Being the boss was nice, it meant the fact Sarah was a few minutes later than usual wouldn't impact her at all. The only thing was getting into the office without drawing too much attention from her own coworkers, but she had no such luck.

"Running behind, are we?" The front office assistant M asked as she walked in.

She raised her now half empty coffee cup. "They were a little behind today, that's all,"

The assistant nodded and smiled.

Sarah continued down the halls to her office. She was constantly trying to avoid Henry, so that wasn't new, he was always trying to talk to her and get her attention, but today she was also trying to avoid Anacostia. She made the mistake of telling her, after a few rounds of drinks of course, about the cute girl who worked at the coffee shop. During the drinking she may have also expressed an interest in asking said girl out this week, and so far, every time Anacostia saw her, she hounded her for updates on the barista situation. She was tired of it, especially because nothing had changed.

She was just about to shut the door to her office when she heard the all too familiar footsteps behind her. She didn't bother shutting it, knowing Anacostia would just barge in anyway, so she sat down and sighed.

The other woman grinned at Sarah's clear annoyance as she sat down across from her.

"Good morning, Anacostia, what can I do for you?" Sarah drawled; she just couldn't get a break.

"You were late today, does that mean…?" She trailed off knowing Sarah knew exactly what she was asking.

"No. It means nothing. I was late because...well just because. Nothing happened, I barely even spoke to her," Sarah said almost sadly.

Anacostia frowned. "Why not?! Sarah Alder, you literally have nothing to lose by this, and to be honest, you need this,"

Sarah narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by that? I do not need anything, it just happens to be something I might want,"

Anacostia just rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Come on. It's been how long since you broke up with your ex? And don't tell me you aren't dying to have a partner if for no other reason than to get Henry to leave you alone?! Come on Sarah, you do literally need this,"

"Quiet down," Just mentioning the man's name might draw his attention to her and she didn't want to deal with it. Thinking about it though, the younger woman did have a point. "Fine, fine, I'll let you know tomorrow, now get out of here,"

Anacostia complied with a grin and a nod before she was gone.


The rest of the workday had gone by slowly as she contemplated what she would say to Tally, while trying to focus on her actual work. The evening was even slower. She got home, went for her nightly run, made dinner, which was just a salad, read a book, then tried to sleep. Tried being the keyword of that phrase, she did not sleep easily. Thoughts of the redheaded girl kept her awake. Thank the gods it was a Thursday night and Friday along with the weekend would be there soon enough.

Without realizing it, she did fall asleep and just as quickly the next day was upon her. Sarah went through her normal routine and dreaded showing up to work with nothing new to say to Anacostia, so there it went, she would make every attempt to go in there and just say some words that hopefully would end up with her and Tally on a date sometime in the near future.

She stepped into the warm welcoming coffee shop and took in the sweet scent of freshly ground coffee beans, and simultaneously took in the glorious sight of Tally recognizing her immediately and flashing a soft smile in her direction even while she attended to other guests.

"Anything else for you Niks?" Tally asked cheerfully, feeling much happier now that Sarah was there.

"Not unless you're available, Red," the other woman responded with a sly grin. Tally caught Sarah's eye. It was obvious she had heard the comment made by the shorter woman and was waiting for Tally's response.

Tally just laughed uncomfortably. "I'm afraid I am not on the menu, maybe next time,"

"One of these days, Red, mark my words," Nicte said playfully as she took her drink and walked out, giving Sarah a nod as she passed her.

Sarah responded in kind and at the same time tried to evaluate if there was any way Tally interacted with that woman the same way she interacted with her. Oh, gods here she was overthinking again.

"Next," Tally announced loudly, getting Sarah's attention once again. Tally gave her a small wave to go with her bright smile. Sarah couldn't help but smile back and shake her head.

"Good morning, Tally, who was that?" She nodded toward the door.

"Who Nicte, she's been coming around here for ages now, since before I started, I think, why do you ask?" Tally explained and rang up Sarah's order.

Why did she ask? Scoping the competition of course. She couldn't say that. "No reason, you just seemed pretty friendly with her,"

Tally shrugged and walked off to make Sarah's drink. "Yeah, she is interesting for sure but not really my type,"

Sarah nodded. "And what is your type?"

Tally glanced over her shoulder and very obviously looked Sarah up and down before answering. "Oh, you know, while I do have a thing for brunettes, I prefer mine to be on the taller side," She turned back to the task at hand.

Well, if that wasn't as much of an answer as she could possibly need. Before she could formulate any response Tally returned, drink in hand, all that was left to do was put the whip and toppings on. "And tell me, what is your type, Sarah?"

"Oh, I hardly think you need to ask that," She smirked.

Tally looked up at that and messed up part of the drizzle design she was making. "fuck" she muttered under her breath.

Sarah chuckled. "Do you do that for everyone?"

Tally turned slightly redder. "Only special people,"

"So do I have to turn over every lid in this place to figure out who my competition is or what?"

Tally set the finished drink in front of Sarah. "No. You are the only one, I only do it for you,"

If that didn't make her want to jump for joy nothing would. She was elated but she tried to act calmly about it.

"Thanks," she muttered, the banter dying between them as Sarah looked down at the cup in front of her.

"Everything alright?" Tally asked, trying to contain her excitement and nerves.

Sarah tasted it, letting it burn her tongue. "No. Nothing. I just...well, I was wondering if maybe you would want to…"

"Yes! Yes, I do, of course," Tally put Sarah out of her misery. Clearly the woman was struggling, and it saved herself from having to ask the older woman herself.

"I didn't even say what though," Sarah relaxed visibly.

