Page 21 of Method Acting

I didn’t even mind carrying all their shit home. I dumped it in the laundry room—they could take care of it later. I made myself a quick sandwich, got changed into some sweatpants and a T-shirt, grabbed a hoodie, and headed back toward campus. To the coffee shop.

It was only seven thirty but an iced coffee sounded good, and I had some studying to do, so... And with a bit of luck, it would annoy Amos.

There were a few people at tables, most studying, some talking, their books closed on the table in front of them. Another guy was behind the counter, and I wondered if Amos was even here, if I’d gotten the time wrong, or if he’d bailed... or lied.

But then he came through the staff door with a tray and I got a sliver of satisfaction at seeing him do a split-second double take when he saw me.

It was infinitesimal. But it was there.

I ordered my iced coffee with the other guy. His name tag said Mason. Maybe I’d seen him around before...

Amos was restacking stuff, cleaning things down, and getting the store ready to close, I guessed.

He ignored me.

So I took my drink to the far booth, liking that I was kinda hidden—so I didn’t keep turning and looking for Amos—took out my book, and began reading, taking notes.

I didn’t notice people at the other tables clear out, but when a plate with a muffin on it appeared in front of me, I looked up to find everyone gone.

And Amos standing there.

He put a knife and fork by the plate. “If you’re hungry,” he mumbled, then turned and walked back to the counter.

It was a raspberry and white chocolate muffin and... had he warmed it up for me?

I looked back at the counter, but he must’ve been in the backroom. Mason was talking through the door to someone... The outside lights were off, the register was closed, the counter covered.

Shit.

I didn’t mean to keep him. I began to pack up my book when Amos came out with a drink in one hand, a plate in the other. Without a word, he slid into the booth.

Then Mason called out. “Lock the doors on your way out, okay?”

“Yeah, no problem,” Amos replied.

Then it was just Amos and me in a closed coffee shop with most of the lights off. “Uh, what’s going on?”

“I’m starving,” he said, picking up his panini and taking a bite.

“Do you always get left alone here?”

He shrugged. “Sometimes. Mason wanted to leave, some date thing with his girl. I dunno. I said I’d mop the floors so he could go.”

I looked around at the very un-mopped floors. “Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you...”

“Food first.” He took another bite, then nodded to the muffin, then to me.

“Yeah, I like these. I just wasn’t sure it was meant for me.”

He rolled his eyes and swallowed his mouthful. “I gave it to you, didn’t I?”

“Well, you put it in front of me and said if I was hungry... And I just wasn’t sure. Coming from anyone else, I’d think I could eat it. But coming from you, that could be ‘if you’re hungry, too bad because this isn’t for you.’”

He snorted and finished chewing his food. “If you don’t want it, I’ll have it.”

I took the knife and cut the muffin in half. “Here.”

I was hungry and clearly, so was he. But I could eat something else when I got back to the house. He lived in the dorms, and I wasn’t sure what he’d get to eat after the dining hall was closed.

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