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the prologues
Sterling
“Ihaveamediumiced chocolate-cherry latte on the bar for Lisa!” I shout as I place the drink on the bar.
I turn around and start steaming more milk. There’s a line of people waiting to have their order taken and a crowd begins to form around the bar as others wait for their drinks to be made. It’s busy at the café for a Thursday.
“This was supposed to be hot.” Lisa approaches the bar, a look of annoyance crosses over her resting bitch face as she speaks condescendingly to me.
“I’m so, so sorry. Let me remake that for you.” I attempt to reach for her cup, but she pulls it back toward her.
“I don’t want you to remake it for me. I want you to make it right the first time. I’ve been waiting for like seven minutes and this is the third time you’ve gotten my order wrong this week!” I smile at her before turning my back and rolling my eyes to the ceiling. I take a breath and grab a hot cup and then turn to face her as I start pumping syrup into the cup.
“I’m sorry. But again, the café is pretty busy so it’s normal to experience a wait time, but I can get that drink remade for you right now.” I put on a fake smile.
“Did you hear what I just said? Or are you stupid?” Lisa comes in every week and calls someone stupid. Why? Because she’s an entitled bitch. But more often than not, I’m the one who takes the brunt of her verbal attacks. Half of the time, her order isn’t even wrong. She just likes to get free drinks and she thinks throwing a temper tantrum will get her there, and most of the time it does. But tonight, I’m feeling froggy.
“Hello?” She sets the drink down to wave her hand frantically in front of my face. “Anyone there?”
It takes me a moment to realize that everyone is staring at me and jumping over the counter like an animal at her isn’t an option. I’m not a violent person, but the fantasy forms in my head regardless. Instead, I settle for a snarky remark.
“Listen, Lisa. You can come in here and act like a child to every barista in here if you want. Or you can be a decent human being and take the iced drink, because that is what you actually asked for, and leave.” I feel a relief take over as I get some of my aggression out in words to this slimy human. But I also feel a knot form in my stomach because I normally don’t let myself get vocal like that.
“Ugh!” Lisa shouts and suddenly I’m drenched. The sound of the clap her hand makes against the cup as it connects and flies at me from the counter makes me jump out of my trance.
Ice and espresso soak my shirt and seeps through the fabric to my skin. I guess I should be glad it wasn’t hot.
“Who even hired you?” she shouts, as she turns to walk out of the café. “The incompetence!” She hits the door hard with both of her palms as the bell rings above, and I look up to see a very angry Giselle – my boss – staring at me, hands on her hips.
“Clean it up! And this is coming out of your paycheck!” she demands. And of course, I obey. But I flinch at the mention of a paycheck deduction. Especially because she’s sipping on an iced matcha that she didn’t even pay for.
I pick up the ice and soak up the liquid with a rag, I realize my white shirt is bleeding with a chocolate-colored liquid, and I smell like milk and cherries. I guess it could be worse. I bend over to pick up the cup and toss it in the trash, then lean into the sink to rinse the coffee off my clothes, when there’s a voice behind me.
“Are you okay?”
I flip around quickly, almost jumping at the words.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he defends, but I’m not scared. I’m in awe.
I mean, he’s handsome. He’s got a few visible tattoos and dirty blonde hair to match mine, spiked over a little to the side. His dark eyebrows and honey brown eyes contrast perfectly with his light hair, and though I’m drenched with ice and cold milk, my body starts to feel hot.
“Umm, no I’m-” But I look down at myself and realize my shirt is see-through from the liquid and my red bra is exposed. I suddenly feel somehow even more embarrassed, and I lose my voice.
“What the fuck happened here?” Dakota says as she comes out from the back. “I leave for ten seconds to get changed and you’ve already made a damn mess?” She laughs as she hurries over to the napkins to help me clean up. She’s always been a great friend.
“It was Lisa,” I say, and Dakota rolls her eyes.
“That crazy lady who stormed out of here just a second ago?” the man says. I almost forgot he was standing there, still staring, probably at my chest.
“Who are you?” Dakota asks.
“Name’s Tom.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, looking briefly at Dakota to answer her question but then focuses right back on me.
“Hi, Tom. Nice to meet you. Are you just gonna stare at my friend or did you need something?” Dakota says in a bold tone.
She’s always been straight forward, where I’m a bit more reserved up front; she has no problem spitting her sass at people. Whereas it takes me a minute to open up to people before they get that side of me.
“Yes, well I did come in for a coffee. But I think I’ll just take a tall drink of her instead,” he says, answering Dakota, but his eyes are glued on me. And suddenly my bra isn’t the only thing that’s red, my cheeks burning in evidence.
