The Barista

Roar

"You what!" Abby roars with excitement as she sets up her register. "You...what! Finally! Ugh! I didn't think you'd ever get that far with him. I was starting to worry about you. How was it?"

I double-check my counter and name tag before I begin to serve and get this overwhelming and excited feeling that zings through me. "I know I haven't slept with many men. And I know I'm not one who ever needs it. But it was the best I ever had. Everything was perfect. Every second of him was a feeling I'd never felt. I was starting to get confused because my emotions were heightened the entire time. I wanted to cry from the happiness. I wanted to scream in excitement. I wanted to do so many things."

"Well..." She interrupts me. "You moaned. I wasn't sure what I was hearing last night, but now I know for sure it was you and Liam. So does this mean you two are finally a couple?"

"No." I'm quick to shoot her down. "I mean. We talked for a few moments. I enjoyed every inch of him. And I like him. I like him more than my mind wants to admit. But at the moment we aren't rushing anything. And who knows? That could change in an instant. But right now, it's just friends with benefits."

She gasps. "Elle! That gives him the chance to see other girls if he wants to. I mean, I don't think he ever would. But it leaves a door opened that you should have closed."

"Excuse me?" A lady calls out. "Can I place my order? I have to get to work."

I nod, quickly setting my cup down, and smile wide. "I am so sorry ma'am. We were not ignoring you. We just opened and we have to make sure our machines are warmed up. As you can see the few people waiting behind you, we are not holding that many people up in line. We just had to make sure everything was ready."

"Well?" The old woman says in a snotty tone.

Her grey curly hair, thick and round glasses, and wrinkles wrapping around her face tell me she's a crabby old woman. And the fact that she's been here several times and should have an idea of how we set up.

"Yes, ma'am. We are set up and ready for the day. And I'd ask you to be mindful and remember we have a bad habit of opening our doors fifteen minutes early and sometimes the machines are not ready. I understand you are in a rush, but you're here ten minutes earlier than our opening time. So, I'd suggest patience and or going elsewhere."

Her mouth drops as she gasps. "I want to speak to a manager now!"

The crowd of people behind her all moan and begin to whisper amongst themselves. She's making a fuss which is taking time from the people behind her, and she's done this same thing before.

"Grandmother." A male voice calls out. "Are you causing problems again?"

"Liam?" I question, looking at his suit and tie, knowing he wasn't wearing that last night. "What are you doing here? And this lady is your grandmother?"

"Yes." He's quick to say. "And I'm sorry if she's being a pain. My dad has had her in many different nursing homes and she's just out of control. I was dropping her off at an adult daycare and had to stop to get some tape from the hardware store. I noticed she was missing and I had a feeling she came in here."

My lips cannot hold back my giant smile. "What made you think she was in here?"

"She likes the coffee. And knowing where I was, you were the first building I wanted to stop at."

I analyze his professional look, his suit, his clean-cut hair, and his perfectly sculpted face, and I want to grab him and kiss him.

I bite my bottom lip as I watch his sexy body lean in against the counter. He turns around looking at everyone in the coffee shop. "I am sorry to you coffee lovers for my grandmother holding up the line. How many of you are here? Seven? Eight? Your drinks are on me. And get yourself a small bagel or donut too. I'm  buying."