Page 6 of Coral Prince Conundrum
He snickers, and I nearly growl at him. “Shut up, I hate you,” I hiss.
“You’re not going to hate me when I help you in two seconds.” Justice walks forward, and my eyebrows jump.
“Sir, hi, excuse me!” Over my shoulder, I witness Justice hailing super-hot lifeguard over to him. “We need your name for the drink order,” Justice hollers.
“My name is Seero. Like zero, the number, but with an S. Two E’s.”
“Seero, that is an interesting name.” Justice is talking loudly, and he briefly glances at me. He sounds so intrigued on my behalf, and I don’t know if I want to thank him or strangle him. “You new around these parts, Mr. Seero?”
The angel with tight abs smiles at him. “I am. Working at the hotel.”
“Isn’t that something? Hey, Daryl, did you hear that Seero is working at the hotel?” He walks back to me and claps me on my shoulder, and I tense up.
“Yes, I heard that,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Well, Seero, it is our pleasure to make your acquaintance. Daryl here will take good care of you. He’s so talented, an overall great guy. Gotta go!”
Justice dashes off, and I resist the urge to snarl at him. When I make eye contact with Seero, he’s gazing at me, not reacting at all. I break out in a huge smile and turn back around to focus on the drink.
Several minutes later, I’m cleaning a counter, listening to the ambient bustle of Café Magnifique. The place has an eclecticvibe, with people of all ethnicities, backgrounds, and genders ordering brew. We’re not too far from mystical realms north of here. Some of the patrons might actually have magic—sorcery is real, but it’s pretty uncommon in America—and everyone is chill here. Other than that one audacious painting of a snake that the manager insists on keeping up, the environment is comfortable, with sleek, green-and-gold decorated surfaces. Customers generally aren’t rude, the days go by quickly, and we typically get half-decent tips. All in all, I enjoy being a barista while I’m a grad student.
As I wipe down another table, in the corner of my eye, that hot pool boy—I mean, Seero—is casually sipping his drink, gazing out a window. He chose the seat closest to the counter, but I refuse to believe he wants to be near me. The idea of him liking me is a delusion of heartache and horniness. Still, I want to bask in his presence; my pulse is pounding just basking in his sheer proximity.
When he’s done drinking, he approaches me, and I try not to panic. “That was very good.”
“I’m glad you liked it.” I half-giggle for no reason because I’m a weirdo who can’t talk to cute boys.
“You should be proud. I could never make a drink like this.”
He smiles, and I bite back a swoon. “Well, maybe one day when you’re not lifeguarding at the pool, I could teach you.”
He chuckles. “I do not want to take up your time.” I want to tell him to take all the attention he wants from me, but instead, he gazes at the walls. “This place is so…comforting.”
“If you call the smell of burnt coffee comforting, then sure.” I laugh, but he nods.
“It is a scent I am not familiar with.” He turns back to me. “And you have been a huge help.”
“Aw shucks.” I wave the washrag at him.
“And do you work most afternoons?”
He wants to know my work schedule?My cheeks heat up, and I nod. “Yeah. It’s random, some mornings, some afternoons, but almost every day.”
“Good to know.” He bites his lip, and I want to lean forward and suck on it. “I will certainly be back.” He nods and lifts up his hand. “I believe it is customary to tip?”
“Aw, that’s so generous of you, you can—wait, twenty dollars?!”
I gaze at the bill in his hand. He looks at it and frowns. “Is that not enough?” He reaches into his pocket, and a moment later, he’s holding forty.
“Wha…what?”
“Ah, the tip jar is over there, I see.” He saunters over and places forty freaking dollars into our tiny plastic tub. “See you next time, Daryl.” He waves, and in a second, he’s gone.
My mind is in a tizzy with everything that just occurred. I don’t know what’s wilder: the fact that I know Seero’s name, or the fact that he tipped so generously.
Oh no, the biggest shock of all: he knows my name. And he wants to keep coming back to the café. I take in a deep breath. I’m going to have multiple excuses to talk to Seero again— this could either be the best thing to ever happen to me, or the worst.
CHAPTER FOUR
