Santiago made a stop at the café on his way to work when the sudden craving for donuts and a cup of coffee hit him when he woke up. He parked in the parking lot, got out of his car, and made his way inside the café.
There were a few people inside the shop, which he was grateful for. Crowds did not do it for him, because he would like to enjoy his donuts and coffee in peace and quiet but when his eye met with a certain golden-haired woman, such thinking flew through the window and he walked to the counter to wait for her.
“Thank you so much Joan” one of the customers she served appreciated as she made her way to the counter.
“Joan” he whispered to himself and grinned at how cute her name sounded.
Joan went over the counter to answer the man that was waiting there but when she came face-to-face with him, the smile on her face flattered.
“You again” she accused and he raised his hands up in the air and then stood up straight so that he didn’t make her uncomfortable.
The last thing he wanted was another slap from her.
“I am not here for trouble sweet cake, I just need to get some donuts and a cup of coffee then I’m off,” he said to her and she looked at him for a while before opening her notepad.
“Quit the nickname and what is your kind of coffee?” she asked.
“Black, with sugar,” he said in a voice that sounded too familiar and it hit her.
He was that man, the man who rudely left Stacy on their date. The man who made Stacy sad. Then she wondered what Stacy saw in him that made her agree to date him.
She wanted to say something about it but it wasn’t really her business, he was a customer and she was a waitress here, that’s just it. The lives of her customers shouldn’t be any of her concern, she can just hope that her customers fare well.
“You may have your seat in one of those chairs and I will have your order by your table soon,” she said and turned to prepare the coffee but he stopped her.
“I can sit on one of these stools to wait for my order?” he asked and she nodded then saw him take a seat on the stool with his hands resting on the counter and a smile on his lips.
She shook her head and turned back to continue what she was doing and could feel his gaze on her every move. It was strange but she wasn’t one to care about anybody’s opinion but with his stares at her, she felt conscious of her moves and hoped that she doesn’t embarrass herself in front of him.
“It will be best if you stop staring,” she turned to him with his order and kept a straight look “It’s making me uncomfortable,” she said and he gave her an apologetic look.
“Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to stare, forgive me” he apologized and she didn’t know why her heart jolted when he said he was sorry.
‘What’s wrong with you girl’. She scolded herself and looked away from him to pack up the plates and take the bills that some customers left when they were done.
“Have breakfast with me when you’re done,” she stopped in her tracks and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
Santiago felt a bit embarrassed with her reaction to what he requested and could feel his cheek heat up but he wasn’t about to back out of his request. He didn’t know why he asked that she had breakfast with him but he just wanted to.
“What?”
“I want to apologize for… for the last time we crossed paths” he said which was partially the truth. “Please, let me apologize, this is probably the only way I can think of”
Joan recovered from that unexpected question and was going to retort, saying ‘How about Stacy who you left when you were supposed to be on a date with her?’ but like she had warned herself earlier, it’s not her business.
“I am working” was what she said then went ahead to continue her work.
After a few minutes of packing up and cleaning up, she checked the clock for when she would be off her shift for the day. Camila had school today and would come in the next day for her shift, her other co-workers will be here after her shift ends which is by 11 a.m.
She went behind the counter and somehow, her eyes went to the stranger’s donuts that weren’t touched and she was sure his coffee was cold already.
“It’s weird if you like your coffee cold” she told him and he looked at her from staring at his phone.
“Want to have that breakfast with me? You don’t have any customers yet and I am sure your shift ends soon” he said and as much as she didn’t want to agree with him, he was right. There was nothing to do, and it wouldn’t hurt to have a light breakfast with him.
She sighed then took a plate of cheesecake, some donuts, and a latte, placed it beside him on the counter and made him another black coffee before going over to sit on the stool beside him.
“Thank you” he smiled then turned to her “Joan I am so sor-”
“Wait, you aren’t a stalker, are you? How did you know my name?” she frowned, looking at him suspiciously.
“I have better things to do than stalk a coffee girl or anyone. It’s not worth my time” he answered, rolling his eyes and pouring sugar in his coffee.
“Then I guess this breakfast isn’t,” she starts to get up but he stops her and shakes his head when he realizes what he just said.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” he said to her and she looked at him then shrugged his hold off her hand and took a big bite from her cheesecake.
His eyes widened and he smiled in amusement “You have a big appetite” he comments.