way into her life as she traveled around the world. For example….”Coffee!”
Nicole saw Waverly out of the corner of her eye. The petite brunette with long hair had stopped and was looking toward Nicole. There was no time to worry about that, though. Nicole needed to find Coffee.
“Coffee!” Nicole knew she was sounding like the panic she felt. “Where are you, Coffee?!”
Waverly's head shook, but she took careful steps in Nicole’s direction. Another strange thing Nicole had discovered was that even if you leave your crush behind, years don’t always change the feelings you thought you had buried.
Waverly was still beautiful. She appeared to be as lovely as she was all those years ago. Waverly Earp was the dream girl. The one Nicole would never have in reality. Even though she might not have even tried, Nicole understood the impossibility of someone like Waverly Earp.
She was someone you admired from afar. A sunflower too bright to touch.
“Nicole,” Waverly said with her classic smile and a wave. “We aren’t open yet, but I am willing to make you a cappuccino. It sounds like you need one.”
Waverly’s smile was easy, as if she was actually happy to see Nicole, which would be shocking since Nicole had avoided her most of their lives or had at least tried. Not that she could. Waverly was sunshine on a cold day. Her hazel eyes were welcoming and twinkled like stars on a dreary winter night. She was perfect. Every single inch of her was perfect.
Then, it hit Nicole like a meteor. She honestly did sound like a crazy person.
“Um,” Nicole hesitated, rubbing the back of her neck with her free hand. She held up her other hand and shrugged, showing Waverly what she was holding. “Coffee is my dog.”
The rainbow-colored leash dangled from her fingers, and while she wanted to stare at Waverly, Nicole had more important things to do at the moment.
“She escaped this morning. I’ve been looking for her everywhere. It’s my fault. I left the door open,” Nicole admitted, and turned to look down the street. She had needed some fresh air that morning and never once considered that her dog would escape. “Coffee!”
She felt Waverly’s hand on her arm and turned to look at her. Waverly’s eyes were searching the streets, too, as she gripped Nicole’s arm tightly.
“Oh no, Nicole. I can help you,” Waverly squeaked. “What does she look like?”
Nicole tried to think of the best way to describe Coffee.
Coffee was a medium-sized mutt with soulful brown eyes and fur the rich color of a fresh espresso—dark and warm, with lighter caramel streaks running through her ears and tail. She was the kind of dog who sensed emotion before you spoke a word, curling up beside you when you were down and nuzzling your hand until you smiled. Coffee didn’t bark much, but when she did, it was with purpose—protective, confident, and always timely. She was more than a pet; she was a quiet guardian, a steady presence, and the truest kind of friend, but Nicole couldn’t say all of that.
“My best friend,” Nicole answered, sounding as sad as she felt inside her heart.
“Aw, Nicole,” Waverly said quietly, taking Nicole’s hand into hers. “We’ll find your friend. I promise, but I need to know what she looks like. Okay?”
Nodding slowly, Nicole turned to look at Waverly. “She’s about this tall with dark brown, lighter on the tail, shaggy fur. The best dog ever.”
For weeks, maybe even years, Nicole had dreamed about being this close to Waverly, but never under these circumstances. Nicole had planned to ask Waverly out.
Finally.
Finally.
Nicole had planned to ask Waverly out for coffee, maybe catch a movie afterward. She imagined a soft kiss, perhaps something more. Now, the only kisses Nicole craved were the gentle nudges from her dog, Coffee, waking her each morning, eager to go pee. Life was weird like that.
“Ooof,” Nicole mumbled as she stumbled into Waverly. Someone, or rather, some dog, had run into Nicole, causing her knees to buckle. Her arms flailed as she tried to steady herself before she completely crashed into Waverly. Thankfully, Waverly was quicker than she was tall and moved forward to help Nicole before they both ended up on the ground.
Nicole’s hands landed on Waverly’s hips and she pulled Waverly closer because it felt so damn good.
