A'S

. There was no way I was going to be late again. Mr. Peters

ll asleep in her room, and the apartment was quiet. I took my time getting r

d ready to go. I even had time to put on

," Jenna said, walking into the kit

aid, putting my lunch in my bag. "Mr.

herself some coffee. "Much better than th

ically, but I was smilin

good day

e bus came right on schedule, and I arrived at the co

e was already behind the counter, setting up for the

ing my apron on. "I'm ju

on was in a mood yesterday after

ped. "He compla

Peterson and said you were unprofessional," Sar

angry. "I did everything he asked

told Mr. Peterson that the guy was being unreasonable

s just great. Now I was on Mr. Peterson's bad side

attes, cappuccinos, espressos, and everything in between. I was running

ed to slow down. I was wiping down

table

guy from yesterday. He was sitting at the same table, w

idding me," I mutte

ah whispered as

r to his table. Professional, I rem

d with a forced smile. "Wh

ould see recognition in his

aya. I'll be ser

laptop. "Black coffee. And this time

something I would regret. "Of course

d making his coffee. Tom had come in fo

Tom asked, nodding

ing out the coffee grounds. "He was here

eyebrows. "That's weird. Usually, if peopl

s special," I sa

nd cup yesterday, the one he had said was "acceptable." I

lacing the cup carefully on h

sip. I held my breath, wa

he said aft

et me know if you n

k away, but his

oissant as well," he said

ourse

the freshest-looking croissant we had. I p

aid, not looking

you? That was the first po

ome," I said

r where Sarah was making a

ank you?" Sarah

d. "Maybe he's in a

terrible as we thoug

I said. "He just had one mo

ghed. "Fa

stayed at table six for about two hours. Every once in a while, he would ask for a co

ave, he walked over to the c

" he said, pullin

dollars," I said, lo

enty-dollar bill.

lars was a pretty generous tip, especially

," I said,

alked out the door w

ars?" Sarah said, leaning over

onfused. "I don't under

d about yesterday

ced. He didn't seem like the type of

-

would come in and sit at table six. He would order a black coffee and sometimes a croissant o

e left, he would

n that first day. He would say "please" and "thank you" now, which was an improvem

said on Thursday mornin

id. "Table six

" Tom observed. "That's g

bing my notepad and wal

, Sir," I sai

ng his laptop. "And a

g righ

t, not too strong, and definitely no sugar or milk. I made it

d, still focused on

re we

o walk away,

our name?

urned around, s

ke he was testing how i

aid, even though we had techni

d went back

counter where Sarah

me!" she said excited

" I said, shaking my head.

. "He's warming up

omer, Sarah.

re every day? And why did he always sit at the same table? Th

ven if he was better looking than most. I had more important th

t help wonder

-

at his usual time and ordered his usual coffee. But about thirty

es. She looked like she had just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

d to talk," sh

behind the counter, I coul

anessa," he

ossing her arms. "You've been

" Ethan said, cl

her voice getting louder. "We'r

looked over at Mr. Peterson, who was wat

aid, his voice tight. "Thi

essa demanded. "You never wa

us," Ethan said firmly. "I t

going to regret this, Ethan. You

said, standing up. "Now, if you

d out of the coffee shop, leavi

ng shocked. Then she stood up and stormed o

a few seconds before everyone w

atic," Tom said from

staring at the door

one of my business. Ethan was just a customer, and whatever

at's what I kep