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LAINEY
“Wow, you’re here early,”Jen notices as I walk into work one day.
“I thought I’d get a head start to my day, I woke up early,” I say with a shrug. I hate waiting around the house just counting down until work starts.
“Well there’s a whole line of customers, and I think Jax needs helps.” Jax is the high schooler I had hired for the summer. They seem to be doing alright so far, but this will be one of my first times working with them since they were hired.
“Gotcha.” I pop on an apron over my clothes and head to the front. Jax indeed looks like they can use some help. Their shaggy blonde hair is hanging over their blue eyes as they look at me in a panic.
“Hey, Jax.” I smile.
“Lainey! Hi! Thank goodness, can I have some help?” they say panicked.
“Of course, what’s up?” I walk over and see they’re trying to make change of a fifty when we only have a few singles starting out for the day.
“Hold on one moment, ma’am.” I grab the fifty and head to the safe in my office, grab some change, and hand it to the woman.
“Normally, we don’t take anything over a twenty,” I whisper once she’s out of ear reach.
“Oh, sorry, boss,” Jax says.
“No worries, things to learn.” I smile. Jax is worried, but I reassure them there is nothing to worry about. They are a bit nervous and over eager but overall a great employee.
“Why don’t you clean the front while I man the register for a while?” I suggest.
“Okay!” Jax nods. While they’re cleaning up empty mugs and dishes, I start taking people’s orders again. It is early so at this time in the morning there is a bit of a rush until about nine thirty and then it dies down, at least until lunch time.
I’m absentmindedly taking orders when the rush finally dies down and I have a moment to breathe. I grab myself a hot cup of coffee and check on Jax who’s busy at work cleaning the front case. I’m about to take a break when I notice a new customer walk in. It isn’t abnormal to get new customers, we do live in a touristy area, but there is something different about her. Have I seen her before? She reminds me of Reagan, being covered in head to toe in ink.
“Hi, welcome to Cinnamon Roll Saviors, what can I get you?”
“Well, my boss recommended this place and I wanted to get something she’d like, but I honestly have no clue what that might be. I was also thinking of ordering for the staff, but again, I have no idea what they’d like.”
“Are you new in town?” I ask.
“Ha, I am. Is it that obvious?” She chuckles, her short bottle red curls bouncing with her.
“I just happen to know most people in town, and I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet.”
“I just moved here from Portland,” she says shyly. “Carter.” She holds out her hand and I shake it. Something sparks a smile in me when I do and it makes me hesitate. Something about her gives me pause, in a good way.
“Lainey, I’m the owner,” I explain.
“Oh! My boss said you make the best coffee and cinnamon rolls.”
“May I ask who your boss is?” I ask out of curiosity.
“Of course, it’s Reagan Gold, well I think she’s just changed her last name actually,” Carter rambles, and it gives me a moment to notice her beautiful hazel eyes.
“Reagan is one of my favorite customers, and I know her order. So are you working at Rainy Day then?” I ask as I start to get Reagan’s usual order put together.
“Yes! Wow, I’m still not used to this whole small town thing. I keep running into people I know or that know me and they say hello and are actually friendly.” Carter smiles. Her teeth are perfectly white and straight. I don’t normally pay so much attention to the looks of my customers but there is something about her.
“So that would mean you’re also getting coffee for Addison and Lynn, right?” I ask, trying to think of who else works there. They don’t come in as often as Reagan, but I do remember their orders.
“Shit, yes! If you know their orders too, I’m going to have to thank you for being such a lifesaver.” Carter beams.
“Well, then call me a lifesaver because I definitely do!” I say happily.Call me a lifesaver?What is wrong with me. Something about Carter makes me feel all gooey and flirty inside.
