The Barista

The Meet

My heart sinks as we step inside the restaurant. My eyes analyze the round tables that seat around seven people. The wooden chairs look heavy and expensive...Duh! It's the fanciest restaurant in Roaring Bluffs.

The chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceilings look like something from a movie. They look like they are made from diamonds and gold. The lighting is warm and inviting. The bar against the back wall is large and looks like it could seat a hundred people...I might be a little exaggerative.

The hostess stand to my right is empty but as I look around, I do see two hostesses heading in our direction. The people sitting are all dressed to impress and most likely wearing clothes that cost more than a house payment for me.

"I feel so underdressed," I whisper under my breath. "I'm wearing a black semi-dress shirt and black leggings. And I'm only wearing the black leggings because you told me to."

She holds her smile through gritted teeth. "I didn't think this place was this fancy. I've been here before. Or I think I have. At least you're hot. I look like a puppet got smacked by a donkey and then they somehow produced me."

"Stop." I chuckle. "And I'm not that hot."

"Okay!" She says unenthused. "How many times a day do men hit on you at the coffee shop? Elle! You have this beautiful shoulder-length light brown hair. Not a single blemish on your perfectly sculpted face. You're bright brown eyes only accent your strong jaw structure and yeah, you have a little bit of weight on you, but it's perfect weight. You're not overweight, you have curves that men would die for. Hell! You freaking turned down that model shoot two years ago because you were too scared to be in a magazine! Most women would kill for that! And then you look at me! Muppet Central over here. Brown eyes, choppy blonde hair, toothpick skinny because I can't put a pound on me no matter how much I eat. Make it make sense!"

I shrug my shoulders. "I think you're gorgeous. So stop it! And prepare to sit by a wealthy woman and her family. This should be interesting."

"Can I help you?" A beautiful redhead walks up to us. "Our tables are mostly full, and we are having an event today. So, I don't know if you two wanted to come back a different day or?"

"We were invited." Abby blurts out. "Rynna Easton invited us."

The hostess chuckles just as another hostess walks over to us. "I'm sorry." She says, glancing over her shoulder at a table. My eyes follow and I see Rynna. "Rynna Easton? She doesn't just invite people. Not without letting us know and we do not know you two being invited."

"Is there an issue here?" A male dressed in a black suit and tie steps in front of the hostesses. His black hair wraps around his head with a giant shiny bald top. His mustache curls out and his belly looks like it's about to explode.

"No issue." The hostess interjects. "They claim they were invited by an Easton...Rynna Easton to be exact."

His belly rolls as he chuckles. "The Easton's invited you two? I mean, no offense ladies, but if you were truly invited by the Easton's, I'm comfortable in arguing that you wouldn't be dressed like that."

"We didn't know!" Abby exclaims and I can hear the anger growing in her tone. "And what does it matter how we dress? Just go get Rynna! She will tell you we are here for her!"

He stops chuckling and gives off a more serious look. "I think it's about time for you ladies to leave. I'm not even going to entertain the thought that Rynna Easton invited you two." He points at me. "This one works at a coffee shop and I only know that because I frequent there and although I believe you are an extremely polite girl, this life isn't for you."