Sweet n' Warm

Chapter 8

Keith had the hang of it; he was sure of it. 

"Coffee is done only when the red blinks, the beans have to be around the designated line, the machine is ready when-" Keith was interrupted during his fifth rerun on everything that needs to be done by the entrance bell's chime. He glanced back, he caught a glimpse of Hunk, and someone behind the big guy but Keith didn't pay much mind to it, he shot a smile at both of them. 

Lance wasn't working with him today, Jerry was coming in around noon, so the shop was his till' then. He'd savor the peace. Even so, Keith couldn't help but miss that tall, lean, annoying, undeniably attractive boy. 

"Hey, Keith!" Hunk waved, grinning happily. Turning over, he smiled back at Hunk but that smile was soon to fade and shift into a slight frown. "Hi there, cowboy" Lance purred coming from behind Hunk with an easy smile. "Hunk," Keith began taking a deep breath in, then, continued relaxing his features into a polite smile "Lance, how can I help you guys' out today?"

Lance waltzed his way to the counter, placing one hand on each corner of the cash register he practically pinned the area, Keith placed a hand on his hip while the other rested at his side. Keith's eyes slowly trailed from the tan boy's face down to his neck where his gaze lingered, then they went to his broad shoulders and their nicely built form.   

Hunk shook his head slightly, he'd decided to not get involved with whatever bickering occurred or anything else for that matter, so, he walked over next to Lance and fixed his focus on the menu. 

The tall boy sniffed once, twice, "The coffee's burning" Lance smirked. Keith's eyes widened, he spun in a flash and checked the Coffee machine and saw the red light blinking wildly. Keith swore under his breath. 

"Tsk, tsk, tsk" Lance straightened his posture,  he shook his head slowly, "you still need some more tutoring it seems, I'd happily offer after-hour lessons" Keith's head shot back towards Lance's direction and attempted to glare but could only bite his lower lip to hold himself back. "Okay, Mcclain, you got me there" Keith rose his arms in defeat and let out a sigh mixed with a scoff. Lance grinned in triumph. 

Hunk cleared his throat, both boy's attention was caught by it. "I'd like a cup of Balmeran tea, please," Keith wrote down the order on a pad nodding "anything else?"  Hunk shot a questioning glance in Lance's direction. "Mm, I'll get a Nalquod with extra sprinkles" Lance shifted his weight to the left and placed his right hand on his hip. Keith nodded one last time and left to work on the beverages. 

Lance and Hunk sat shortly after in a nearby booth chatting happily and lively. Keith couldn't help but glance, frequently. He'd noticed his small attraction towards that tall Cuban boy but Keith never tried to delve into any of his crushes, this one hasn't proved to be any different yet at least, who was he kidding though; Lance had a girlfriend and it was Lance, might as well get it over it already.  Keith sighed. He flattened his apron, placed the drinks on top of a plastic tray and headed towards the two boys. 

"Here you go" Keith smiled, Lance stared. "Thank you, Keith" Hunk smiled back, a faint thud was heard followed by a whining Lance. "Oye!" Lance glared at Hunk "Carajo, acere, eso dolió"  Lance looked back at Keith and smiled. Keith somehow understood those weren't the prettiest words spoken but damn could he listen to it again and again. 

"Thanks" Lance finally said, winking at Keith. Baffled, Keith smiles and walks away unsure of what else he could've done. 

Lance's eyes focused back to Hunk, who was joyously drinking his tea. "Did I do good?" Lance looks warily at Hunk. Hunk's attention slowly drifted from the tea and onto his near-frantic friend. Placing a fist under his chin, Hunk considered all of the events. "You did as best as Lance Mcclain could've done" Smiling, Hunk's attention fixed itself on the remaining content of the beverage. Lance melted into his seat huffing at the answer. 

Feeling a buzz from his back pocket, Lance checks his phone. A frown found its way onto his face, Hunk raised his eyes to inspect the boy's reaction. Before Hunk had the chance to say anything Lance shot in "Nyma" with a wink. Hunk did not laugh nor smile at this, he knew about them, and he didn't approve. 

Keith returned, the atmosphere was much more serious than it had been the last time he came around. Lance seemed rather forced and Hunk seemed as if he was told something displeasing. Keith managed a smile, "I can get you another two, on the house" Keith shifted his weight one side to the other, he wanted to help but he didn't with what or if he even was capable of doing so; Keith then glanced in Hunk's, he noticed the big guy was too immersed in his cell phone to pay attention or care about his surroundings.

Lance's deep blue eyes fixed themselves on Keith, feeling as though his knees suddenly retired from their duty, it was an effort for Keith to hold his ground. Even though it looked like he was about to say something instead Lance raised a brow in question; "what?" Keith folded his arms in front of him, the tall tan boy with a smile of pearls had suddenly burst into laughter. 

"You're offering drinks 'on the house' now, huh?" Lance's mood had lightened up, "Yeah, I was, not anymore though" Keith spun on his heel and walked off not resisting the urge to smile. 

A little while after Hunk and Lance left. 

It was well past noon, Jerry was late. Keith was told Jerry was known for his slow-paced way and tardiness.  Keith doze off in the lounging area. 

Lance's blue eyes rivaled the ocean's deep blue, they entranced Keith. He couldn't help but slip with every glance, all of his fluid movements as though he had previously coordinated it all like some elaborated dance. Keith would be lying if he said he didn't want to see if Lance's beautifully tanned skin was as soft as it suggested. Tangle his fingers in that dark brown hair of his, and breathe in the sea salt smell. And-

"Yo, Keith" Jerry called over from the back. "Slacking off are ya'?" Jerry chuckled. Keith hadn't heard when he got in, "Oh, um, no. I'm on my break" Keith stood up. Jerry wasn't that much taller, they were just around the same height. Jerry's chestnut brown hair seemed rather messy despite being short, the man grinned at Keith for no apparent reason. 

"Yeah? Ok." Jerry proceeded to go to his locker and put his stuff away and take out his apron. Keith remembered when Lance rushed in, he was probably out on the beach that day. 

Checking the time, Keith realized it was almost time for him to leave. He took off his apron and exchanged goodbyes with Jerry who seemed reluctant to work. 

Keith tugged on his jacket closer to himself, he was freezing; he made his way to the train walking fast past all the too-slow walkers. 

While on his way home his mind slipped off into thinking about how Lance's grin can be so amazing and the way his tan skin tempts ever so mischievously into caressing it. 

___________________

I am genuinely sorry I've taken so long to update, Hurricane Maria hit hard, finals are fucked up, and my mental state isn't the best so,, bear with me :'))

(fun fact that wasn't asked for: I made most of this chapter listening to Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Dogg) 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!!!

I am extremely happy you like this thing I'm working on :')