Love and Coffee

Cold Brew

After perusing the menu, Amy decided to try something new. "I'll take a vanilla cream cold brew, please," she told the barista.

Once settled in her usual seat by the window, Amy pretended to read while keeping one eye on the door. He entered at the usual time, ordered his usual drink, and sat at his usual table to her right. Not for the first time, she wondered how he achieved just the right amount of stubble to look rugged but not unkempt. She had to remind herself not to stare.

Maybe today was the day. The day she'd try something else new. The ad by the menu said "Velvety Smooth." She gulped. Be smooth...be smooth.

Finding her resolve, Amy stood. He sensed the movement immediately and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

Amy panicked. What was she doing? He was out of her league. Abort, abort!

In her moment of indecision, Amy's foot caught the edge of the table leg.  She stumbled and fell. Her coffee cup teetered and tipped, then slid off the table's edge. On reflex, Amy's arm shot out. Her fingers closed around the cup, which by some miracle stayed upright as it fell. The lid was still firmly in place, and not a single drop had spilled. Amy, however, found herself sitting on the floor in an uncomfortable position with one leg tangled under the chair. Mortified, she didn't dare look up.

"Nice reflexes!" a male voice said in admiration. "Very smooth."

She recognized that same deep tone he used to order his dark roast every morning. Slowly, Amy lifted her eyes.

He stood over her with his hand extended, offering to help her up. "I guess it's a good thing you ordered a cold drink today instead of a hot one like usual," he remarked. His face twitched like he was mentally kicking himself for a slip up.

He notices what I usually order?

Amy couldn't help but grin as she took his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

"Yeah, it's good to try new things," she said. She bit her lip, then took the plunge. "I'm Amy, by the way."

He still hadn't let go of her hand. Realizing the delay would soon become awkward, he released her and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Ethan," he said. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," she echoed.

There was a moment of uncertainty. Amy was about to thank him for his help and sit back down so she could internally berate herself. Before she could, he suddenly blurted, "So, your table seems like it might be a little unstable... Maybe you'd like to join me at mine?"

Amy blinked. He waited for her response with hunched shoulders.

A wide smile spread across her face. "That's probably a good idea," she agreed.

While moving her things to his table, Amy took a sip of her cold brew. Creamy and smooth. Very smooth.