"Doesn't matter, whatever you have in mind will be amazing I'm sure," Tally smiled. "Just give me a time, I'm done here at 2:30, but I'll need an hour after that to get ready, so I won't smell like coffee,"

"Don't worry, I have work until 5 anyways, so take your time," Sarah chuckled and leaned over the counter slightly. "But it just so happens I like the smell of coffee. I will see you at 6 pm," She pulled out a pen and scribbled on the back of her receipt. "Here, text me your address and I will pick you up," Tally took it carefully, and nodded. "See you later," Sarah smiled and turned to leave

"Wait, what are we doing?" Tally asked after her.

Sarah smirked over her shoulder. "You'll see, if you trust me,"

"How will I know what to wear?!"

"Just something comfortable that isn't that uniform," Sarah looked her up and down before raising her cup and leaving the building.


Tally nodded with a smile and watched Sarah leave. She was overjoyed. She could barely function, she was too caught up thinking about Sarah and whatever it was she had to look forward to tonight.

That was a bad thing though, she was so caught up in it that she messed up typing in three orders in a row, so the assistant manager had to come out and fix it all, the customers were not happy to say the least. Tally didn't care though; she was just itching to get out of there.

"Why don't you go clean something," the assistant manager, Libba, said pointedly. "Abigail, take over front counter for her,"

She sighed and walked off. She was actually moderately productive though, she swept the whole place, and wiped off the counters, for a while at least.

"Earth to Tally," Abigail waved a hand in front of her face.

"Hmm, what is it?" Tally didn't even look at her.

"Think you could maybe finish those dishes in the back?" She pointed over her shoulder.

"I'm cleaning the counters, have Penelope do it," Tally scoffed.

"She's being trained to do the drive thru window. And when you say you're cleaning the counters, would those be the counters you have been cleaning for the last twenty minutes?" Abigail cocked an eyebrow at her.

Tally looked down, true enough, they were clean. She was way too distracted to be useful. "Uh…dishes you say?"

Abigail just clapped her on the back as Tally trudged to the back. Doing the dishes was always relaxing to her, so at least she could fantasize about Sarah in peace.


Sarah slipped into her office quietly, gave a nod to M, but other than that, heard and saw no one. There was plenty of work to do so she was occupied, and the hours of the day passed quickly. Though she was not completely without distraction, she often let her mind wander to the redhead at the cafe down the street.

Sarah was just about to leave, having just shut her personal office door behind her, when Henry approached. She had surprisingly gotten through the workday without being harassed by either him or Anacostia, but her luck seemed to have run out.

"Sarah, where are you headed in such a hurry this fine evening?" He leaned on the wall in front of her, distinctly blocking her exit. Oh, she hated it when he used her first name. Something about it just made her skin crawl.

She rolled her eyes. "I am not in a hurry, I am just going home,"

"On a nice Friday night like tonight? If you don't have any plans, I might offer to get the beautiful lady dinner and some drinks, so she isn't lonely," He offered. Sarah knew he was a nice guy, but she wasn't interested.

She gave a polite smile, but really, she was just annoyed at this point. What part of going home did he not understand? "Thank you, Henry but-"

"Sarah!" Both her and Henry turned to see Anacostia walking up to them. Part of Sarah was relieved to have Anacostia to help fend off Henry's advances, but the other part of her knew that there was only one conversation they were going to have. "I'm glad I caught you before you left, hello Henry," She added at the end to which the man nodded.

"Hello Anacostia, have a productive day today?" Sarah asked, trying to keep the subject away from herself.

The other woman looked at her in a way that told Sarah she was not going to escape her questioning. She shrugged first though. "Yes, I suppose it was, for a Friday. I don't know about you all though, but I am so glad it's over, because I am ready for the weekend!" Anacostia pushed them both toward the doors. "So, Sarah, I hope it goes well with the little lady tonight, did you ever decide where you were going to take her? I assume you talked to her today like you said,"

They both just stared at her mouths agape, though for obviously different reasons. Henry looked back at Sarah.

"Lady? Who? I thought you didn't have any plans tonight?!"

Sarah narrowed her eyes at Anacostia who just shrugged apologetically. She rolled her eyes and looked at the man. "No. I never said I didn't have plans, I just said I was going home, which I am, I am going home first, then I have plans,"

"And the lady?!" He eyed her suspiciously.

"Some cute barista from the coffee shop down the street," Anacostia piped up and if looks could kill, Sarah would have put her six feet deep with the glare she gave her.

"Come on Sarah, you can do better than a barista," He practically whined. "And I know that place well. I stopped going because they always messed up my order. Surely you know someone better?"

Now Anacostia was glaring at him too. "Shut up. Baristas are people too, and Sarah can do whatever or whoever she wants, it's not really any of your business!"

"But I-"

"But nothing. Have a good weekend, Henry," Anacostia grabbed Sarah by the arm and pulled her along, leaving Henry behind them. "Gods, some men just think they are entitled to everything. Forget him Sarah, don't let him ruin your evening,"

She sighed. "Thanks, but there isn't anything to ruin,"

"You did talk to her today though, yes?" She stopped and looked Sarah in the eyes, but Sarah looked away.

"I did, but I didn't decide what we should do, and I'm supposed to pick her up in an hour," She looked down at her phone. She had a text from an unknown number that she could only assume was Tally's.

"Come on Sarah. It hasn't been so long that you forgot how to do this. I'd say offer her coffee but somehow, I don't know if she'd want that. Take her to dinner, go for a walk, and see what happens," Anacostia clapped her on the shoulder. "You will figure it out, and you'll tell me all about it when we go out for drinks tomorrow night, I'm buying,"

"We'll see, no promises," She waved and climbed into her car.

The drive home felt like it took an eternity. She barely had spent any time in her apartment before she was running out the door again. She was lucky the girl didn't live that far from her. She just hoped everything would go smoothly tonight.