4 – Eternally Curious Ray of Sunshine
Jessie
Present Day
“Just the usual, thanks, handsome,” Betty, my 70-year-old Monday regular, orders as I place her exact coffee order on the counter. Betty has been ordering the same large, full fat, no sugar– because she is sweet enough– coffee order since I opened. Like clockwork, every Monday, and right at 10am.
“Here you are, Betty. See you next week.” She winks at me before leaving another generous tip and heading back for the door.
What doesn’t happen every Monday at 10am, though, is Casey skipping through the door like she’s riding a fucking rainbow into the sun. And, of course, she steals all the air from the room as she does it.
“Morning, Jay!” Her sweet melodic voice makes its way over to me as she saunters over. Casey has called me Jay for years, like JJ wasn’t already short enough. It was a nickname I told her I hated and to never call me, which only made her use it more and with a disgustingly large smile every time. I hated it.
Because I didn’t fucking hate it at all. That was when I really started to notice Casey.
It was easy when she was sixteen. Sure, she was adorable, and being around her made me feel light and full of joy. Things I now hadn’t felt in years. But then, I was an adult, and she was a teen. A mature, funny, and cute teen that was my sister’s best friend. I might not have been attracted to her at the time, but I definitely enjoyed her company. The lingering looks I left in her direction, the way she started to elicit reactions I had no control over, only started at Addy’s twenty-first birthday. The first time I really saw Casey as a woman, outside of being my sister’s friend.
And now she was here, beaming all her sunshine at me and calling me familiar names that were threatening my solid walls of apathy.
“What weird concoction you ordering this morning?” I level her with a bored tone, ready for her to place a ridiculous order. Casey has a habit of trying the strangest coffee orders, of which she thinks I apparently need help with, considering she offered to be my… person? Whatever that is.
She bopped me. Literally bopped me on the fucking nose like some witch with her magic bop, and it made my stomach flip and I nearly laughed right along with her. Seriously, what is it with this fucking woman and throwing every single brain cell up in smoke?
“Hmm.” She taps her chin, biting her bottom lip as she reads the menu on the wall above my head.
Why can’t I stop looking at her lips?
“You don’t have anything new since the last time I was here.” She seems disappointed and something inside me sinks, making my chest feel tight. “Can you surprise me?” She leans her hands forward on the counter as she asks, her bright blue eyes practically glowing in the scant rays of the morning sun, painting her auburn hair in a glow that is angelic. Fitting.
“I have a few new syrups I haven’t tried out yet. Give me a sec,” I mumble as I drag a hand down my face and turn to head out the back. Needing the air, needing the space. Needing to pull myself the fuck back together.
I hadn’t seen her here in a long time. When my relationship with Addy was strained, she and Rosie both stopped coming around as often. If Casey ever did, she was usually alone and never stuck around long. Perhaps a touch of sadness to her expression, but she was still always perfectly her. Rosie wouldn’t give me the time of day and I knew I needed to apologize to her too before she started coming around again. I made her best friend cry, so she added me to her murder list.
I grabbed the two new syrups and with effort dragged myself back to the front where Casey stands staring out the window. We were only just coming out of summer, so the air was still warm with a slight breeze, and the sun was hiding more often than not, but she still found the single ray of sun, which she seemed to do everywhere she went. She doesn’t notice me right away, and even though I shouldn’t, I linger in the doorway, away from other patrons, but enough so that I can drink her in. Her creamy skin glowing in a pair of yoga tights that should be illegal, a loose tank top, and a sweater tied around her waist. Her hair is half pinned back with a pale blue bow at the top of her head.
Innocent and pure.
The thought alone has me heading toward other thoughts. Ones of me testing out that innocence, dirtying up that pretty and clean look she has going on. Releasing the bow and using it to secure other things.
“I have black cherry or Turkish delight. The rest are normal flavors,” I announce as I force myself from the inappropriate thoughts.
Sister’s best friend.
Sister’s best friend.
As I find my way back to the counter. She turns to smile at me before locking eyes with the syrup bottles I’m holding up.
“Oh, yay!” She claps her hands together and then leans on the counter, considering her options before she practically leaps in the air. “I’ll do Turkish delight, but add extra cream, a dash of caramel and then chocolate on top!” I roll my eyes at the absurdity of her order, but begin the prep.
“You’re insane,” I mutter.
“Nope, just eternally curious.”
“About coffee flavors?”
