Barista Championship Exchange Part 2

***** Please note this is a sample section of the book*******

You can read the entire story here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X63Q4C7

You can also see Part 1 here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MFG9BF1

Rushing down the street, as fast as these little legs will take me, I burst into the café. Geoff, the manager, looks over at me stunned, as I tumble through the front door.

"Sophie, are you ok?" He asks as I rush past him into the backroom.

I swing open the backroom door. I throw Sophie's bag down and swipe an apron from the rack. Quickly tying the apron up around my waist, I rush back through the door and onto the café floor. I was in such a hurry, trying not to be late for work, I didn't even notice how completely different it felt putting on an apron in Sophie's body.

"Anything I can help with?" I huff at Geoff, as I start panting.

"Yes. Can you get all the chairs down!" Geoff orders.

I can tell he is annoyed. He is not the tallest of guys, but in Sophie's body, he seems a lot more intimidating. I need to make sure I work hard today and make up for very nearly being late. I shake myself off and try to focus on work. I have done shifts here hundreds of times. What is one more, even if I am doing this shift as a female. As I finish getting all the chairs off the tables, I hear Geoff talking.

"Sophie!? I'm talking to you!" Geoff yells.

I look over at him, wondering what is going on. He is looking at me, with a slightly red face. I think he was asking me a question.

"Have you changed your name or something Sophie?" Geoff moans.

I give him a funny look. My name is Tom, I think to myself. Geoff thrusts a clipboard into my hands. He stuns me out of my own thoughts. Then it hits me. He has been calling out Sophie's name. Shit! Right now, that's my name. This is going to be a harder day than I thought! I am going to have to try hard to respond to that name today!

"Can you go a write down the fridge temperatures for me please," Geoff orders once more.

"Of course!" I respond, as my face turns red with embarrassment. "Sorry Geoff, I not myself today."

"No, appears you are hungover" Geoff complains. "I know you and Tom went out last night. Just try and stay out of trouble today ok?" His lecturing makes me feel ridiculously small. He must see that I am close to tears as he places a hand on my shoulder and gives me a small smile.

"It's ok. Just take your time." Geoff says to me softly, as he lightly squeezes my shoulder.

"Thanks," I managed to squeak while wiping tears from my eyes.

Geoff then gives me some space and we opened the store. Although my emotions were a little bit all over the place, I felt confident I could emulate Sophie and how she interacts with our regulars. As much as I would hate to admit it out loud, I find myself watching her a lot when we are at work. Nothing could prepare me for the difference in how people interacted with me. The first few customers calling me sweetheart and darling did not bother me at first, but after the hundredth time being called a sweetheart, it was starting to grate on me. The male customers keep saying I look tired. I guessed that not wearing makeup, was a mistake. Getting compliments about my appearance was also very awkward. Creepy men, that did not bother me before, but as Sophie, I could feel them staring at my ass as I walked. If I ignored all the comments, I was happy with how it was going. I felt I was doing a rather good Sophie impression. I had even started flicking my hair like her. That was until this I served my next customer.