Chapter 99: Cosmo's Comics and Café

I step on the sidewalk and turn back to wave good-bye to Jake as he pulls away from the curb. Aspen's already reached the door with Cosmo's Comics and Café stenciled on the glass, and the bell chimes as she walks through.

Inside Marissa and Amanda are already waiting for us on the orange-ish couches in the back corner. The rest of the store is empty of customers. Sundays at nine must not be a prime time for comic buying, but the smell of coffee as I walk farther into the store continues to pull me in until I reach an empty space on the couch.

Aspen stops beside me but walks around the large coffee table and sits on the couch opposite.

Marissa drops her tennis shoes from where they were propped on the table. "Tell me again why we're at a comic shop for girls' brunch?"

"Many reasons, Rissa." Aspen stops to take off her coat and throws it in the empty space beside her.

"Rissa?" Marissa asks with one eyebrow raised.

"You don't like it?" Aspen waits for Marissa's quick head shak