“The kids love him too, and since I teach biology, the school actually gives me a little stipend for projects, so it was a no brainer.”
“I love that you got one finally.” She rotates back to me, and I wouldn’t have believed it is possible with her previous smile already radiant, but now her whole face is beaming, emitting so much exuberance, it’s hard not to think it’s genuine. I’m vastly aware this is one of the few times I’ve been alone with her. Except for the stolen moments we used to have under the bleachers, and that night at her house, there aren’t any othertimes I can think of. That night is a haunting reminder of the time I failed at asking her out. I still think about what might have happened if her dad hadn’t barged in.
Shoot, that was years ago, and who knows when I’ll see her next.
I might not ever get another chance to ask her out again.
My palms are awash with sweat. It really is now or never. We aren’t going to be able to small talk for much longer. “Gia.” I clear my throat, my heart fluttering with nerves and uncertainty. I’ve never wanted anything more than for her to say yes.
“What?”
“Ah. I know it’s late, but I’m done here, and headed out. I’m, ah, wondering if you want to grab a coffee with me?”
Her eyes flick side to side before replanting on me. “You mean right now?”
“Yeah, if you don’t have anything else going on, I’d love to catch up.”
She doesn’t pause for even a beat. “I’d love to.”
I swallow a larger than average swallow. Okay, it’s a gulp. It took me years to do this. An immediate surge of relief washes over me, until I realize asking her out is the easy part. That was one sentence. Now, I have to remain calm for the next hour.
My heart constricts, begging me not to blow this.
ten
Gia
North and I stroll down a quaint street to the coffee shop that, to my surprise, has recently been bought out by a new franchise called The Coffee Loft. For an early Saturday evening, the shop is extremely bustling. We pass through the heavy door and are instantly met with the aroma of the deepest roasted coffee and cinnamon, making saliva swell in my mouth. “This place is adorable,” I coo, taking in the new remodel and the rows of unique coffee cups hung on the wall, and finally latching my gaze on the chalkboard menu on the back wall.
With every possible flavor anyone could dream up, I have no idea how to pick just one. We shuffle our feet until we get to the front of the line, where we are greeted by a blonde woman with a ponytail pinned on the top of her head. “Chai guy, how are you?”
“Good evening, Portia, I’m good.” He slowly pulls out his wallet while keeping his attention forward, “And you.”
“I’m still brewing.” They both laugh at the pun, and I smile, already feeling welcome.
North extends a hand toward me. “You can go ahead and order.”
Without having had much of a chance to read the rather extensive menu, I eeny-meeny-moe the fall flavors in my head until I land on the last one. “Ah, I’ll try the frosted maple latte.”
“Great choice.” The barista, who I now know is named Portia, punches some digits into her tablet and shifts her gaze to North. “And your usual spiced chai?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He taps his debit card to the scanner before I have a chance to offer to pay.
“You guys can grab a seat, and I’ll bring them right out.” Portia grins at us before she turns her back to pour our milk.
“She has a nickname for you.” I turn and whisper under my breath. “You must come here often.”
“Yeah, it’s the closest place to the school.” We shimmy down the narrow aisle of tables until we get to the only open booth in the back. We both slide in, and North continues the conversation, “They’re swamped in the mornings, and I usually don’t have time to wait. Somehow, I made this a daily habit on my way home from work. Portia is one of the owners, and she’s always so nice.”
“And you are addicted to the spiced chai?”
“Addicted makes it sound so negative. Let’s just say I have a high chai absorption rate, and I’m not much of a coffee drinker. I love the smell but can’t stand the taste.”
“Don't like coffee. I'm not sure if we can be friends.” I bite back a fit of laughter as I recall when I almost made him vomit so many years ago. “I remember when you grabbed my straight espresso by mistake.”
“Yes,” he quips, his cheeks growing pink. “That was the second time I tried it, and it was not successful. Ever since then I’ve stuck to the chai.”
“What?” I tilt my head closer, pretending to have a hard time hearing. I couldn’t help but notice the way North’s eyes light up when I tease him, so I keep going. “That menu is packed with amazing flavors, and you haven’t tried anything else?”
