It had been a long day at work and Patricia has had it with picky customers. One needed their oh-so-special "gluten free", others needed their favorite flavor that just so happened to be sold out. Her boss left her the keys to lock up the place and also left her to clean up. "At least I get a decent salary," She mumbled to herself as she swept the floor.
Patricia moved on to the sink, washing dishes, when she heard the bells on the door jingle. She yelled over her shoulder, " Sorry, we're closed,"
"Oh, sorry..I had an order to pick up and I'm running late, obviously. Do you know if I can still pick them up or..?" The warm, familiar voice echoed of the empty walls of the bakery.
Patricia started to dry her hands as her mind wandered. His voice sounded so familiar...but he seems like a complete stranger. No, he is a complete stranger." Patricia told herself, making her believe it until she turned the corner.
Patricia froze, letting her mouth fall open. The man hadn't seen her yet, he was looking at his phone with his head tilted downwards.
It was him. Everything, every memory started to flood back. The late nights, the pranks, the insults, the midnight snacks, the kissing, the fooling around.
With her mouth still agape, she spoke, "Eddie?"
The man looked over the counter at
her. "Excuse me?" He replied.
Oh my god, this could not be more humiliating. Patricia thought. She smoothed her way too pink apron and took a deep breath.
"Sorry, you just...look like someone I know. Or knew, rather." She walked closer to the cash register, across from where he was standing.
But he's a spitting image of Eddie, just a few years older, She thought, looking right into his eyes, which were lowered in an uncomfortable glare at the floor.
Patricia shook her head, clearing her thoughts. "Sorry, what did you need again?"
"Um, an order I placed yesterday for a dozen cupcakes. Half triple chocolate, half s'more."
What the hell? Patricia's mind quickly clogged back up with memories of her high school boyfriend. Those were Eddie's favorite flavors... She thought, sadly.
"Oh, um, yes! They're in the back, I'll go get them," Patricia smiled at the customer and hurriedly scurried to the back of the shop.
She let herself clear her mind, in private, back there. Why was she having all these flashbacks of high school? She had never even thought about her old friends for at least three years. She was twenty-one now and almost twenty-two, next weekend.
Patricia grabbed the box, carefully, and took her time walking back to the front of the store.
The man was back on his phone, but whipped his head back up once he heard her footsteps.
She placed the box on the counter, saying, "That'll be €15,"
Patricia waited patiently for the first time all day for him to get his card out.
She swiped it, gave it back to him, he took his box.
"Have a nice night," Patricia told him as he started towards the door.
"You too, Patricia," He said, smirking over his shoulder.
