They stood in silence for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes until she broke the contact and turned toward the cafe. “That’s kind of you. Thank you.”
She stowed her purse and flipped on the different machines before restocking a few items that were low. Eli stood off to the side, watching.
“There is one thing I would like to ask of you, if you don’t mind,” he said.
Her heart flip-flopped and her mind ran wild. Was he going to bring up last night and ask her out on a date? Did he enjoy it as much as she did? She stared at him with what she pictured as a goofy smile.
“And what’s that?”
“Would you mind making me a vanilla latte?” Her smile fell, and disappointment immediately coursed through her. But she knew it shouldn’t. “I haven’t learned how to use the espresso machine yet.”
She cleared her throat. “Yeah. I can do that.”
She went through the motions of making the drink and then slid it across the counter. He smiled gratefully at her and took a sip.
“So good,” he murmured.
The door opened and a delivery person from a local bakery came in. She dropped off pastries for the morning rush and said she would be back later with the deli sandwiches. Molly thanked her and then worked at refilling their display cases. Just as she finished, a steady stream of customers came in.
Molly worked quickly to get the customers out the door as fast as she could, but she looked forward to seeing each of them. They were all regulars she had come to know, and the morning conversations with them made the time pass quickly.
Everyone had made her feel so welcome in Storyville that it made the mornings enjoyable.
Eli wandered around the store, but he always came back to see if she needed help. The morning went by quickly without incident. Once the bookstore got busy, Molly saw Eli less often. Or at least further away. He was at a register across the store ringing up customers, but they both caught each other’s eye occasionally.
When the morning rush was still in full swing, Katie showed up for her shift. “Hey, how’d it go?”
“Good. Just stayed busy, but nothing I couldn’t handle.” Molly poured milk into an iced drink before glancing at Katie. “Did you actually sleep in, or were you stressed all morning?”
Katie laughed. “I actually slept. Believe me, I’m just as shocked as you. I thought for sure I’d wake up like clockwork and come in. But I must have needed that.”
“Good.”
Katie grabbed her apron and tied it around her waist. “Thank you for holding down the fort.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Katie tipped her head toward an empty table. “Why don’t you grab a pastry and take a break? I’ve got this.”
Molly smiled gratefully. “Okay.” She finished the order she was working on, and then made herself a coffee and grabbed a pastry out of the display case. The cream cheese danish was calling her name. It was easily one of the best things she had ever tasted. Despite it being a small town, they had some delicious food.
She carried them over to a table in the corner and took a seat. Then she pulled out her phone.
Molly: Oh boy. Do I have a story to tell you!
She smiled to herself as she waited for a reply and took a bite out of the Danish. She closed her eyes and relished the taste.
Becca: You went to Hotty McHot’s house and did dirty things to him. Then he called you a good girl.
Molly snorted.
Molly: Close. I pretended to be his girlfriend at a bar last night and had to sit on his lap for an hour.
Becca: Close enough! Did he get hard?
Molly: Not that I could tell.
Becca: That means he has a small dick.
