Page 55 of Cream & Sugar
I blink. “Sure.”
Oh shit. Is this it? Is this the moment Shaun confesses he likes me? Maybe having his ex swing by was just the catalyst he needed to finally make a move. Thank you, Lara, you tactless wingwoman, you!
Shaun produces the cup of coffee I left in the kitchen, still nearly full to the brim. Undrunk. “Do you drink coffee, Freddie?”
Oh shit.Busted.I really need to learn to dispose of my evidence better. I wince and suck my teeth. No point in lying; he was going to work it out eventually and my stunned silence is answer enough.
“No, I don't. Sorry. I guess when I applied, you assumed liking coffee was a given?” Shaun makes an affirming little shrug. I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “Yeah… Look, I know it’s one of those things you grow to like but, well, I guess I never grew to like it.”
“I see.” Shaun looks deep in thought. Then, he snaps his fingers like a professor who’s just cracked a tricky formula. From a drawer under the till, he pulls out a plastic folder containing the shift rota. He studies the rows and columns for a moment before breaking out in a big dopey grin. “Right. Next Monday, Anna’s on all day. I’d like to take you into Glasgow for a little research trip, if that’s alright with you? My treat.”
“What kind of research?” I ask, like it matters.
“Fun research, don’t worry.” He shows me the rota. “You’re down to work a short shift in the afternoon. What if I pick you up at seven? I’ll have you back in good time, I promise. Unless you have plans, of course?”
I feel myself grinning like a fool.
“No plans at all. Sounds rad.” It can't just be me feeling the heat in the air. Urge to flirt rising. Can't… hold… back! "Although I've got to say, it kinda sounds like you're asking me out."
"Funny how things can be misconstrued, isn't it?" Shaun flashes me that perfect smile and I fight the urge to swoon.
The fact he didn't shut me down this time doesn't escape me.
"Only kidding," I say. "For real though, I'd love to go on a research trip with you."
“Excellent. That's that then.” He starts rearranging the syrup bottles so all the spouts are facing the same way. “Oh, the till balance might be a little up tonight, by the way.”
“How come?” I ask, but Shaun doesn’t answer.
Poking out of the till drawer like a curly paper tongue is a card receipt, undoubtedly from Bigvig’s transaction. I tug the receipt out to take a peek and my mouth twists into an involuntary smirk.
Shaun charged him triple.
18
Shaun
It’sjustgonesevenin the morning when I park up in front of Freddie’s house. I hate being late. I would have been early if Jester hadn’t decided to puke in my left shoe at some point in the night, and I would have been on time if I hadn’t accidentally stepped in it.
My heart’s pounding. Hanging out with Freddie today is all I’ve been thinking about. For the past twelve days, not that I've been counting, we’ve mostly been like ships passing in the night at work, our shifts overlapping for a couple of hours here and there, and it’s been too busy to chat properly.
On the one full day we worked together, he told me about his disgustingly recent high school years, proudly referring to himself as the class rascal who turned up for music and not much else. He has countless funny stories, each one pulling me more and more under his spell.
All I really talked to him about was coffee.
While I've done my absolute best to quell the urge to flirt with him, there have been…moments. Moments he's caught me looking at him and vice-versa. Every time, I'm dazzled by that irresistible smile. Have I smiled back? Yes. Have I felt guilty for doing so? Also,yes. It's just so hard to suppress the joy I feel from merely being in his company.
When he left at lunchtime yesterday, he lingered behind the counter for a quiet moment to tell me how much he was looking forward to today. I’d been topping off a hot chocolate with whipped cream and was so thrilled to hear it that I missed the rim of the mug and shot a jet of it onto the floor. Freddie, cheeky as ever, smirked and said, “Guess you’re excited too.”
The innuendo was lost on me until after he’d gone, which makes the fact I responded with, “Absolutely!” all the more mortifying.
There’s a guy I don’t know in Freddie’s driveway, scraping ice off the windscreen of his Audi. This must be Freddie’s big brother, though the family resemblance isn’t strong. He’s missing Freddie’s sharp features and long blonde hair in favour of a buzz cut and a face not dissimilar to a bulldog. Despite the temperature, all he's wearing is a tight gym kit, showing off a hulking physique.
I step out of the car and shut the door, the noise catching his attention.
“Hi,” I call out and wave. He doesn’t return my smile. Maybe he’s not a morning person either? I take a couple of cautious steps up the driveway. “I’m Shaun. Is Freddie around?”
“Rory.” He stares me down, a muscle quivering in his anvil jaw. “You’re the café guy?”
