The soft opening
‘You all right, mate?’ asked Max. Robbie was pacing around the flat like a caged animal, a second coffee in his hands.
‘Clearly no. I’m fucking nervous, pal. It’s day fucking one, and what if it’s a disaster, eh? What if it all goes fucking wrong, and I cannae fucking cope? What if—’
‘First things first, you’ve got to stop doing what ifs, and maybe stop swearing quite so much,’ said Max, walking into the kitchen and turning the kettle on.
‘Secondly, you’re ready for this. You’ve been working non-stop for weeks.
I know that you can do this, so stop stressing, it’s going to be fine. ’
‘Right, yeah, OK,’ said Robbie, who stopped pacing and then finished the last of his coffee. ‘I’m going to get dressed, and get down there.’
‘OK, I’ll be there in an hour or so,’ said Max, but Robbie was already walking off towards his bedroom, his head somewhere else, and so Max made himself a cup of tea.
It had been a strange couple of weeks since Joe’s heart attack.
He was out of hospital and doing well, and was coming to the soft launch later, but since his heart attack, Common People had felt different, and he had barely spoken to Bethan.
After their conversation at Buddy’s Deli, where he had agreed not to wait for her, things had just been a little off between them, and Max felt it.
So, as he got ready to head off to the sandwich shop, where Bethan was due to attend, instead of sandwiches, he was thinking about her.
Had the kiss ruined their friendship? Was it even possible to be friends with someone of the opposite sex after you’ve had a kiss like that?
All these questions and more were turning over and over in his mind as he finally left the flat, and headed to Rab’s Sandwich Shop for the soft opening.
‘Mate, it’s perfect!’ said Max as he stood outside the shop with Robbie.
Hope and Robbie had been working together on the signage for the front of the shop, and it had been completed the day before.
It was the first time that Max had actually seen it.
The shop front had been painted white, and in small blue lettering to the left of the shop at the top, it said, Rab’s Sandwich Shop.
It was minimal but elegant, cool and modern, with a nod to Robbie’s Scottish heritage.
‘Youse like it?’
‘I think it’s exactly how I pictured it in my head. Right, shall we do this?’
‘Aye, I guess so,’ said Robbie, and with that they walked inside.
The soft opening was starting at eleven o’clock and going until two.
Three hours to serve a select number of invited friends and some social media influencers that they had invited along.
Robbie was a barrel of nerves, but as they got to work, he settled down.
They had on his Scottish music playlist, and Max helped prepare food, made sure the place was spotless, and that everything was perfect.
He was looking forward to seeing everyone, especially Bethan.
He hoped that after a slightly strange few weeks, and perhaps in a more casual setting, things might be a little more normal between them.
He had wanted to be more than friends, especially after the magic of the kiss, but at that moment, he would take friends over nothing in a heartbeat.
At eleven o’clock on the dot, the front door was opened, a sign was put up to say that it was a special, invitation only event, and Max and Robbie were ready to hand out sandwiches, and serve ice cold Irn-Bru.
The playlist was playing a Travis song, as the first people began walking through the doors.
First up, it was a couple of friends that Robbie had invited, both Scottish, and they were obviously excited to see Robbie and to have a Scottish sandwich shop in London.
Next up were a few social media influencers that Robbie and Max had invited.
If they could get ten or more important social influencers into the shop with good reviews at the soft launch, then it might create some buzz about the actual opening.
The influencers were all filming, Robbie did a couple of interviews, and the shop was slowly filling up.
Sandwiches were handed out and cans of drinks opened.
Max and Robbie watched from behind the counter as first bites were taken, and they seemed to be going down well.
Heads were nodding, people were smiling and talking animatedly, and all the influencers were being filmed or filming themselves eating, and giving reviews on the spot.
Eventually, just before twelve o’clock Common People all appeared together, with Joe coming along with his wife Dawn.
