Undercover in the Ivy League

The Slip-Up

Sophia stood in line at Starbucks, scrolling through her phone as she waited her turn to order. The bustling noise of the café was a comforting background, a small slice of normalcy in her otherwise complicated life. Ethan stood next to her, casually looking around, his presence as constant as a shadow. She had grown used to him always being nearby, but something about today felt different. Maybe it was the lingering embarrassment from the night at the party, or maybe it was just her imagination.

When it was finally her turn, she stepped up to the counter with a practiced ease, ready to place her order. It was a routine she had down to an art—her coffee order was as specific as her taste, a little quirk that her family and the close staff at home always teased her about.

“Hi, I’ll have a grande caramel macchiato,” Sophia began, her voice firm. “With almond milk, extra shot of espresso, one pump of vanilla, one pump of hazelnut, light foam, extra drizzle of caramel, and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.”

As she finished her order, she heard Ethan’s voice simultaneously echo her words, “...and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.”

Sophia’s head whipped around to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise. He hadn’t just mimicked her; he had recited her order as if it was second nature to him. There was no hesitation, no faltering. It was as if he had done this a thousand times before.

“Uh…” Ethan quickly caught himself, realizing his mistake. “I, uh, just guessed. You look like someone who would order that. It was a lucky guess, I swear.”

Sophia’s eyes narrowed, skepticism clouding her usually bright expression. “Really? A lucky guess? The exact same order, down to the extra drizzle of caramel and the sprinkle of cinnamon?” She crossed her arms, her gaze never leaving his face. “The only people who know that order from memory are my dad, my mom, and a few of the staff back home. Even some of them don’t get it right.”

Ethan’s mind raced, trying to find a plausible explanation. He had been briefed on almost every detail about Sophia—her likes, dislikes, habits, and even her quirks, all part of his mission to keep her safe. But this slip-up was dangerous. He couldn’t afford to blow his cover, not when they were just starting to build a semblance of trust.

He forced a laugh, trying to sound casual. “I guess I’m just that good at reading people. Maybe I’ve seen you order it before, or maybe I just have a sixth sense when it comes to coffee.”

Sophia didn’t seem convinced, but before she could press further, the barista called out her name, holding up her drink. She took a step toward the counter but paused, glancing back at Ethan with a look that was half suspicion, half curiosity.

“Yeah… maybe,” she muttered, grabbing her coffee. But as she walked away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. How could he have known her exact order?

Ethan followed her out of the café, silently cursing himself for the slip-up. He needed to be more careful. Sophia was smarter than most people gave her credit for, and if she started digging, it wouldn’t be long before she uncovered the truth.

As they walked back toward campus, an uneasy silence hung between them. Sophia was lost in thought, trying to make sense of what had just happened, while Ethan was mentally kicking himself for letting his guard down.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, the suspicion still lingering. “You sure you don’t know more about me than you’re letting on?” she asked, trying to sound light-hearted but failing to mask the underlying concern in her voice.

Ethan forced a smile, hoping it looked genuine. “I promise, just a good guesser. But I’ll keep that order in mind for next time.”

Sophia nodded, though she wasn’t entirely convinced. Something about Ethan had always seemed a little too perfect, a little too polished. And now, with this slip-up, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to him than met the eye.

As they continued to walk in silence, both of them were left with the same thought: secrets had a way of coming to the surface, and it was only a matter of time before this one did.