The Clash, Book One

Chapter 23: Eloise Gardener, Part B

Alena couldn't help but smile as she parked the bug. She then stepped out and went inside the coffee shop.

As there was no one at the counter, Alena walked up and placed an order for hot chocolate before paying for it.

"It'll be right up," the clerk spoke with a smile. She then called out the order to the barista, who then went to work.

Alena then walked off to the side and began scrolling through Pinterest. She found herself giggling at a few of the pins that she saw.

A few minutes later, she looked up at the sound of her order being called out. She walked to the counter and retrieved her hot chocolate.

She thanked the clerk before she began searching around for an available table. She took a sip of her drink just before a familiar face appeared in her view.

"Hey, Alena," Nick greeted with a smile.

Alena couldn't help but smile back as she replied, "Hey, Nick." She then surmised, "I take it that you're on a coffee break, too?"

He chuckled at that before he began, "I actually just finished up a client meeting." He then paused and added, "I was just about to get a refill. Maybe we could hang out for a bit?"

Alena nervously bit her lips as she thought over his offer. Was this a good idea? Probably not. But as she looked into those brown eyes and saw that very slight - yet still hopeful - smile, she found that she didn't care.

She smiled as she told him, "Sure. I'll find us a table." His smile grew as he nodded; he then headed to the counter.

Alena then spotted a small table near the wall that was close to the window. She quickly snagged it as she sat down.

She resumed her Pinterest scrolling until Nick sat down across from her. She couldn't help but grin as she noticed the noticeably dark color of his coffee.

She then teased, "Black coffee, huh? Don't you want to add something else in it?"

He only shrugged before he told her, "I add a couple sugars, but I like my coffee strong," before taking a sip.

Alena bit back a wide smile as she realized the description could just as easily describe her. Goodness knows that he had ample experience with how strong-willed she could be.

When he placed his coffee back on the table, he commented, "And you? That doesn't even look like coffee."

"That's because it's hot chocolate - I don't really like coffee," she explained.

Nick hummed before he teased, "So, you have a sweet tooth, huh?" his expression changing to a grin.

Alena grinned back as she replied, "I guess you could say that." Both of them then began laughing.

When they had sobered, Nick then asked her, "What do you drink in the morning then?"

"Orange juice," she simply replied, resting her hand on her chin. She then told him, "I always drank it when I was a kid, and I guess it just stuck. Even in college," with a shrug.

Nick nodded before he spoke, "Since I know you're not from here, where did you go to college?"

"In Virginia - that's also where I've worked for the last three years," Alena explained before taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

"And you decided to take a job across the country?" Nick asked, his tone a combination of curiosity and surprise.

The blonde nodded before she told him, "It was a great opportunity for me, and it would give me...a chance to have a new experience."