“Hi Bar–Angelica. Celeste tutors you, right?” I ask, trying to put warmth behind each word.
“Yup.” She smacks the “p” sound loud enough, and with enough sass, that my new trainee Joel turns and shoots a raised eyebrow at me. He’s picked up everything quick, like which professors are regulars and which students you don’t want to fuck with. Angelica was not someone you wanted to fuck with.
“Look, I just wanted to apologize about how we first met. I was snarky and judgy and it wasn’t cool. Especially considering how ridiculously smartandfashionable you are.”
It couldn’t hurt to throw in a compliment.
“I mean seriously, who understands molecular geometryandrocks a Chanel mini skirt?” I try to keep my tone casual and uplifting, but it’s clear she’s having none of it. Okay maybe that was a bit much but I still haven’t fully apologized or explained my side to Celeste and on the off chance my name is brought up with Angelica, it would be nice to have someone in my corner.
Angelica looks me over from head to…well mid-chest, which is as far as she can see from the other side of the coffee bar.
“Okay, let me cut the bullshit. I’m trying to be a better person and not judge people before I know them. Give people the benefit of the doubt,” I offer genuinely. I feel the tips of my earsheating with embarrassment as a small line forms behind her, several people clearly listening in.
“And you wantmeto be the guinea pig to your little change of heart?” Angelica scoffs.
“No! No. What I mean is I’m trying to make amends, and I want to start with you because you deserve better. I’m truly sorry,” I say.
“Fine.” She waves a hand at me then looks up to the menu above my head. “I’ll have a large sugar-free caramel macchiato, almond milk, no whip.” Her manicured eyebrow arches at me like she’s daring me to say something snarky about her order.
“Coming right up.” I move to the side to make her order and let Joel take the next customer. In my periphery, I see Angelica waiting to the side, arms crossed. Her sharp wit and fierceness remind me of Ellora, if Ellora ever became a goth Barbie. I’m sure if the two of them ever met, they could rule the world together under their diarchy.
With her order in hand I turn to put it on the counter for Angelica when the bell above the front door dings with another customer. For some reason my stomach flip flops. A Pavlovian reminder of watching Celeste coming through that door, always a smile on her face as if joy was her only option. I glance up and instead see Delaney. I pass Angelica her drink and turn towards Delaney who’s bee-lining it towards me. I glance quickly to the line, my shoulders relaxing in relief as Joel seems to be handling all the customers fairly well on his own. Not wanting to slack on the job, but also desperately wanting to hear anything about Celeste from Delaney has me chewing my lip and exiting the side partition from behind the coffee bar. Delaney comes to stand in front of me, just as Angelica turns to leave, abruptly stopping when she notices Delaney. The two glare at one another, Delaney lifting her nose a tad higher in the air. They pass each other with squinted eyes as sharp as daggers, like rivals in opposing gangs.
“Angelica,” Delaney says flatly.
“Delaney,” Angelica replies just as coldly, before walking off. Delaney glares over her shoulder as Angelica exits the building.
Delaney’s head whips around to me and a smile returns to her face. “Hey, Nikkie!” She beams, as if the previous exchange never happened.
“I’m sorry…what the fuck was that?” I ask, confused now more than ever.
“Oh Angelica?” Delaney rolls her eyes. “Her and I have some theatre rivalry. She gave me the nickname ‘Delulu’ when I auditioned for the lead last year thatshewanted. She’s got chutzpah and some strong vocals, I’ll give her that, but girly, theatre needsmore!”
I take a deep breath and try my best to stay far away from another complication. I do not need more drama after I just apologized to Angelica. “So what’s up?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Oh right! Okay, well as you may or may not know, my birthday is coming up! It’s actually on Thanksgiving this year, next Monday to be exact.” Delaney traces little circles on the counter beside her with her two index fingers, clearly very excited over her upcoming birthday.
“Well, happy early birthday then,” I say with a smile. “Do you want something from the cafe by the way?”
“Oh, no thanks, I’m fasting for Yom Kippur,” she continues. “Butttt…you don’t need to wish me anearlybirthday because you will be there to celebrate with us next week!” She pokes my chest with one finger.
“Um, sure, Lane, I’d love to. But…We? I’m assuming Celeste will be there,” I ask tentatively. This feels like one of those moments after a couple breaks up and all their friends have to choose sides. Even though we never broke up because we were never actually together.
“Of course! I wouldn’t not have my best friend at my birthday soiree. However, Ididrun it by her and she’s totally cool with you coming,” Delaney says. I quickly glance back to Joel, feeling guilty for leaving him with a handful of customs. He catches my gaze and jerks his head, indicating he needs some help.
“Okay, well that sounds great, Lane. I have to run, but text me the details,” I say, giving her shoulder a little squeeze before rushing behind the coffee bar again.
“Fantastic! I’ll email you a copy of my birthday gift wish list!” Delaney jumps up and down a little, clapping her hands before waving. She turns on her heel and makes her way out of the building.
I busy myself for the next two hours helping Joel navigate the POS system, going over delivery instructions, and how to direct people looking for certain books to Dazey who handles the register for non-cafe purchases. I didn’t realize how much I picked up on my own throughout the summer, but Joel seems to be taking everything in stride, asking a few questions when he needs clarification.
During the afternoon lull between lunch and the evening, I sit down at the high top bar adjacent to the coffee bar. I didn’t want to go too far in case Joel needed me for something. I pull my phone from my jeans and open the text thread between Celeste and me. Sure, we’ve been civil with each other especially during that awkward week or so where June casually parent-trapped us. While I appreciated the time it had given us to break the tension, it wasn’t all gone. I still need to apologize to Celeste and let her know how I truly feel. I take a deep breath and type, then retype a message to Celeste hoping she hasn’t blocked me.
Hey Celeste, it’s Dominic.
Erase. She knows it’s you, idiot.
Hey Celeste, Delaney invited me to her birthday party. Gonna be a blast!!!
