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“It says Team Grumps!” the man exploded, rather grumpily.
Katie let out a sigh that was half-relief, half-frustration. “Ah, yes. Team Grumps. I can totally see it now.” Her frown deepened. “Is that all?”
“Wha—”
“You’re angry about that?” Katie pointed. “Seriously?”
The man began turning a shade of red. It wasn’t an angry red, either. It was more like the crimson of deep embarrassment.
“She could’ve drawn something terrible,” Katie explained. “And I mean really bad. She’s done it before. Trust me, she’s got the chops for it. But all she did was put you on Team Grumps. Which, quite honestly…” she leaned in confidentially, “… you might actually deserve.”
By now I’d taken the broom and was sweeping furiously. It was the only way I could stop from breaking out in laughter.
“And look at it,” Katie said, tapping the mug. “I mean, it’s so well done. Don’t you think?”
His astonishment complete, the man said nothing more. Eventually he wandered numbly back to his seat, taking his latte with him.
“Some people,” Katie smirked. “They just don’t appreciate an artist at work.”
“I know, right?” I chuckled.
“Of course… it would probably be better for business if you don’t insult the customers,” she added casually. “Not too many of them, anyway.”
I nodded sheepishly. “Right. I’ll be more… selective.”
“That’s all a girl can ask,” she grinned, adding a wink.
The door jingled as a trio of new customers came in. The place was mostly empty, though. The morning rush was over, and the afternoon lull was here.
“Hey, you’ve got class today, don’t you?” Katie asked.
I stopped sweeping and nodded. “Three of them, actually. And then afterwards, I’ve got a date.”
She smiled and nodded approvingly. “A hot date, eh?”
“Well that part remains to be seen,” I admitted. “But I’m always optimistic.”
Katie looked me over for a second or two, and her smile widened. The owner of Java Queen had always been cooler than cool. It was just one more perk — pun definitely not intended — that came with the job.
“Why don’t you knock off early then,” she suggested. “You could stop at Pagliacci and grab yourself a slice, or something else to eat.”
I pointed at the pastry case. “Well… I was going to grab those scones.”
“Other than my scones,” Katie admonished.
I untied my apron, then bunched it up and threw it at her.
“Yes boss,” I said, kissing her on the cheek before bouncing away.
~ 5 ~
ZANE
The ice-resurfacing machine hummed beneath me, grinding away the day’s grooves and gouges. The augers were set to the perfect depth. The board brush rotated at the just the right RPM’s, as the spray bars put out new ice behind me.
“Move the fucking Zamboni, jackass.”
I guided myself smoothly through another one-hundred and eighty degree turn. As I swept back up the ice from the opposite direction, the asshole in the blue jersey dropped a puck at his feet.
