I walked into the small cafe that had become like my second home during college. I would always come here and study or just unwind from the strenuous classes. As I inhaled the scent of freshly ground coffee beans I found my place in line, luckily it wasn't that long today. As the line proceeded I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and pulled it out to see it was Trish..she was sick, again.
As long as I had known Trish De la rosa she had been a terrible worker, but once I begged her for help in opening up my own bakery she seemed to turn a corner. That was until the past few months, she had a new romantic interest. They were always together but yet I had yet to meet him and he was said to be just a fling. I hoped it wasn't because she was really happy and if it ended I knew I would have to pick up the pieces. That was the last thing I needed right now.
Lets just say I am not the biggest fan of romantic relationships. Period.
"I can help whoever's next!" Someone yelled as I was pulled out of my thoughts as I was next.
"Um, can I get a pumpkin spice coffee, please?" I asked, still frazzled.
"Ok, that will be $3.18" The new-looking cashier said, obviously also overwhelmed.
I stared at him stupidly before fumbling with my phone and wallet and keys, trying to get some kind of payment out for the man. Before I could even speak an apology I heard a deep voice come from behind me.
"Add a black coffee and call it even."
"Ok...um, $5.34 is your new total."
The generous figure handed a ten dollar bill over my shoulder to the man before I finally looked behind me to see a pair of warm, piercing brown eyes looking down at me hooded by his messy blonde bangs. My eyes quickly darted away, catching his million dollar smile. My eyes trailed to the ground, also catching his simple gray shirt that hugged his obvious muscles and jeans that were very flattering.
He took his change back from the man as I moved towards the pick up counter, with the other 5 people who were waiting. After a few seconds the mysteriously generous man showed up at my side.
I turned to him and opened my mouth before shutting it and turning back away. I repeated this twice more before finally finding the words.
"Why?" I pressed.
"Huh?" He asked, almost amused by my flustered state.
"Why did you buy my coffee?" I asked again, more annoyed now than before.
"It's called paying it forward." He laughed. "Ever heard of it?"
"Yeah, in movies. Not real life, to me" I scoffed.
"Well, now you can go do something good for someone else. Ms. Pleasant" He smirked.
"No need to be sassy" I grumbled.
He looked at me with disbelief. "Me? Sassy? Are you kidding me?"
I shook my head as they called our drinks. He walked in front of me grabbing both and walking past me, as I stood in disbelief.
"Oh, I'm sorry...did you want this?" He looked back at me.
I nodded, still speechless.
"What's the magic word?" He teased.
"Please?" I muttered after a few seconds, knowing people were watching.
He smiled again and walked back over to me, holding out my drink. I placed my fingers around it to pull it away from him but he held on, pulling me closer to him.
"It also didn't hurt that you were easy on the eyes"
With that he let go of the drink, winked at me and walked out leaving me there speechless again, and furious.
What a great way to start the day.
The rest of my day was a better, Trish actually showed up...4 hours late. I was happy either way, something was better than nothing after all. Plus I needed someone to vent to after the morning I had. I had never met someone who could infuriate me so easily as that man. Sure he wasn't hard on the eyes either but that didn't give him the right. He was so confident in himself, he was cocky and arrogant. The exact reason I won't be upset if I never see him again. I had never seen him before and I was regular at that coffee shop.
As I piped the frosting on the last of the cupcakes of today's batch I noticed they got messier and messier. Great. Now he was messing up my work too.
"Hey, Al are you done the cup-" Trish halted at the sight of the cupcakes as I cringed sheepishly.
Yeah, I was the boss but she was terrifying when mad.
"Sorry?" I offered.
"Ally, these look horrible. What even happened?"
"I don't know, I was thinking about this morning again and I guess-"
"Again? Ally how many times have you thought about Mystery Man today?"
"I don't know, he just was like-"
"I know, 'cocky' and 'egotistical' and 'full of himself', everything you hate" She put air quotes around the adjectives I listed earlier.
I sighed before moving the cupcakes to the side. "Look, I'm gonna call it a day, stick to the office work for now..until I cool down.."
"I think that's for the best. I can stay to help close up, you've done that for me more times than I can count." She smiled, not so discreetly throwing out my cupcakes.
"Lover boy busy tonight?" I asked, knowingly.
"No!" She shot back. "He has work in the morning, we both agreed we needed some rest."
I laughed as I shook my head and walked back to my office. I sat down at my macbook and started to work on the stack of papers I dreaded as the owner of this business. I really wished Trish liked paperwork, it was so tedious.
"One pumpkin spice coffee?" My regular cashier asked the next day.
"Nice to see you back Jo" I smiled at the familiar face.
"My daughter was sick and my husband had a meeting." She explained.
"Oh, is she feeling better?" I asked, truly concerned.
"Yeah, just a cold or something." She talked as she punched buttons on the monitor. "$3.18"
I handed her my cash and rewards card that I prepared before even entering the building. No one would be paying it forward today, especially a certain blonde haired, brown eyed jerk who had one thing on his mind.
"I heard you had an admirer yesterday" She laughed as she handed me my card and change.
"Wh-what?" I asked, my jaw dropping.
"Word travels fast in a small town."
I felt a blush creep over my face as I moved towards the pick up counter. I pulled out my phone to text Trish.
"Hello again" I heard a deep voice behind me as I let out a long sigh.
So here it is, the preview chapter of a new story I have been working on! Let me know if you guys like the idea and want me to continue! XOXOX