“I think Coffee found you,” Waverly said with a breathless laugh.
“Uh.” Nicole was confused, lost in the feeling of being so close to someone she had wanted for so long. Her heart was racing, but her brain had stopped working. Then, she felt Coffee’s cold, wet nose press into the hand that was still on Waverly’s hip.
Before the dog could escape, Nicole grabbed Coffee’s collar and quickly hooked the leash. She was too relieved to worry about how embarrassing the situation was.
“Coffee.” Nicole bent down to look into her dog’s eyes instead of Waverly’s. “You scared me to death. Please don’t do that to me again.”
Rubbing Coffee’s neck and then her back, trying to stall a few more moments before she knew she needed to stand and face Waverly.
“Thank you,” Nicole muttered, standing to find Waverly Earp looking at her with the same warmth she had back in high school. “Thank you for offering to help me.”
Waverly’s lips eased into a sweet smile. “I’ve been meaning to come see you at the park.”
When Nicole decided to settle down, there was only one place she wanted to work. She had been watching and waiting for her mentor, Nedley, to retire as the park ranger. He called to let her know he was hanging up his khakis, and Nicole came running home.
“Yeah?” Nicole tilted her head. “And I’ve been meaning to come see you at the bar.”
The smile that had been on Waverly's lips turned megawatts.
“So,” Waverly said softly. “I guess it is a good thing Coffee escaped then.”
Nicole looked at her dog. Coffee’s tongue was hanging out of the side of her open mouth, and she appeared to be grinning. If Nicole didn’t know better, she would think Coffee had planned this the whole time. She was probably tired of hearing Nicole long for Waverly.
“I guess so,” Nicole agreed, bobbing her head. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and prepared to make eye contact with the person who had held her heart for all these years. “Waverly?”
Her hands were sweating, and her heart was pounding once again inside her chest, but Nicole had done her homework and was ready. She knew Waverly was single. She knew Waverly was bisexual. Nicole had even asked Waverly’s big sisters, Willa and Wynonna for the fine details. The only thing Nicole didn’t know was how Waverly felt about Nicole.
“What is it, Nicole?” Waverly was standing so close that Nicole could smell the perfume Waverly was wearing. It was different from high school, but it seemed to suit Waverly. “Um.”
“Um,” Waverly mimicked. Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “What is it, Nicole?”
Coffee nudged Nicole’s hand and barked before she huffed and laid down. Nicole thought she saw the dog roll her eyes, but that wasn’t possible, was it?
“Nicole.” Waverly touched Nicole’s arm. “I wanted to see you because,” she paused before continuing, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
Nicole couldn’t imagine what Waverly would want to ask her. It could be about the park or perhaps a high school reunion.
“You’ve been meaning to ask me something since I came back?” Nicole asked. She held her breath and waited for Waverly to ask if Nicole could introduce her to one of the other rangers or perhaps get her a free park pass.
“No.” Waverly shook her head. “Since high school.”
The world stood still. Time stopped. The birds hushed their singing. It was like they had been sucked into a vacuum.
Coffee huffed again.
“What?” Nicole stuttered. “Since high school?”
A million things ran through Nicole’s mind, but her heart settled on one thing.
“Yeah.” Waverly took another step closer before bending down and running her fingers through Coffee’s fur. “Thank you,” she whispered and then stood quickly. “Will you finally go out with me?”
Throughout high school, Nicole had tried to muster the nerve to ask Waverly out. Even over the last few years, Nicole had often wondered about Waverly. It shocked her to her core to know that maybe while Nicole had been pining away, Waverly had been too.
“I wanted to ask you out,” Nicole admitted. “For so long. Like that time we were working on the homecoming float.”
“Or the time you came to see me at cheer camp.” Waverly’s eyes were staring into the past. “Or the time I came to see you at basketball camp.”
There had been numerous attempts during school, and Nicole felt a little sick about the missed opportunities. But then again, life is a journey that often takes you where you need to go and then returns you to where you were always meant to be.
