Page 7 of Coffee Shop Cupid
The errant thought was like a knife to the heart, and I paused to lean against a streetlight.
I took a deep breath. “It’s over… it’s over… one step forward. Just put one foot in front of the other.”
For some reason I thought of something my therapist had told me:“Grief isn’t a straight line. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re going in circles, but it's just you processing as you need.”
“Breakfast,” I whispered. “I’m going to get pastries for breakfast, and a huge coffee. I’m going to enjoy the hell out of it.”
It took another minute of standing there while passersby looked at me before I was able to continue on.
“Marathon, not a sprint,” I muttered as I walked. “Marathon, not a sprint.”
It felt like I’d won a major victory as I opened the door to the cafe and stepped inside. It was a cute little place, with a warm and inviting atmosphere, and the aroma of baked goods perfuming the air.
I took a deep breath, savoring the scents around me: warm breads and sugary treats mixed with rich coffee. Then I walked over to the counter and looked at the menu again.
“What can I get ya, hun?” chirped a woman who appeared to be a few years younger than me.
“Um…” I started, taking one last glance at the board. “Caramel latte, cheese danish, and…” I swallowed. Vince would have always chastised me for ordering too much sugar. But he wasn’t around any longer. “And a cherry danish.”
“Caramel latte, cheese danish and a cherry danish,” she repeated, entering the details into her register. “Anything else?”
It took me a second to recognize that there had been no judgment, no subtle insinuations that I should order something healthier. No looks from a knowing barista implying that I should switch my order to decaf.
I shook my head. “No, that’s all, thanks.”
“Got it,” she turned towards a display case, then frowned. “One sec,” she said, then walked to the back and out of sight.
I blinked several times, but she returned before I had the chance to think about it.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m out of danishes at the moment, but if you can wait about ten minutes there will be more. They’re almost done cooking, and will need a few minutes to cool.”
My stomach rumbled with the mention of oven-fresh danishes. “That sounds lovely, actually.”
“Great!” she replied, all smiles. “Have a seat anywhere, and I’ll bring your coffee right over.”
I looked around, then picked a small table near one wall that seemed an ideal place to people-watch.
Coffee grinders buzzed and milk frothers squealed. The bell over the door jingled every time it opened. Other customers chatted while the baristas called orders to one another.
For the first time in years, I was just another face in the crowd. Nobody asking how my latest treatments were going, or somebody stopping by the table asking me to say hi to Vince for them.
“Here’s your latte,” the woman from the counter said as she placed it on the table. “Those danishes will be right out.”
“Thank you.”
“No prob. Enjoy!” she said before returning to help the next customer.
I took a sip and sighed. It was the perfect blend of caramel, coffee and milk. I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes to fully enjoy it.
“Cheese danish and cherry danish?” asked a rich voice.
I jumped and opened my eyes to see a gorgeous alpha holding a plate. I licked my lips and tried to ignore his soft black hair and rich brown eyes. “Th-thank you.”
He smiled at me as he set the plate down. “Of course. Enjoy.”
I nodded and watched as he walked back to the counter, where he started joking with the woman who’d taken my order.
They’re probably dating,I told myself.Besides, it’s not as if you should be looking at alphas anyway.
