Dirty Chai

Chapter 2 - Bridget

The message for an interview at the Coffee Shop came within the week. In fact it was the only job that got back to me at all. The email said

"Dear Bridget, thank you for your interest in working at Good Brew! Your resume caught our eye and we would love to bring you in for an interview at our store location! Does Wednesday August 20th work for you?"
- Good Brew Management Team

Of course I responded and said I was available. And then I immediately called my mom and told her the good news. She helped me pick out an outfit over the phone which didn't scream desperate but was also classy enough for an interview yet causal enough for a chill coffee shop.

The email came on Sunday and let me just say, Monday and Tuesday crawled by. I was so anxious for Wednesday that I could barely pay attention to my classes and my time at home was spent researching proper interview etiquette and how to get hired at your local coffee shop. (Yes that was an actual article I'm not being overdramatic). But finally Wednesday rolled around. I got ready way too early and sat anxiously for a bit then decided getting there early was more than fine because I would have to find parking. Plus being early is like really good right?

The shop was legit 5 min away. I got there still 30 minutes before my interview. I chewed my lip deciding what to do. I concluded going in and feeling out the vibe would be a good idea. I went in and all my anxiety dissipated. The shop was so cute and the smells! Ugh the smells could make you feel the coziest you have ever felt. It was rich espresso smells and coffee grounds and warm delicious pastries. There was light music and the customers were mostly college students doing work. My eyes meandered to where the bar was. There was a young woman about 30 ish and next to her... my heart fluttered. It was the guy from the website! The hot one. He was mind you even better looking in person. He worked seamlessly quick and efficient but with an ease that didn't make it seem rushed. He engaged with the customers and they were laughing or smiling at things he would say. I even watched as the other worker the woman dropped a coffee and started profusely apologizing but he just swiped it up so fast with a rag he kept hanging on his side all while telling her it was no issue.

I finally broke my trance and walked up to the counter. The woman approached me first. I picked up that she was mainly working the register and dealing with food while he was on the bar doing the drinks.

"Welcome to good brew! How can I help you?" She chirped.
"Oh - um hi. I'm actually here for an interview?"
I said far too hesitantly.
"Oh ok gotcha. Hmm our manager isn't here today."
My heart dropped did I get the date wrong? What does she mean the manager isn't here?
Suddenly the man. The beautiful (trust me it's the proper word) man came over.

"Don't worry Annalise Felix told me to take care of it. Can you work the bar for a bit? Leah should be in soon to help with register."

She nodded. He went behind her and took his apron off and hung it up. I watched him as he did so. He was lean but you could tell under his clothes he would have strong muscles. Not that I was thinking about what was under his clothes! His hair was this pardon my pun espresso colored brown that was messy but also somehow not? He had light facial hair and deep brown eye-

"Ready? I'm Theo by the way." He interrupted my assessment of him with.

"Yes. I'm Bridget."

He laughed as he led the way to a small table in the back that I followed him to.

"Yes I know. " I took a seat across from him trying not to fidget too much.

"Ok I'm just going to basically give you a rundown of what the job looks like and ask you some questions about availability and such. We are really short staffed so this interview is more of a formality." He smiled at me.
"You ok?"
"Oh ... y-yes I'm fine."
"Don't be nervous. You are hired." His smile melts any nerves I could ever have. I smiled at him. We looked at each other for a moment. He cleared his throat suddenly and looked down at a paper. I'm assuming my resume.

"How old are you Bridget?" He asked not looking up.

"I just turned 20."

He nodded in a way of almost taking a mental note.

That was the only weird thing in the interview he asked me my availability I gave him my class schedule he talked about hours and pay and what a typical day looks like. He discussed I can even start tomorrow if I was ok with that. I was.

Then at the end of the interview he looked at me and said.

"Your training should only take a few weeks to get you fully bar ready. That would usually take someone with no experience in coffee at least a month. But you have the best trainer in the business. " he paused

"Me."