Page 91 of Stabby Little

"I'm not overlooking his neck beard, that's for sure."

I can't take it anymore. I pry myself off the seat and whip out my phone. I dial Crystal's number.

"Crystal?" I snap when she picks up. "Where are you?"

"I'm in my father's limousine. Traffic is bad, but I'm almost there."

"Hurry up."

"You're my uncle's underling. You don't get to tell me to hurry up."

"Well, I did," I hit back. "Two airheads and a barista with a neck beard are subjecting me to the world's most aggravating conversation."

"Steven. That's the one with the neck beard."

"I don't care what his name is."

"Don't get an attitude with me," Crystal snaps. "I'm only meeting you because my father ordered me to. He said my uncle would go through the roof if we didn't speak."

"How long until you get here?"

"Five minutes."

"We can have this conversation over the phone if you'd prefer,” I say. “It'd help me get out of here faster."

"No. I want to see Steven."

"Dare I ask why?"

"Someone made a video of him preparing a drink and it blew up on Tik Tok. Girls around the world are calling him their knight in shining armor. He always calls me my lady. I think he has a crush on me."

"I hate to break it to you, but he calls everyone my lady."

"You don't know that."

"I heard him say it to two girls at the bar."

"That's it." Crystal clears her throat. "I'm getting out of this limousine and walking. I need to speak to Steven myself."

* * *

I count my lucky stars when Crystal pulls up to the coffee shop. She wears a dark brown scarf with three-inch heels. Her acrylic nails clatter as she approaches the bar.

Luckily, I saved her a seat so she doesn't have to stand in line. In the minutes since our phone conversation, the coffee shop has become flooded with people.

"Hey."

Crystal shoots me a look. "I'm not here to see you. I want to see Steven."

I grit my teeth. "I don't want to speak to you anymore than you want to speak to me. We only need to chat for ten minutes and then I'll leave."

Crystal turns to the barista. "Hi, Steven. Care to make me an Americano?"

"One second," Steven says. "I'm serving customers."

Crystal presses her hand to her heart. "He didn't call me my lady."

"He's swamped." I gesture around the coffee shop. "That Tik Tok video brought in new patrons."

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