Page 40 of Blinded By Love

I grab the plate and say 'thank you' to Franky.

He gives me a playful wink which I just smile at.

Franky and I have been working a lot more together. I like working with him because he always has interesting things to say. He talks to me about books and business which I think is cool to learn about. He tells me about the crazy things he has experienced when working here which I always love hearing.

Andy works with me too and that’s my time to complain and rant because we love complaining to each other.

Whenever Lisa is around, we talk too. She tells me about things Andy has done in her childhood. She feels like a grandma I never had before. When I told her I was in the hospital she was super worried about me and was going to send me home but I begged her to let me stay because I needed the money.

I place the plate in front of the customer and give them a smile. They smile back at me before I leave the table.

The bell rings, making me look towards the front. Lucas walks in with a book and he smiles when he sees me.

“Didn’t think I would see you again,” he says, sitting at his usual table while still staring up at me.

“Well I should be saying that to you. I work here.”

“I came here like a few weeks ago and they told me you were gone for the week.”

“I was just taking a small break,” I say, not wanting to worry him. “But I’m back and feeling good. Ready to take on some orders.”

“That’s always good to hear.” Lucas chuckles. “Glad to have you back. I don’t need a menu by the way. I think I want to have just a mocha latte and pumpkin bread.”

“Sure. You want the bread warmed?’

“Yea, that’d be great.”

I nod my head at him and go to the back of the bar, preparing his latte and putting his bread in the toaster.

“That guy is giving you puppy dog eyes as you move behind the bar,” Andy says, leaning against the counter while staring at Lucas, I assume.

“Totally agree. He is a nice kid though. Reminds me of a golden retriever.” I hear Franky say, making me look at him through the expo window. “What? You can’t tell me he doesn’t give golden retriever vibes.”

“What makes you think he is a golden retriever?”

“The way he looks at you shyly. He has this whole good guy persona going on,” Franky says before he nods his head and snaps his fingers at Andy. “$20 that he asks her out.”

Andy smirks at him. “You’re on, old man. We’re still going on for that other bet though.”

I furrow my eyebrows. “What other bet?’

“Nothing you need to worry about.” Andy gives me an innocent smile but I know it’s anything but.

“God, maybe I should have found different coworkers.”

“Hey, you're the one who decided to stay. It’s your fault now.” Andy shrugs.

“You know, kids like Hayden are like doberman boys. I think that's what I heard my girls saying when they showed me pictures of these boys they liked,” Franky says with a teasing smile on his face.

For some reason, my cheeks blush. I don’t know why and I wish I could get rid of it.

“Yes!” Andy snaps her fingers at Franky. “And then I think Kayden is like either a doberman or a husky guy.”

“Since when do you give boys a dog stereotype?”

“Since it became a thing,” Andy says in a ‘duh’ tone.

“She just doesn’t understand, Andy.” Franky shakes his head lightly before going back to work.

---