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Days later, I find myself behind the coffee counter of Starbucks at five in the morning.
Usually, the smell of coffee excites me, but the sickly sweet smell of espresso shots and mocha is making me nauseous for some reason. What’s more is that this is a Starbucks bistro, so it’s a lot smaller (concentrated) than a normal coffee shop because the main seating area is outside.
The manager—an overly exuberant man with wisps of gray hair and freckles, has been walking me through the basic steps of coffee preparation since I walked through the door.
Virginia has coaxed him into hiring me, and even though I need to quickly earn that $8,000 I owe, I’m suddenly wishing that she hadn’t.
“Always smile.” “The customer is always right.” “Coffee makes everyone happy so you need to look happy.” The manager says in succession; I still haven’t caught his name.
“Any questions, Em?” He smiles.
“Emerald,” I politely correct him. “I think I have everything.”
“Great!” He adjusts my green beret and then he motions to a blonde who’s been watching us the entire morning. “Sarah, make sure you train Emerald to the best of your ability this week.”
“Will do,” she says and she waits until he goes into the back room. “You’re Virginia Marsh’s granddaughter, right?”
I nod. I’m not in the mood for conversation.
“Well, I never see you at church...” She hands me a pair of plastic gloves.
“I’m taking a break.”
She laughs and clutches her chest. “A break? You live in a house with Virginia Marsh and she lets you take a break from church? No fucking way...”
I raise my eyebrow at her cursing.
“Don’t worry, Emerald.” She smiles. “All of us Blythers aren’t as simple as we seem. You want to get dinner together after we’re done today?”
I know common protocol is to lie about social outings when you’re not interested, to say something nice like “Oh, I wish I could but I have plans tonight,” but I honestly don’t give a fuck.
“No. Could you show me how to make the lattes?”
She looks slightly offended, but she shows me how to make every latte on the menu. Then she walks me through the basic coffees and cold drinks.
When the first customers arrive, she lets me take the orders and handle the money while she mixes everything.
I try my best to smile at every customer, but since most of them are engaged in whatever’s happening on their smartphones, I don’t bother looking up by the time its midday.
“Okay, things are probably going to be slow for the hour or so.” Sarah starts a new pot of specialty coffee. “Do you want to learn how to make the smoothies?”
“Sure.”
She takes a carton of bananas out of the fridge, and the bell over the door rings.
“Get whoever that is will you?” she says. “I’ll set everything up.”
I turn around and without looking up, I enter my passcode into the register. “Starbucks Bistro. What’s your name and what do you want?”
“Is that the new greeting now?” A deep voice says. “Did it change recently?”
“They don’t pay me enough to make conversation. What’s your name and what do you want—Please?”
“Carter.” He hesitates. “Carter Black. Grande coffee with a hazelnut shot and two sugars.”
I write “C.B.” on his cup before turning around and making it as quickly as I can.
When I finish and decide to face him, I’m completely taken aback by how attractive he is.
His black V-neck shirt is hugging his perfectly chiseled six pack, and his dark jeans are hanging off his hips, exposing a small glimpse of what I can already tell is a perfectly carved V-line. His dirty blond hair is beyond tousled—like he just rolled out of bed seconds ago. And his eyes—his sapphire blue eyes, are currently locked on mine.
“Are you going to give me my coffee?” He smiles, revealing a set of deep dimples. “Or do they not pay you enough to do that either?”
“Three dollars and seven cents.”
He hands me his golden member card, never breaking gaze with me.
Once I swipe his card, I hand him his coffee and he smiles again.
“When did you start here?” he asks.
“Thank you for visiting Starbucks. Have a nice day.”
He smiles even wider and brings his cup to his lips.
I’m tempted to tell him to stop staring at me or put him out of the store, but he seems like the type that would think I was joking. Then again, the manager did say that some of the regulars like to sip their coffee before leaving, to make sure it’s up to par; If not, we’re supposed to remake it...with a smile.