“Of course? Don’t you worry there could be something amazing out there that you’ll miss out on because you were too chicken to try it?” I know she is talking about coffee, but it just feels like so much more than that. Refusing to analyze any of it, I ignore the question and continue with her ridiculous order. While she waits, she roams over to the bookshelves nearest the coffee machine, analyzing the titles, tilting her head as she goes.
“So, what are you doing on this side of town today, anyway?”
“I actually have a favor to ask you.” This should be good.
She turns back to face me, slowly pacing near the shelves. She tries to give me a look of mischief, but again, she just looks cute.
“Let’s hear it, then.” I wave a hand at her, gesturing for her to proceed.
“The studio girls never got to have a Christmas party. We had landed a new studio, so the funds were tight. Grace and I want to throw them a little something, and I was looking into these Paint & Sip classes. They come out, set up mini tabletop canvases, there is wine, and everyone paints, drinks, laughs, and has the best night of their lives!” Case has this way of talking about things that make it feel like the most exciting thing in the world. She always had, and I’m convinced it is why Addy kept her as a friend. I mean, who wouldn’t want her around? She makes you feel like the only one in the room, like you’re the most amazing person she has ever met.
“I’m missing what this has to do with me? If this is an invite, I strongly decline.”
She laughs softly and rolls her eyes. “No, you grump. I need a venue. I was wondering if you would be the best person EVER and let me host it here?” She brings her hands into a prayer under her chin. Her eyes bulge, big, blue, and heart-achingly adorable as she levels me with her puppy dog eyes. A groan works its way up my throat, and she must feel I’m about to cave because she continues. “I can organize all the catering, I’ll bring all the wine, and I’ll even pay for your staff’s time. You don’t even need to be here, just open up. If you’re happy to give me a key, I can even lock up. Or I can text you when we’re done, and you can come lock up.” I stare at her for a beat and try to work it out in my head.
Obviously, I’m going to accept. You try denying Casey Baker something when she smiles like that .
“I’m licensed, Case. Tell me what wine you want and I’ll order it. If they’re buying drinks and food, I’ll make a bit, so you aren’t paying for staff. I’ll just work it myself.” I handed her over a food menu, and I avoid looking into those bright ocean blue eyes that try to suck me into their depths. “Pick a few hot and cold items from here. I’ll have the chef prepare and we can do roaming plates. No fucking handouts, though, they are paying full price.”
“Of course! Grace and I were going to fund the lot and we can put it on a tab. I want the girls to eat and drink for free, so if you could put everything on an invoice and we’ll put it on the business. Did you want a deposit?” Now that I knew it was all her money, I felt kind of bad for being such a dick about it.
“I trust you, Ace. No deposit is fine, just confirm numbers a week out. When is it?” I pull out my phone and open the calendar. She doesn’t speak, and when I look back at her, she has her eyes squeezed and is biting her bottom lip. Before I can ask what the fuck is happening, she opens one eye in a squint and answers.
“Umm… this Saturday?” Her voice is a squeak.
“Jesus Christ.” I run a hand down my face. Of course it fucking is. Now I really had some work to do.
“I’m sorry! I know it’s last minute. We planned to do it at one of the studios, but there were issues with food safety, prepping, and cleaning because our staff kitchen is not built for catering. Grace and I decided maybe it was just better if we held it at a hospitality venue.” Her eyes are just big round blue circles of pleading, and it gets her right off the hook.
“It’s fine. I’ll make it work.” I pop her coffee on the counter with a little more frustration than I should have, and she leaps for joy, clapping. “Thank you, thank you! You’re the best!” She comes around the corner of the counter and leaps on me. Wrapping her delicate arms around my neck. Hugging her docile body against mine, I stand frozen in place.
Fuck, she smells good. I don’t know what it is, flowers? It feels like fresh air in my lungs and, for some reason, it makes me relax. I land one hand on her upper back and pat awkwardly, trying to maintain some semblance of control and actively avoiding the thoughts of the blue bow and her bent over this counter.
She finally extracts herself from my space. “You’re the BEST ever!” She declares before going back around, picking up her coffee and sliding over a bill to pay for it. She tilts her head after taking a sip, assessing the flavors on her tongue, and then looks at me with wide eyes. “Oh my GOD! That is freaking delicious! You have to try this one.”
She basically shoves the coffee into my face, and I politely push it back in her direction. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Casey giggles to herself before she pulls out her phone. “This one is going in the record books. You should make this a proper flavor. It’s incredible.” I roll my eyes at her dramatics before she slides the phone into the side pocket of her leggings.
“Thanks, Jay! I’ll confirm numbers tomorrow, I promise. See you Saturday!”
I am suddenly looking forward to the weekend.