Max was so happy to see them all, especially Bethan, who looked gorgeous in a pair of pale blue wide-leg jeans, a gorgeous blue and white striped long-sleeved top, and a pair of green Adidas Samba trainers.
Her hair fell around her face in twists, and as soon as Max saw her, his heart leapt in excitement before he had to remind himself that they were just friends, and he had to serve them all sandwiches.
‘Thanks so much for coming,’ said Max excitedly.
‘Aye, it’s brilliant, youse all here,’ said Robbie, and then Eve walked up to Robbie, and they kissed, before having their own private conversation.
Things had been gently simmering between Robbie and Eve, but with Eve’s book launch and Robbie’s sandwich shop opening, it had been a difficult time for them to start a proper relationship.
Clearly though, something was happening between them that was more than just a casual fling.
‘Joe, good to see you, mate. How are you?’ asked Max.
‘Yeah, not bad, mate. I’m on a bunch of drugs, and a new diet, so unfortunately, I can’t eat much at the moment, including most of your delicious looking sandwiches. It’s all rabbit food.’
‘It’s not that bad,’ said Dawn. ‘It’s just all heart healthy food, that’s all.’
‘My days of fry-ups are over, and heaven forbid I even look at a bacon sarnie.’
‘But you’ll live a long and happy life!’ said Dawn.
‘Not sure about the happy bit,’ said Joe with a smile.
‘Cheeky bugger!’ replied Dawn, before Robbie called them over to show him the sandwiches. Hope, Anita and Charlie all said hello, before they walked across to the counter, while Bethan slowly walked up to Max.
‘Hi,’ said Max. ‘You look fantastic.’
‘Oh, thanks. You too,’ she replied with a tentative smile.
‘So glad you could come.’
‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I know how hard you’ve both been working on it. It looks amazing.’
‘Yeah, Robbie has spent countless hours getting it ready, and Hope did a great job on the signage out front.’
‘It’s busy, that’s good.’
‘Yeah, I just hope that everyone loves it, its all-over social media, and blows up. At least that’s the plan. How are you? I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.’
‘It was Thursday at run club, Max.’
‘I know, but we’ve barely spoken since …
’ he let his words trail off, and Bethan immediately blushed, and that small amount of awkwardness that had crept into their relationship since the Buddy’s Deli conversations was back.
Any mention of them, the kiss, or their feelings towards each other, and it had them scampering to talk about anything else.
‘Sandwiches!’ said Bethan, after another uncomfortable silence.
‘Yes, let me show you what we have,’ said Max, leading Bethan across to the counter where Robbie was showing everyone else from the run club the sandwiches on today's soft launch menu. They didn’t have the full menu, but just a selection of four of the best, including The Scotsman, which was proving to be the most popular.
‘They all look amazing,’ said Hope.
‘They really do. Well done!’ said Anita. ‘Although I hope on the final menu, you have Coronation Chicken.’
‘I’ve a version of it,’ said Robbie. ‘I’ll be happy to show youse later, if youse still around.’
‘I'll be here,’ replied Anita.
‘Proper good-looking sandwiches, and I love the branding. This sort of thing would rock in the city. The suits are always looking for the best lunch spots,’ said Charlie. ‘If it does well, and you need capital to expand, I’d be interested.’
‘Let’s just see how this location goes,’ said Max. ‘We aren’t getting ahead of ourselves.’
‘Good thing too. Don’t listen to this one,’ said Eve, looking towards Charlie. ‘This isn’t about money, it’s about the food, the love of doing something well.’
‘But at the end of the day,’ replied Charlie. ‘It’s all about the end goal, right? Profit. They’re in it to make money. Right boys?’
Max looked at Robbie, who looked a little uneasy with the question. Robbie looked at Eve, and then at Charlie.
‘It’s like Eve said, it’s all about the food,’ said Robbie.
‘Right, sure. One hundred per cent,’ said Charlie with a sarcastic wink, and before Eve could jump back in and defend herself and Robbie, Hope chimed in.
