Page 34 of Call Me Sir

I order my boring usual. “I’ll take a small vanilla cappuccino.”

The barista, a friendly college aged student smiles and ask, “hot or cold?”

“Hot.”

“Eww,” Cole says.

The girl giggles, her golden braided pigtails bouncing around. “And what about you?”

“What do you recommend for someone who doesn’t like coffee?”

She leans back and glances at the menu. “A smoothie?”

“I’d like to find something that’s within the realm of espresso.”

She taps her chin. “Probably a mint chocolate frappe.”

Cole nods. “That sounds great!”

“What are you both up to today?” She asks with a bright smile.

With the long line behind us I can’t fathom why she’s still chatting with us.

“This guy has been trying to get me out of the house all day,” Cole answers back raising his eyebrows in a really suspect way.

“Oh, is this your uncle?”

Uncle?

Instead of playing along with her assumption, he boldly grabs my hand.

“Boyfriend, actually.”

The clarification has her madly blushing.

“That’s sweet. Enjoy the nice day,” she says followed by biting the inside of her cheek. “Your drinks will be at the end.”

“Thanks,” Cole responds then drags me to the end of the counter.

The girl doesn’t miss a beat and starts chatting with the next customer.

I’m baffled by how at ease Cole suddenly is. He’s still got my hand in his and is swaying to the music, occasionally bumping into my hip.

Noticing how quiet I am, he stops dancing.

“Sorry for saying boyfriend. I figured it was better than saying you’re my boss. Or uncle.”

My brain is short circuiting and I don’t know what to say.

“I figured she was going to ask me out and I didn’t want to reject her.”

I’m ready to explain that I get it. But my brain is muddied with so many thoughts and emotions.

Our drinks are called and he lets my hand go and grabs them for us.

I’m annoyed at my uncooperative tongue.

“Can we walk the pier? I gotta move around more.”

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