PURE HONEY | spencer agnew

1.01

   THE SHOP WAS ALWAYS busy on Saturday afternoons. Once eleven or twelve hit, a rush immediately started. For years Layla was able to do it on her own, but once some content creators started posting about her store on tiktok, it was always busy on the weekends.

   She wasn't complaining by any means, she definitely needed the business. But now she had to hire employees and all of her time was spent at the store.

   The youngest employee who was eighteen, Hanah, runs through the store right as the clock strikes twelve, holding a coffee cup in each hand. Her gaze immediately find Layla, and she darts in her direction.

   "Hi, I'm so sorry I'm late. But I brought you an iced coffee. Hazelnut!"

   Hanah did have a habit of always getting to work right when her shift started, so she was always clocking in a minute or two late. But she was a hard worker, and all of their regulars adored her.

   She's learned a lot about Hanah since she started a few months ago in June, right when she graduated college. Hanah has been a lover of romance novels since the age of eleven years old, and was never scared to be authentically herself.

   Layla never thought she would look up to someone a decade younger than her, but here she was. Admiring the young girl with a heart of gold.

   "Thanks, Hanah. You know you could just get free coffee here, right?" Layla laughed, signalling to the coffee shop connected to her bookstore. She was a co owner of the cafe, so they had all of their own employees over there.

   Hanah nodded, "Yeah, but only one per shift. I wanted one now because when it gets around three or four, I get tired and want another."

   "You're only eighteen, you'll be fine without another." Layla chuckled. "But go get clocked in, rush just started."

   Her other two employees were her younger sister, Londyn, and her best friend from college, Indigo.

   Londyn followed after Layla's footsteps, moving to another state once she graduated college. The two moved in together, and now one is the owner and the other a manager of the store.

   Indigo and Layla went to college together, studying film. They both attended the University of Florida and were dormmates for their freshman year. Sure, the two had some fights over the years, but their friendship was still standing strong.

   Layla spent her time at college working at the on campus coffee shop, and she surprisingly loved it. In college she studied film and dance. A weird combo, but she enjoyed both things growing up.

   She wanted to pursue her passion of dance with being on a stage, which she did for a while. Right out of college she moved to New York temporarily to be on broadway.

   The dream was short lived as she did two short tours being ensemble for Mamma Mia and Mean Girls, which she was on the first ever tour for.

   Layla loved being on the stage and being on tour, but she also just loved being home and running her own business. Once her tour was over for Mean Girls, she moved to California with Indigo and she opened up her bookstore.

   It didn't fit right in with her love of film, but she was content with how her life is. More than content, she was extremely happy and couldn't wish it to be any other way.

   She took a quick sip of her coffee, then set it down behind the register as a customer walked up with four books in their hands. "You know, we just got the Five Nights at Freddy's books in this morning. You're the first to grab something this quick."

   The man in front of her chuckled. "Yeah, right now I'm teaching my co worker all of the lore. We just got her to play all of the games."

   "Oh god. I haven't played the games in so long. I haven't gotten past the third one." Layla laughed, scanning the box set quickly and placing it in the paper bag with their logo on the front reading 'Stardust Books & Coffee'.

   He quickly glanced down at his phone, but right back up, his dark curls falling over his forehead. "We just did security breach. It was a team effort of five to do."

   "Sounds like work is fun. Your total is $38.97." Layla clicked the 'Tender' button on the tablet, waiting for him to pay on the other side of the counter.

   He nodded. "I can't complain. Do you know when you'll get the rest of the collection?"

   "I can ask our supplier for it. It'll be a few weeks probably, but feel free to stop by. We have pretty good coffee, too." Layla smiled, pointing lazily over to the coffee bar.

   "For sure. I'll see you later..." He glances down at her nametag stuck to the front of her dress. "Layla."

   "Have a nice day!"