365 Prompts Challenge: cafe!au

Insane House Competition - I ordered a pumpkin spice latte at starbucks and you made a heart with the foam and i decided to drink it here so i can smile at you some more

Buttons: "This day couldn't get any worse."

TV Show of the Month, Mary: Tonks, intelligent, "Are you going to see him again?"

Word Count: 937

"This day couldn't get any worse."

Sirius glances up at his cousin as she joins him outside the coffee shop. He smiles a bit. A least he isn't the only one having a rubbish day. "Misery loves company," he chuckles softly, nudging Nymphadora gently with his elbow. "Shall we make a wager? Whoever had the worst day gets coffee from the loser?"

Nymphadora considers this, lips pursing. After a moment, she shrugs. "I'm always down for free coffee," she laughs. "So, training today. We were covering stealth. Not my strong point, you know?"

Sirius nods. His cousin has a lot going for her. She's intelligent, funny, charismatic, but she's far from graceful. Why she decided going into a branch of law enforcement that requires stealth is a mystery.

"So, I was doing well for the first few minutes, then what happens? I fucking tripped and knocked over a whole bloody bookshelf. Not a flimsy shelf, mind you. A sturdy shelf weighed down with books."

"Ouch."

She groans, pushing a hand through her signature bubblegum pink spiked hair. "So, what have you got?"

Sirius sighs, grazing his thumbnail over the sleeve of his leather jacket. "I had breakfast with Lucius."

Nymphadora snorts. "Breakfast with the gorgeous boyfriend," she teases. "How miserable."

"And I found out he has a wife, is more of a closet case than I realized, and he has been playing me this whole time," Sirius finishes, his voice quivering.

He still isn't over it. Lucius had broken the news so casually, like it hadn't been important. He's spent the past few hours feeling like a nervous wreck, wondering what the hell he did wrong.

"Are you going to see him again?" his cousin asks, gripping his wrist. "Tell me you aren't."

"I don't know," Sirius admits, and he hates himself for it. It should be an easy choice to make, really. Still, he's invested so much time in Lucius. How can he just walk away? "Guess you owe me a coffee."

She shrugs. "Guess so," she agrees before opening the door. "Age before beauty."

Sirius rolls his eyes, grinning from ear to ear. It doesn't matter how terrible his days are. There's something about his cousin that makes him feel like everything will be okay.

The cafe is empty except for the barista behind the counter named Remus, according to his name tag. Sirius is relieved. He doesn't feel like being in a crowded place today. Really, he'd rather be alone to brood.

"What can I get for you today?" Remus asks, smiling brightly at them.

"I'll take a hazelnut latte. My cousin will have a caramel vanilla," Nymphadora asks.

"That's not even my regular drink. How did you know?"

His cousin rolls her eyes and pats his hand. "It's your comfort drink whenever you're having boy trouble," she answers.

Sirius feels his cheeks heat with color. He looks pointedly away, fidgeting with his jacket zipper. "I'm not…"

"Dump him," she says sweetly.

Remus clears his throat and gives them their total. Nymphadora pays, and she and Sirius take their seat.

"Thanks for that," he grumbles.

"The coffee? No problem."

Sirius rolls his eyes. "Telling the barista I'm going through boy trouble," he clarifies. "I'm sure he really appreciated it."

Nymphadora offers him a sheepish grin and leans back in her chair. Sirius can't be too mad at her. They both tend to speak without thinking. Maybe they're too comfortable with one another to realize they're crossing boundaries. Besides, what's the point of having a cousin if you don't embarrass them from time to time?

The barista calls Nymphadora's name, and she fetches the coffee, a grin on her face when she returns. "I feel like I should be jealous," she says.

"Jealous?"

His cousin sets his cup down, still grinning. "I didn't get a heart."

At first, Sirius doesn't understand. As he lifts his cup, though, he sees the little heart drawn in the foam. When he glances up, he notices Remus watching up, a cute blush staining his cheeks. Sirius grins and holds eye contact as he sips the sweet, warm liquid.

"You should get his number," Nymphadora advises. "He's cute, and he's obviously interested."

"And I have a boyfriend," Sirius adds.

"A boyfriend who doesn't deserve you."

Sirius scowls. He knows she's right, but that doesn't make things any easier. And can he really just break up with Lucius because his barista put a foam heart in his coffee? It may just be a way to earn a nice tip.

Even as Sirius thinks it, he realizes he's wrong. Every time he glances up, he catches Remus still shyly watching him. Maybe Nymphadora is right.

He sets his drink aside and makes his way to the counter.

"Anything else I can get for you?" Remus asks. "We have a lovely orange cranberry muffin that might pair well with your latte."

"Your number would be great," Sirius says smoothly, offering Remus his most charming smile. "Maybe we could grab a drink later."

The barista smiles at him before grabbing a napkin and pen and scribbling his number down. "I get off at one," he says.

"Looking forward to it."

When he returns to the table, Sirius pulls out his phone and adds Remus' number. He then scrolls through his contacts, coming to a stop at Lucius' name. His finger hovers over the message icon, and it feels like it takes an eternity to find the strength to press it.

I'm done. I won't be your dirty little secret anymore.

When it sends, he sets his phone aside and takes another sip of his coffee. Everything is looking brighter.