A smile lightened Syndee’s beautiful dark features. She was a freshman in college, and she was one of the most upbeat staff members The Roasted Sip had. She always had a warm welcome for everyone and a friendly word to send them on their way.
“She hasn’t been in here today. Are we interested in Miss Tegan?” she asked with a teasing grin.
I chuckled and scratched the back of my neck before I rested my hands on my hips. “Uh, well, I’m just trying to welcome her to the community.”
“Mm-hmm. Well, that’s very nice of you, Harlem.”
“I haven’t seen her in a few days, and I was just wondering if she’d came in here.”
“Nope, not today.”
I knew that she was nearing her launch day, and I had experience in that area. This was an extremely busy time for her, and she probably seldom had the time to go to the restroom, let alone enough time to take a break and do something as simple as eat or drink a coffee.
Usually when I got in each morning, she was already across the street at her shop. I was certain that she had also picked up her orders each morning, but maybe she hadn’t.
“Can you double my order for me?” I asked.
“Of course I can,” Syndee replied with a cheerful smile. “Why don’t you just ask her out for a coffee date? No harm, no foul, right?”
“Yeah, but I’m genuinely just trying to help her feel welcome.”
Syndee turned back to the counter, rested her elbows on top of it, and smiled at me. She rested her chin in her upturned palms, and her beautiful dimples were on display for the world to see.
“If you’re interested in the woman, then just say that. There’s nothing wrong if you are. I’ve never taken you as a guy who beats around the bush about anything. You’ve always been straightforward, Harlem. Be that for her; you might find that it intrigues her.”
Syndee stood, winked, and returned to filling my order. I leaned over the counter and asked, “Syndee, when did you become so wise?”
She laughed and replied, “I’m the baby of several older brothers and sisters. I simply learn from their mistakes.” She shrugged her shoulders.
We made more small talk until she finished filling my order and handed me the bag.
“Thanks, Syndee.”
“Remember, just be you,” she called after me.
I chuckled and shook my head as I bumped the door open with my hip. “Okay.” I held a drink tray in one hand and two bags with apple turnovers inside.
I moved down the sidewalk to my barbershop, and juggled the tray and bags with one hand so that I could pull the barbershop door open with my other.
“What’s up, New York?” Monte greeted as I breezed through the door.
They would often call me that from time to time because not only was my name Harlem, my father’s hometown, but also because I was born there and lived there the first five years of my life. My father relocated to Cherokee Springs, Georgia, to starthis own practice, making a ton more money with a much lower cost of living.
We would return to New York from time to time to visit his family, but we never moved back there. We all loved the milder winters, the beaches, and the affordable living that we could gain down South, not to mention more land for less bucks.
“Can’t call it, Money,” I replied to Monte, calling him the nickname that I had dubbed him with.
“Is that second coffee for me?” Alicia asked, bobbing her head to the drink tray as I set my coffee and bag at my station.
“Unless you like peanut butter macchiato with caramel and pineapple drizzle and whipped cream,” I replied.
“You know that nobody likes that shit but you,” Raque declared.
“Someone else likes it,” I replied with a teasing wink and a smirk as I headed to the door again.
“Wait a minute. Where you going with that?” Josiah asked.
“To give it to its rightful owner,” I replied.
