Behind The Counter/ Chace Crawford

Luke

Tisch stepped out of her Mazda CX-5, greeted the building guard, Ben, with a cheerful wave, and approached the door of her café, Bean Here. With a big smile on her face, she unlocked the door, stepping inside with a bounce in her step. "Another day, another yay," she whispered to herself, flipping on the lights and preparing for another busy morning.

For seven years, Tisch had been running this cozy little café, creating a haven for coffee lovers and building a loyal customer base. She loved every minute of it, from the early morning rush to the quiet afternoons filled with the soft hum of conversation and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

As the first customers of the day began to trickle in, Tisch busied herself behind the counter, taking orders, crafting lattes, and serving up smiles with every cup. The familiar routine brought her comfort and joy. Twenty or so customers had passed through when the clock struck 8 AM, signaling the arrival of one of their regulars.

Right on cue, Chace walked in, his slicked back hair, ocean-blue eyes, and easy smile lighting up the room. He was tall and had the kind of dimples that appeared whenever he smiled, making him even more charming. For three years, he had been a regular at the café, grabbing his coffee at the same time every morning.

Mike, one of her employees, nudged her playfully with his elbow. "Mr. Casanova is here," he whispered, pointing discreetly at Chace as he made his way inside.

Tisch felt a rush of curiosity mixed with mild amusement. She quickly checked her reflection in the shiny espresso machine, smoothing the stray strands of hair that had escaped from her ponytail. Composing herself, she prepared to greet him.

Chace approached the counter with his usual friendly smile. "Good morning, Tisch."

"Good morning, Chace," she replied, her tone professional yet warm. This exchange had become a comforting ritual, one she looked forward to every day.

As she was getting Chace's order ready, he glanced at the next customer, a girl with a bright smile and sparkling eyes. He seemed to find her interesting and struck up a conversation.

"Hi there," Chace said, his smile widening. "I'm Luke. Is this your first time here?"

"Giving girls a fake name means he just wants to get into her pants and never call right after. A classic Chace move," Mike whispered to Tisch. She sighed.

The girl laughed softly. "Actually, yes. Hayley. I just moved to the neighborhood. Any recommendations?"

Their voices became a blur in Tisch's ears as she focused on preparing the next order. She had noticed Chace's charming demeanor in full effect plenty of times before.

While making the coffee, Tisch found herself glancing at the two people, catching snippets of their conversation but failing to hear the whole exchange. She wondered when he would ever stop doing that, changing his name and flirting with different girls. This wasn't the first time she had seen Chace chatting with other girls, but it's getting weirder to witness.

Finally, she finished preparing Chace's coffee. Taking a deep breath, she called out, "Latte for Cha—Luke!" Her voice wavered slightly, betraying her curiosity.

Chace looked over and smiled, momentarily breaking away from his conversation. He walked over to the counter. "Thanks, Tisch. I owe you one," he winked. Tisch managed a small, brave smile in return, though her heart felt heavy.

As Chace returned to his conversation, Tisch took a deep breath, preparing herself for what felt like it would be a long, sad day for her heart. Despite her curiosity, she knew she had to keep moving, keep smiling, and keep serving the customers who filled her café. She would hear her employees gossip about Chace's charm and his ever-changing company of women, and while she couldn't help but wonder about him, she reminded herself that life went on, and so did the café.