Stella raised her eyes in surprise when Mac came back outside with their coffees. She watched as he sat down on the stool next to her. Sunday mornings had become her favorite day when they would meet for coffee, sitting outside on the nice days and just talking. It had sort of become their ritual after the whole trip to Greece "incident," along with an increase in the frequency of lunch and dinner invitations. Finally her curiosity got the better of her as she watched him pour the customary two packets of sugar into his drink.
"Ok Mac, spill; what's up with you?"
He raised his eyes to meet hers, amusement on his face. "What are you talking about Stell?"
"Your coffee!"
"What about it?" He was having a hard time keeping a straight face at the incredulous look on hers.
"Over ten years we've been friends, and never once have I seen you drink iced coffee. Even on the warmest days you'd always have it hot. What gives?"
He looked away for a moment, pondering her question. As his eyes came to rest back on her she noticed his gaze had intensified, his steel blue eyes darkening slightly. He let his hands rest on the table next to hers as he spoke. "I realized something recently. There are things in my life that have been a constant, and I never let them change because I was scared of the consequences. Scared of losing something that I held in the highest regard. I figured they'd always be there no matter what, and I let myself become comfortable." He paused for a minute, taking her hand in his, threading their fingers together. "But then I was reminded how quickly that can all change. How the things I need the most can be taken away so suddenly. I knew if I didn't let myself grow, be brave enough to let things change, it was something I'd regret for the rest of my life."
Stella beamed at him as she squeezed his hand. "So iced coffee huh?"
He laughed as his face reflected the happiness on hers. "Yeah, iced coffee."