COFFEE

F

*_*_*

"Welcome to Starbucks." A cashier greeted us as I sat down.

"Do you have homework, Sissy?" London asked, plopping on my right side as the other siblings join us at the table.

I shake my head. "Not today."

For the first time in weeks, I don't have any assignments to do. I hurried up and finished them last week so I can have a couple of days to breathe in peace. Dayton, the Starbucks barista, has been his annoying self as usual. He keeps pestering me with small talk as I work on college assignments. No matter how many cuss words I shoot his way, he still talks to me and I'm honestly grateful for that. I didn't realize how nice it is to converse with someone my age until I met Dayton. We slowly got to know each other as I kept showing up to Starbucks in the afternoon. I haven't introduced him to the quintuplets yet, but I will eventually.

I really want to sleep, but I can't do that sadly. I need caffeine, however I'm tight on money right now since I bought countless numbers of iced coffees within the last few weeks. Dayton has been sweet and paid for some things, like shots of expresso and snacks he'll bring to my table throughout his shift. I keep telling him I'll pay him back for everything he's bought me, but he insists that I shouldn't worry about it.

Lawson's eyes beam. "Does that mean you get to play with us today?!"

"Please play with us!" Luci and Levi begged.

"Yeah, you never play with us." Lincoln grumbled.

My eyes soften. "I know, and I'm sorry."

"Order for Lacey."

"What?" I murmured quietly, walking to the pick up area.

When I arrive, a barista hands me a drink with a smile. "You're Lacey?" I nod. "Here you go. Have a nice day."

I look at the drink, confused. "There has to be a mistake. I didn't order anything."

The barista's eyebrows jump in confusion. "Let me see your drink." I hand her the drink, and she reads off the label. "I have a tall iced coffee with vanilla, 2% milk, easy ice, and two shots of expresso for Lacey."

"But I didn't buy it."

"Well, I guess today's your lucky day." She sighed. "Somebody bought you a drink. If I was you, I would take it."

I slowly take the iced coffee out of her hands. "Who would buy me a coffee?"

"That would be me."

I turn around to face a grinning Dayton. His hands are shoved into the pockets of his black leather jacket. Blue jeans hug his waist, and a black beanie rests on top of his tussled hair. He's wearing a black shirt and black combat boots.

I smirk. "You look like one of those stereotypical bad boys. Let me guess, you're a player too?"

Dayton smirks. "I take that as compliment since stereotypical bad boys are always hot, so thank you." I roll my eyes. "And if I'm a player, would that make you wish you were one of the girls I messed around with?"