Chapter 2
TWO
Espresso
Dominic
“Can I get an extra-large, extra hot, triple espresso, with four pumps of sugar-free caramel syrup, three pumps of sugar-free hazelnut syrup, three stevia packets, sweet cream cold foam on top and…caramel drizzle?”
It takes me a beat to run that order back through my brain. Memorization has always come fairly easily to me however this particular order, by this particular student, has me befuddled.
The bleach blonde stands in front of my register impatiently, smacking her gum and clicking her enormous acrylic nails on the chain of her purse, staring at me from under her enormous fake eyelashes.
She is a living breathing Barbie come to life, with her outrageously small waist on display paired with a mini skirt and chunky knee-high boots.
She’s a Barbie doll alright, and one that runs strictly off espressos and sugar apparently.
This whole ordeal is making me lose faith in humanity.
I dog-ear the book I’m currently reading, snapping it closed while watching with delight as I see a glimmer of annoyance flare in Espresso Barbie’s eyes before I stuff it under the coffee bar.
I can’t help the way my brows furrow at this girl who just paraded the most ridiculous order I’ve ever heard into Biblio silent and observing.” I notice her bright blue eyes follow the slight uptick of my mouth at one corner.
“Well if I were as engrossed in Emily Parker’s novel as you seem to be, I’d miss everything around me too,” she replies with a hint of a grin.
I try to hide my surprise behind a mask of indifference. She’s got good taste in literature, I’ll give her that.
“So what can I get for you, Hoot?” I ask casually, rolling up my sleeves.
“Hoot?” She tilts her head in confusion.
“Like an owl. Would you prefer a field mouse?” I tease.
Her hair catches the sunlight peering in through the side windows as she shrugs, making it look like liquid gold pouring over her shoulders. “I don’t see myself as the mousy type but I’ll let you be the judge of that. So, can I get a drink?”
“Yes,” I say with a chuckle. “What would you like?”
Please don’t be the same as sugar-high Barbie.
“May I please have an Earl Grey tea with two milk and two sugars?”
Definitely not what I expected, but glad for it.
“You may,” I say with a smirk. “Although I didn’t peg you for the tea type,” I admit, taking a swig of my own black coffee.
“Well you’d have to make me something a lot more interesting than tea to peg me.”
I choke on my coffee and begin hacking while looking at the woman that robbed me of oxygen.
Her top teeth sink into her full bottom lip, a teasing grin tugging the edges of her mouth.
Finally managing a full breath, I turn to make her tea.
“Take a seat, I’ll bring it to you when it’s ready,” I call out over my shoulder.
I can’t face her after my mortifying coughing fit, so I stay facing the back wall.
I hear her soft chuckle as she walks away.
Oh my God.
I take a steadying breath and refocus on my task. I haven’t been that surprised in a long time. I smirk at my own expense; it’s rare someone has the witty upper hand in conversations, and to be so bold. Well, Hoot, you’ve hooked me. I’m intrigued.
I lift my marker to write her name on a napkin for her order when it dawns on me that I don’t actually know her real name…yet. I hold her steaming cup of granny juice in my hand and scan the cafe area for her golden hair. I frown when I don’t immediately see her. Where could she be…Oh no.
Head tilted downward in concentration she sits across from none other than Espresso Barbie. Before I lose faith in Hoot, I realize she’s instructing her, pointing out red marks on what looks like a test.
Of course she’s tutoring her.
To be totally fair, Espresso Barbie may look like a stereotypical bimbo but the textbook in front of her reads organic chemistry.
That is not something I’d willingly pick up to skim through.
The two of them are hunched over the textbook when I set the cup down on a napkin with “Hoot” scribbled on it.
I place it strategically away from loose papers and as quietly as possible, so as not to interrupt.
Hopefully I can get through my book without any more interruptions.
I turn on my heel to walk back to the counter counter.
“Thanks, Peggy.”
I stop mid-stride and slowly turn to face the two women. Barbie is still buried in balancing equations but Hoot has such a feline grin on her face I swear I practically see a tail swish back and forth, daring me to call her out on it. I run my tongue over my teeth and chuckle.
Game on, Hoot.