Page 2 of Changed Plan

“No worries.”

Oh, perfect. There’s the million-dollar smile that completes the look.

He pulls a stack of napkins from his computer bag, crouches down, and wipes off his shoes. “They’re wipeable, see?”

“But they’re leather, so they’re also stainable. Who has the audacity to wear any shade of white shoes on a travel day?”

Or any day.

“Not stainable,” he says, standing back up to tower over me by a good six inches. “Sustainable. Vegan leather.”

“I definitely should’ve seen that coming.”

He jogs off to a trashcan to dispose of his coffee-soaked napkins. I walk away in the other direction.

“Wait up.”

He can’t be serious. What does he want from me? His eco-friendly shoes are fine. I speed up.

“Are we power walking?” he asks as his long legs close the gap between us in a few strides.

“Listen, I have had a supremely shitty day. And now, my coffee is gone. So, if you’ll excuse me . . .”

“That’s why I had to catch up with you.”

“To make my day even shittier?”

“No. To replace your coffee. I’m the reason you spilled it.”

Wait a minute. What did he say?

“You want to take responsibility for our collision? Why? You were standing still, and I ran into you.”

“Like you said, I creeped up on you. Not intentionally. It’s pretty crowded in here. But still, you had no idea I was there. It was an accident.”

“Exactly. A no-fault accident, so there’s no need for you to replace my coffee. Got it?” I walk faster again.

“But I want to replace it.”

“Well, we don’t always get what we want.”

He laughs. What is wrong with this lunatic?

“That wasn’t a joke.”

“Oh, I’m aware. But you’re funny without trying. You’re also incredibly pretty, even with that scowl on your face.”

“So help me, if you tell me to smile right now—”

“I would never tell you to smile. But I’d sure like a shot at giving you a reason to, though.”

Um, that was . . . quite the line. “The last thing I need right now is a stalker.”

“No one needs a stalker. And I’m not one. But I still want to replace your coffee.”

“If I let you buy me coffee, then will you leave me alone?”

We turn the corner. The line for the coffee shop is at least thirty people deep.

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