Katie's Cafe

5

Hannah seems to notice my obvious good mood when she arrives for work the following morning, later than me yet again. I've never slept well afterwards.

"Someone looks chipper this morning?"

"Maybe because I am," I give her a big happy grin.

"So how was last night's little excursion? I take it you found another one?"

"I caught one, actually".

"That explains why you're in such a good mood today, I suppose. Did everything go okay?"

"I'm not going to lie to you, it was like an episode of Call the Cleaners afterwards".

"Why? What the bloody hell did you do to him?" she asks clearly thinking that I'd chopped him up into a million pieces.

"It wasn't my fault! His apartment was so filthy and disgusting".

"On a scale of one to ten how disgusting are we talking?"

"Eleven," I shudder, and my skin feels automatically itchy at the mere thought of it.

The second I got in last night I'd instantly thrown all my clothes in the washing machine, hoping to get rid of the stomach churning smell. He didn't even own a cat, but it sure smelt like he did.

"Sounds gross. On another note, do you think the sexy professor will come back in today?"

"He did say that he might pop in for breakfast at some point this morning," I smile unintentionally.

"In that case, you should maybe go put some makeup on and fix your hair before he comes in".

"What's the point in that? He's already seen me like this before, you know?"

"Well, he needs to see you as more than just some pretty woman from the cafe that he casually flirts with sometimes. Get your arse in the bathroom while I finish opening up".

I take her advice and spend a couple of minutes making myself look more presentable.

He might have just been too polite to refuse my food yesterday, but if he does come back in today, then it's a Sunday, so it's usually pretty quiet.

"He's here," Hannah's voice follows a faint knock on the bathroom door.

Why was I so nervous?

It's not like I'm planning on anything happening with this bloke anyway? I've never really been bothered about relationships or dating before.

"May I interest you in breakfast this morning?" I ask as soon as I see him dressed more casually than usual.

"I've been looking forward to it ever since you mentioned it yesterday".

"Well as you can see, you're our first and only customer so far this morning, so you can sit wherever takes your fancy".

"Thank you".

He doesn't go far, choosing to sit at a table that has a clear view of where I am.

He sits drinking a coffee that Hannah had just made for him until I head over with his food once it's ready. I swear his mouth is watering once he lays his eyes on it.

"It looks delicious".

"Tastes even better".

I'm always proud of the food I make if the customers leave here looking satisfied. I leave him to it and by the time he's finished, he looks full, slumping back into his seat.

"My compliments to the chef".

"Consider me complimented".

"Does the owner know of your culinary talents?"