Notre Petit Lieu

Espresso [2]

"Don't you need to prepare for customers?" Nathan asked. The cafe was due to open at in less than 45 minutes, but Kate didn't seem to mind about it.

They both quietly walked down the street, usually it would be busy with noisy cars and workers streaming by, but it was a Saturday morning and no one was working. Occasionally a car would drive past or a person walking their dog, but nothing more.

Kate wanted to tell him that she heard him talking on the phone, but she really didn't want to ruin the friendship they had together. She felt a pang of jealousy course through her, as she tightened her fists, but scolded herself. She shouldn't feel anything for him if he already has a girlfriend.

They came to a park bench and sat down, it was a beautiful day; the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in sight. But she had to bring it up somehow.

"Nice day isn't it?" Nathan said breaking the silence, he looked up the sky as he placed his espresso on the pavement to cool down for a bit.

"Yeah it is," Kate sighed, looking down at her shoes for a while before asking, "So, anything planned for the weekend?"

"No, nothing. You?" He asked. Kate paused and suddenly seemed rigid, and her brown skin had turned pale even under the warm sun. "Are you alright, you look as if you've seen a ghost."

Kate took a big breath, this was it. "Um...So, I wanted to tell you that I like you, I've liked you since the first time I met you," She gushed out, laughing nervously, "But it's okay because you already have someone else. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I was just curious, and I really should've asked you about it before as I just assumed that you were single. But don't feel guilty because I'm perfectly fine with spending the rest of my life alone." This wasn't what she wanted to say at all, but the words kept flowing out of her mouth non-stop. It was like word vomit.

Nathan turned to look at Kate, he was horrified and felt that he had lead her on. He turned back and looked down at his shoes in shame, suddenly the day didn't seem so beautiful anymore.

"I'm really sorry... I didn't mean to lead you on..." He muttered in guilt.

Just as he was about to stand up and leave he felt the presence of his brother. Whether it was the cologne he and Sarah got him for Christmas or sibling telepathy, but he knew for certain that it was him.

"Oi Nate!" Jamie said as he saw him, but suddenly slowed his speech when he saw Kate, "Are you... Um...alright?" He hadn't seen his brother in a long while, ever since he had kids, he's kind of just ignored him. But that's what kids did; destroy your social lives. Jamie himself however, wasn't anywhere near being ready to start a family yet, that was another bridge to cross when the time was right.

Jamie and Nathan were step brothers, and their parents were both divorced at the time when they were picking them up after a football club after school. They properly met when their Jamie and Nathan were fighting about whether the goal was offside or not. Ever since then they had been inseparable and they still were. The boys however had a few falling outs over time, but they got along with each other like peanut butter and jelly.

"Oh... Jamie," Nathan responded, trying his best to distract his gaze from Kate.

"Hey man...um... Who is she? Yo, Nate don't tell me you're cheating on Sarah? 'Cause she's gonna be distrau-"

"Excuse me!" Kate bursted angrily now. "I don't know who you are, but I can tell you that I would never be the other woman in any kind of relationship. I am not a home wrecker!" She was living her worst nightmare. She turned to Nathan, "Remember that time when you first came into my café?" She asked, holding the cup of jasmine tea so tightly that it was close to splitting.

"Yeah, I remember. What about it?" Nathan said quietly, not knowing where this was going.

"What did you order?" Kate asked. Tears were beginning to well up in her eyes.

"I ordered a, ummm, a cup of espresso. And a...." Nathan closed his eyes desperately trying to remember what his wife had craved for that day. What was it? Chamomile? Green tea?

"Jasmine! Jasmine tea with honey. That was it." He opened his eyes and saw tears pouring down Kate's face, her eyes were all blotchy, she was sobbing. He went to go and comfort her, but Jamie had quickly held her.

Kate gently pushed Jamie aside and looked at Nathan in his eyes. Emerald green; the same eyes that made her heart beat a little faster, the same eyes that forgot his wife, the same eyes she still adored to look into. She held up the Jasmine tea to Nathan, "Don't forget your wife again."

Nathan took the cup from her shaking hands, what did he do? Jamie put an arm over Kate's  shoulder as he lead her out of the park, softly murmuring words of comfort into her ear. He looked at Jamie, and his eyes held a foreign emotion, he had never seen Jamie look at anyone like that before, let alone a girl. Jamie soon guided her out of the park entrance and down the road, towards his car. He sat down on the bench again, thinking about what just happened.

Suddenly his phone rang giving him a sudden jolt. It was his wife. "Hi darling." He said, feeling guilty for what he'd done.

"Hi, have you got the formula yet? The twins are driving me crazy!"

"Yeah I'm sorry, I just popped in to get myself an espresso," He looked down at the cup that was in his hands. "And I got some Jasmine tea for you too."

"Aww how how did you know? Ireally needed one. Are you feeling alright?" She asked, sensing her husband was not sounding like his usual self.

"Um, Yeah, I'm going to get the formula, but I'll talk to you later, Bye love." He hung up, picked his espresso up from the pavement, where it was now slightly warm, and walked towards the shopping centre.

He began to blame himself for everything that had just happened. It all started with an espresso, if he hadn't been so selfish then this wouldn't have happened. If he had remembered his wife when talking to Kate, she would've never got hurt. All because he wanted to try an espresso.

It all started with a cup of espresso.