“Yeah. He’s new. He’s my…emotional support…bird.” Jacob responded. “This is Teddy.”
“I’m Teddy motherfucker!” Teddy squawked loudly into Jacob’s ear. He had a feeling he would do that every time he was introduced.
“Well if there was anyone I knew who would need it, it would be you.” Thomas responded.
“What brings you here today? I thought you were working out of the new office?” Jacob wasn’t exactly sure what it was that Thomas did, but he did know that it sounded important. Government something something. Mind you, most things that weren’t slinging coffee sounded more important than what he did.
“Not today. I have the day off.”
“For good behaviour?” Jacob retorted.
“I got to sleep in today so I figured I’d come see how you were.” He responded.
“That’s nice of you, but why?”
“You just seemed off your game last night. Just wanted to make sure something wasn’t going on.” Thomas responded.
“What exactly would be going on?”
“Well that’s what I’d like to figure out.” Thomas pointed to Teddy. “I mean…you did get yourself an emotional support bird overnight. You sure there’s nothing to talk about?”
Jacob grit his teeth. Thomas had a tendency of doing this. He was grateful when his friends looked out for him but Thomas had a way of doing it in the wrong ways. He was the type of man to constantly insert himself into situations that he really didn’t belong in. He meant well but often that just made it more infuriating
Jacob knew his life wasn’t perfect, but he was figuring things out. Slowly. Very slowly.
But Thomas dropping by to visit felt a little too nosey for his tastes. This seemed to happen every breakup. Thomas would find someone, over fixate on them, and then when things inevitably fell apart he’d turn to his friends and help as a way of overcompensating his emotional needs- or at least that was how it felt.
After a minute, Thomas was still talking and Jacob found his mind wandering.
He wondered what would happen if Thomas could find someone. If he had more time to sink into a relationship, he’d have less time meddling in Jacob’s love life- or lack thereof. Thomas needs to find someone. Thomas needs to find a love.
Before Thomas could order, and Jacob could quantify what he was doing, his hands got to work. He pulled a shot of espresso, dashed a pinch of cinnamon into it, frothed up a cup of almond milk with a bit of macadamia and finished it off with a caramelheart. Before Thomas realized he had been talking this whole time, Jacob had a drink ready for him
“What’s this?” Thomas asked.
“Here Thomas. On the house. Thanks for stopping by.” Jacob said, before he himself snapped out of whatever trance he had been in.
“Sorry, I must’ve been rambling. I got lost in thought there. Barely noticed you making this.” Thomas chuckled. “Thanks.”
“Anytime?” Jacob said, looking around the space wondering what had just happened. “Did I just…”
“What is it?” Thomas asked as he picked up the drink and sniffed it.
“Coffee?” Jacob asked. He wasn’t entirely sure what it was either.
“I see…” Teddy whispered.
“What?” Jacob asked Teddy.
“What?” Thomas asked Jacob.
“Oh. Nothing. Sorry. I just-” Jacob stammered. Thomas blinked at him. “Enjoy the coffee.”
“Is this a new blend or…?” Thomas took a sip. His eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to pin down the flavour. He clapped his tongue on the roof of his mouth and then he froze.
“Uh…Thomas?” Jacob snapped his fingers in front of Thomas which snapped him back to reality.
Suddenly music began to play. At first quiet, but then it swelled to a massive bombast in a matter of moments.
