Page 21 of Love You A Latte

More blinking, some squinting, another glance around the coffee shop. Did they just say glitter bombs?

“What?” I say again.

Frankie’s head tilts and they eye me. “Right, coffee first. Wait…”

Then they also glance around, their gaze landing on the vintage grandfather clock against one wall.

“Uh, Addison?”

“What?”

They grin and bite their lip, and I realize I’ve only said two words so far today, one of them repeated three times. I grimace.

“Did you get up early for me?” they say.

“No,” I grumble as I try not to stomp to the open table.

“You did!”

I can hear their grin as they follow me, and it tugs ananswering smile from my lips. I absolutely did. It’s impossible to be cranky around Frankie, even if it is an ungodly hour.

I slouch into the seat and set my yellow work bag on the table, then fold my arms on top of it and drop my head on them. Anything before nine a.m. is an obnoxious time to be awake. I hate it. My eyes are closed and I can feel the sun warming my hair through the window as I wonder where Frankie went.

My question is answered a few minutes later.

“Your coffee, my sleepy Addison.”

TheirAddison. I like that.

“Please,” I groan, already reaching for the warm mug.

“Ohhh, I like the sound of that,” Frankie winks and I roll my eyes. I’m not functional enough yet to deal with their flirtatious antics, but I like it regardless.

“I’ll come back when you’re awake,” they say with a laugh and spin on their heel, black boots scuffing the floor as they make their way around the tables.

I sip my latte, confused by what flavor they added to it today. It’s not one I’ve tasted before, and trying to figure it out helps my brain start to wake up. My eyes trail Frankie’s curly head as it bobs and weaves around the coffee shop. I don’t even pull out my laptop yet, knowing I won’t get any work done and no one will expect me to be online this early anyway. Frankie’s enthusiasm and charm fill the space, their laughter floating above the music, and I realize I feel at home here.

I’m not looking over my shoulder, waiting for someone I don’t want to see to pop up and invade my space. I’m calm, content, and more carefree than I can ever remember feeling.

Frankie catches my eye and saunters over.

“You awake?” they say and I laugh.

“I’m awake,” I reply. “Did you say something about glitter bombs earlier? Or…” Was that a dream? Did I imagine it?

“I did!” They plop into the seat next to me, snuggling their leg between mine under the table.

“Okay…”

“That’s how we get back at your exes. We send them glitter bombs! They’ll be living in glitter for weeks, months!” Their voice is so excited, I can’t help but smile even though it makes me think about Sabrina and Benji again.

“Unless they like glitter?” Frankie says, dubious.

“I don’t recall either of them having an inclination toward enjoying glitter.”

“Excellent.” Frankie claps their hands like a manic evil wizard.

“You’re a bit devious,” I say with a laugh. “I like it.”

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