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The stars were twinkling in the night sky when I entered a shop for a much needed coffee break.
I waited in line, watching the people seated around the shop.
When it was my turn to order I chose the house blend—sans sugar or anything else, of course.
“You look tired,” the older man working there said, pouring my coffee into a cup and sticking a lid on.
I nodded. “Job hunting will do that to you.”
“Job hunting?” he propped an elbow on the counter, ignoring the others waiting to place their order. “I’m looking for some help.”
“You are?” I brightened. I had already decided I liked the atmosphere in the neat little shop.
“Yeah,” he smiled kindly, “we’re far too busy and understaffed. When can you start?”
My eyes threatened to bug out of my head. “That’s it? I’m hired? You didn’t even interview me!”
He chuckled. “Have you killed anyone?”
“No!” I scoffed in disbelief.
“See?” He shrugged. “You’re safe enough. When can you start?” He asked again.
“T-tomorrow?” I hesitated, wondering if someone was about to jump from behind the counter and tell me I’d been Punk’d.
“Excellent,” he clapped his hands togeth
er and smiled broadly. “Welcome to Griffin’s,” he held out a hand, “I’m Griffin, the owner and boss extraordinaire around these parts.”
“Sutton.” I couldn’t help but smile at his exuberance and overall gruff charm.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Alright, now get out of here before people start thinking I have a heart.”
I laughed, amused by my new boss.
I was headed out the door when I heard my name called. Startled, I stopped in my tracks. No one knew me here, so I couldn’t see how they’d be speaking to me, but Sutton wasn’t exactly a common name.
I turned around, scanning the interior of the shop when my eyes landed on arms flailing wildly.
I laughed, recognizing Frankie. He waved me over and I knew it would be rude not to join.
“Hi,” I said hesitantly, standing beside the table he occupied.
His red hair stuck up wildly around his head and his arm was slung over the shoulder of a pretty blonde girl. Another girl sat beside him, and her hair color matched his, so I knew this must be the sister he had spoken of yesterday.
“Sutton, this is my girlfriend, Jen,” he leaned over and kissed the cheek of the blonde girl, “and my sister, Daphne,” he nodded to the other girl.
Both of them said hi, as I stood there awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you,” I finally spoke.
“Sit down.” Frankie pointed to the empty chair. “We’re nice people. Stop looking at us like we kicked a puppy.”
“Sorry,” I laughed, my nervousness slipping away.
I pulled out a chair and took a seat, at a loss as to what to say. I wasn’t a shy person, but I wasn’t a great conversationalist either.
“So you moved in across from Caelan?” Daphne asked me, pulling her pretty red hair over her shoulder so it draped down her chest.
