The aromatic scent of freshly brewed coffee struck her nostrils as Jess entered the Starbucks store. Vacant of other customers (it was 10h45 pm), she approached the counter and placed her order.
"I'll have Tall Espresso and a Grande Black with mint," she told the teenage cashier. The girl, who appeared to be about 17, looked less than impressed to have a customer so near to closing hour. She sighed loudly as she prepared the beverages.
Jess grabbed the coffees and took them out to the car, where Don was patiently waiting. She passed him the Grande with a smile.
"Thank you," he said with a smile as he leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips. He then drew away and brought the steaming coffee to his lips.
"Best part of my day. This tastes great," Don asserted happily. His mood seemed to have elevated upon the consumption of caffeine.
"Good, at least something about this location is decent. The cashier was a bitch," Jess replied.
"Oh come on Jess, it is 10h45, she probably just wants to go home."
"Don, I worked at Starbucks when I was younger and I was nothing less than cheerful to every customer. There is never an excuse for rudeness."
The corners of his lips turned upwards as he turned to face her. His brilliant blue eyes twinkled even in the darkness of the night.
"Sure Jess, I'm sure you were absolutely a doll to each and every customer in your…?"
"2 years of service," Jess stated proudly. "Okay, that's a bit of a stretch. There was one woman who almost got me fired because she claimed I swore at her under my breath."
"What did you say?"
"You automatically assume I did swear? How do you know I wasn't the victim of a heinous coffee addict?"
"What did you say?" he pressed again, the grin on his face wider. He was clearly amused with the insight into his girlfriend's history.
"I mumbled that she should go… you know. How was I supposed to know she could lip read!" Jess responded with a laugh.
"That's my girl, always sexy and bold," Don said as he leaned in for another kiss. He could feel her smile at the touch.
"You taste like mint," she muttered between kisses.
"Just for you," he replied. Jess was the one to pull away this time, bringing her drink to her mouth again. Her coffee didn't please her lips as much as Don did, though.
"I worked at a summer camp in July and August, as a lifeguard. But during the school year, I was a kitchen boy at Dairy Queen," he stated flatly.
"You were the Dairy Queen?" Jess teased.
"I can't even tell you how many times I heard that line working there. Another fond memory of that job was how my older brothers also thought it was hilarious to go through the drive thru and scream insults and throw cups of pop at me," Don reminisced.
Jessica laughed at the image of an impatient Don reaching through the delivery window to strangle a customer. She drank the remaining droplets of espresso in the paper cup and placed it in the plastic rack under the car radio. She pulled on her boyfriend's tie and he bent towards her. Their noses were almost touching as they stared into each others' eyes for a few moments.
"Yes, my beautiful barista?" Don inquired mischievously.
"Why don't we cut the small talk and you can drive thru to my bedroom," Jess proposed with a hint of sass present in her voice.
"Well how could I refuse to serve that order?"