‘Let’s make a toast, shall we? To the success of Rab’s Sandwich Shop!’
‘To Rab’s Sandwich Shop!’ everyone said together, before they all dispersed to eat their sandwiches, and talk amongst themselves, while Robbie and Max continued to make and serve more sandwiches, as more and more people turned up.
They had invited thirty social media influences, hoping that ten might show up, but as it turned out, twenty-nine out of the thirty came.
That along with all the friends and family, and as the large Newgate clock on the wall struck two, they had served over sixty people.
Robbie and Max were both exhausted, especially Robbie, who had barely slept a wink for days.
As the last of the customers left, Max and Robbie were left with Eve, Anita, and Bethan.
Joe had left earlier with Dawn, after feeling tired, while Hope and Charlie had other commitments.
Robbie wanted to show Anita his version of the Coronation Chicken, while Eve was helping clean up, and she was waiting around to spend the evening with Robbie.
There was also a rumour she was staying over at the flat.
With Eve and Anita busy, Max took the time to talk with Bethan.
They hadn’t had time to speak since earlier because Max had been so busy.
‘Can I make you a coffee?’ asked Max. ‘I’m still learning the machine, but I’ll give it a go, if you want one.’
‘Yeah, go on then. An oat latte, if you have it.’
‘Coming right up,’ said Max. Robbie, Anita and Eve were all in the back, and so it was just them. Bethan had come around the counter so she was standing next to Max while he made her a coffee. ‘Apparently, it’s super easy to use.’
‘You know, I used to work in a coffee shop during uni.’
‘Yeah? So, you’re probably more qualified than me. Want to give it a go?’
‘OK then. It’s like riding a bike, which I also used to do at uni.’
Max stepped aside, and he let Bethan make her and then him a coffee, and both were incredible.
She knew exactly what to do, and she had been right.
She hadn’t forgotten a thing, and she made two perfect coffees.
They stood next to each other, leaning against the counter, barely a few inches between them, sipping on their coffees.
‘You know, I think this place is going to do really well,’ said Bethan.
‘I hope so. It’s Robbie’s dream. He needs it to work.’
‘I can see how passionate he is about it.’
‘Yeah, he’s barely been home or slept for the past two weeks.’
‘And he’s got you.’
‘Yes, he’s got me, but I have my own career. This really is all about him. I’m just an investor who wants to see his best mate achieve their dreams.’
‘That is lovely of you,’ said Bethan, looking across at him, and he looked at her, and their eyes locked for a second.
They both smiled. He wanted to say something to her, tell her that he wanted her, needed her, but he knew he couldn’t.
Whatever happened next between them, if anything, would have to come from her.
They looked into each other’s eyes for a moment, a scintillating energy and sexual tension between them, and Bethan suddenly put her coffee down.
Max turned and put down his coffee too. Then they looked at each other again. ‘This is really lovely of you.’
‘Thanks,’ Max replied, and then they both leaned forward at the same time, their lips coming together again, and they kissed.
Unlike last time, there was slightly more passion in this one.
There was a need there, a physical urge to be together.
The uncertainty of their first kiss was gone, and this felt different.
This one felt like the beginning of something more.
After a minute, they pulled away, their arms still around each other, and this time she smiled at him. ‘What do you put in your coffee?’
Max laughed. ‘It wasn’t the coffee.’
‘Oh, then I guess, it must be something else.’
‘Are you sure about this?’
Instead of replying, Bethan leaned forward and kissed Max again.
The soft opening had been a real success, but Max wouldn’t remember a moment of it because of what had happened after.
It was the day when he and Bethan had taken their relationship from just friends to something more.
Max hadn’t been sure it would ever happen, but it had and far faster than he could have anticipated.
Their coffees got cold as they kissed behind the counter of Rab’s Sandwich Shop, until they heard the others coming out to join them, and they pulled apart.