“Guess Coffee helped us out, huh?”
“Seemed like we needed some help.” Waverly held out her hand, taking Coffee’s leash before wrapping her hand around Nicole’s arm. “Seems like all we needed was a little Coffee.”
Coffee barked and trotted along beside them as Waverly walked toward Shorty’s.
“Stupid humans. When all else failed, at least they had me.”
Five Years Later
The sun’s warm on Coffee’s fur as she sprawled out on the porch of the old farmhouse, the one Nicole and Waverly called home now. Five years since that day Coffee bolted out the door in Purgatory, and she still thought she deserved a medal for that one. Humans were so slow sometimes, circling each other like nervous squirrels. Took Coffee running off to get those two to talk finally. The best decision she’d ever made, even if Nicole still gave her the stink-eye when she remembered the panic Coffee caused.
Life’s good now. The farmhouse smelled like home—Waverly’s baking, Nicole’s coffee (the drink, not Coffee, the dog), and that weird vanilla stuff they put in the laundry. Coffee had her spot by the fireplace in winter and, in summer, she chased rabbits through the fields out back. Not that she’d know what to do with one if she caught it. Mostly, she just enjoyed running. The run kept her spry for a dog pushing nine.
Nicole was still a park ranger, always coming home with dirt on her brown boots and stories about lost hikers or sneaky squirrels. Waverly ran Shorty’s, but she also got this side gig writing history books about Purgatory. They were always laughing about how they were “stuck in this town forever now,” kind of like Hotel California, but their eyes sparkled when they said it. They were happy. Coffee could tell because their hands were always touching, and they smiled at each other like they were sharing a secret she wasn’t in on. Fine by her. Coffee got extra treats when they were in a good mood. It was nice. She got lots of treats.
We’ve had a new pack member now, too—a little human they called Winter. She was three, all sticky fingers and happy giggles, always trying to ride Coffee like she was a horse. Coffee let her, mostly because she snuck Coffee bits of her snacks when Waverly wasn’t looking. Winter had Nicole’s red hair and Waverly’s mischief and hazel eyes, which meant Coffee was on high alert when Winter was toddling around. Last week, she had tried to “paint” Coffee’s fur with yogurt. Nicole laughed so hard she cried, and Waverly just shook her head and said, “Coffee, you’re a saint.” Saint? Nah. She just knew a good deal when she saw one—yogurt was tasty, even if it’s a pain in the tail to lick off.
Coffee still remembered that day on the sidewalk, when she ran straight into Nicole’s knees to knock some sense into her. She was so caught up in Waverly’s hazel eyes that she forgot how to talk. Typical. Coffee had to nudge Nicole’s hand, give her a bark to snap her out of it. And Waverly—petting Coffee like she was the hero of the day. Which, let’s be honest, Coffee was. They needed Coffee to break the ice that had been building for years, forever, and Coffee delivered. Now look at them: a family, a home, a life full of belly rubs and bacon scraps. Winter’s love may be the best thing ever. Even better than bacon.
Sometimes, she caught Nicole and Waverly sitting on the porch swing, Winter asleep between them, their little snuggle turtle, and they talked about that day. Nicole always said, “Coffee knew what she was doing.” Waverly just laughed and scratched Coffee’s ears, and said, “Our little matchmaker.” Coffee didn’t argue. She just wagged her tail and let them think she planned it all. Maybe she did. Humans needed a nudge sometimes, and she was happy to be the one to give it.
The sun’s dipped low now, painting the sky orange and pink. Winter called out Coffee’s name from inside, probably with another “art project” in mind. Coffee stretched, shook out her fur, and trotted toward the door. Life was good in Purgatory. And if these two ever needed another push, well, Coffee was still there. Always would be.
“Who ate my brand-new shoes?” Waverly yelled from deep within the old house. “Coffee!”
Coffee ran.