Page 92 of The Vampire and the Barista

“You’re late, Jamie, this is unacceptable,” the leader of the mean ladies said. She looked like Mrs Claus, but that’s where the similarities ended. This lady was mean and complained about everything.

“I am late opening this morning. It’s that pesky thing called real life that sometimes make people late,” Jamie replied. “If you give me your orders, I can bring them over to you when the machine is fully awake.”

The woman tutted. “I expected more from you, young man.”

Jamie internally sighed. This group complained about everything. “Well, you never disappoint, no matter what anyone does, you get annoyed with them. Nothing is ever good enough for you. I’m honestly surprised you leave the house, considering how much you disapprove of literally everything.”

Ivan snorted out a laugh, which made the ladies turn around and glare at him. He ignored them and carried on laughing.

The lady turned back to look at Jamie, her cheeks red with anger. “Well, really. Be assured, a complaint about your attitude will be made.”

Jamie shrugged. “What else is new? You’ve complained about everyone else that works in the library, and I was honestly feeling left out. Now what can I get you to drink, to give you something else to moan about?”

“Well, really?” another of the women exclaimed.

“I’m ordering nothing today, young man,” the original mean lady said.

“Fair enough,” Jamie said, taking a step back, leaning against the back counter and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Come, ladies,” she demanded, stomping away, expecting the others to follow her.

One lady stayed behind, grinning at Jamie.

“Morning, Cheryl,” Jamie greets, uncrossing his arms and stepping forward. “What can I get you?”

“More of this morning entertainment,” she replied, grinning. Unlike the mean lady’s clique group, Cheryl was lovely.

Jamie laughed. “I really was feeling left out. I mean, she’s complained about all the others at least three or four times.”

Cheryl laughed. “I can complain about you as well, if you want?”

“I’ll leave that up to you to decide.”

“Cheryl,” the mean lady called.

“Coming,” she called back. “Can I have a large black coffee, please, Jamie?”

“You can,” he replied, turning back to the machine and making her coffee. He turned back and put her drink on the counter and rang up her payment.

Cheryl tapped her card and paid, smiling as she picked up her drink. “Thanks, Jamie.”

“Enjoy,” Jamie said as she walked away.

He turned back to the machine and made a drink for Ivan, taking it over to him when it was ready.

“Here, honey,” he said, putting it on the table in front of him.

Ivan grinned. “Thanks, sweetheart. I see what you meant about the mean ladies.”

“It’s a shame as some of them are really nice.”

“So that was fun,” Max said, joining them. “Has she really never put in a complaint about you before?”

Jamie shook his head. “No, but that’s about to change.”

“It’s a shame the BSL group has stopped for a while; they were nice,” Max commented. “But then teaching sign language with a broken arm would be hard.”

“I can imagine,” Ivan said.