Page 61 of Stabby Little

"I stick to coffee shops in Brooklyn. Everywhere else is too gentrified for me."

"Me, too." Crystal's eyes widen. "Although, I should be honest. I only started coming here as a joke."

"Oh yeah?"

"I was writing a guest blog post for my friend's blog about the best places to study in New York. This shop came up. I was surprised when I liked the vibe."

"I like the vibe, too. I could draw comics in here all day long."

"You draw comics?" Crystal asks.

"That's my profession." I show her some of the drawings I stole from a local website last night. "I create art that ridicules our plutocratic overlords. Mark Zuckerberg personally banned my Instagram account because I portrayed him as an alien once, but I'm still popular on Twitter."

"At least until Elon Musk takes over," Crystal drawls.

"I pray that never happens."

"What's your name?" I sip my Americano.

"Crystal." She extends her hand. "What about you?"

"Trevor." I wrap my fingers around hers, then squeeze her palm. "I have a confession."

"What's that?"

"You caught my eye the second I walked in here."

Crystal's eyes widen. "Really?"

"Most girls would have their phones out to take pictures of their drinks. You were studying. You're the real deal. I can tell you have depth just talking to you—you're not shallow like so many of the girls in Manhattan."

Crystal presses her hand to her heart. "That's… sweet."

Her pupils lock on mine, then she quickly pulls away. I brush a lock of hair from her forehead, pushing it past her temple.

"Listen." I go in for the kill. "I want to ask you out on a date, but I'm only here until this Sunday."

"Oh." Crystal pulls away from me. "Why?"

"I'm heading to LA for three months as part of a developing artists' retreat. We're studying social media marketing techniques to advance our personal brands."

"Shit." Crystal shakes her head. "I'd have said yes."

"You're kidding."

"Nope." She winks at me. "As long as you don't call me my lady. Then I'd agree."

"Maybe we can meet up quickly to see if we get along."

"When?"

“Tomorrow.”

Crystal grimaces. "My anthropology essay is due tomorrow at midnight. I'll be working the entire day."

I found this information in her class schedule. That's why I suggested it.

"Friday."

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