Coffee Kisses

Andy stomped up the side walk to her coffee shop, the sun was barely cresting the horizon, the sky was a beautiful bright orange, with dark gray blue clouds streaking the sky, the air was chilly and so was her mood, she noticed the light was already on, casting a welcoming glow out onto the sleepy street, and she smiled thawing her icy demeanor a bit, opening this shop with her sister was the best thing she had ever done.

Bonnie was inside baking the pastries for the day, she had always been an early riser, which was not Andy’s strong suite, but she did love coffee, and after a few years of trying different blends and different drinks, she discovered she had a true passion for creating blends of coffee and creating delicious brews for friends and family. Bonnie was a natural at baking and loved trying new things in the kitchen, so the idea sprung to life about 4 years ago, they had nothing to lose, so the small bit they saved from pop up shops, and the local fair was used to place a down payment on the shop, so Bonnie Day was born and took off like a rocket.

Their lives had changed completely, they went from working multiple jobs and relying on Andy’s boyfriend at the time to help make rent in their two bedroom apartment and cover meager groceries, to owning a small shop with an amazing apartment upstairs that Bonnie and Andy stayed in the first year, but business had boomed and profits were high, Andy had just purchased a home on the outskirts of the town proper, close enough for her to walk to work and check on Bonnie.

Unlocking the door to get inside, then flipping the closed sign to open, she rounded the counter. The vibe she was going for was small town cozy, maybe even cottage core, she had small round wooden tables scattered through the dining area, with wing backed chairs, all mismatched, she also had cozy armchairs by the windows with small tables, the well worn comfortable feel was her favorite, it called people to lounge, spend time with friends or just read a book with a good cup of coffee. The building had a fireplace against the one wall kitty corner from the front counter, the counters, all designed and hand crafted by the local carpenter, Chris Love whom she was certain had a crush on her sister, where slabs of timber that still had the bark on the edges, epoxied to a glossy shine.

After tossing her items in the back office she grabbed her apron saying hi to Bonnie, and swiping a small croissant and shoving it in her mouth before Bonnie could protest, she threw her apron over her head tying the waist, walking to the front counter and pressing the button on the coffee grinder/brewer, the sweet smell of fresh coffee beans mingled with the lemon bars and chocolate filled croissants making Andy’s mouth water and tummy grumble even more, she needed real food soon and coffee, she crossed the room to start the fireplace, February in Georgia was a little nippy, and she thanked the good lord she had the fireplace switched over to gas, chopping wood was not something she wanted to do ever again.

The thought of growing up in that small house way out on the outskirts of town with her sisters and dad, chopping wood every damn day, barely scraping by, being judged or forgotten by the whole town, those thoughts don’t help anything, best to leave the past in the past she thought.

The tinkling sound of the bells hanging over the door alerted her to her first customer of the day, the person was talking, and Andy cringed knowing who it was before she even turned around, that kind of voice you never forgot, it was a voice of wealth and prestige, luck and luxury.

“Hello!! Paying customer here, ‘I know Kathy, I shouldn’t expect much from a mom n pop shop, always better to go to Starbucks’ Excuse me, is anyone here” the lady said in a very fake snotty voice, “Lisa, you are looking right at me, so yes someone is here. What can I get for you?” Andy asked with forced politeness, if not a little flat, as she made her way around the counter. Lisa had gone to school with her, she was once a close friend, but boobs and cheer leading, and then her dad hitting the power ball one summer, skyrocketing her to the height of popularity separated them in Jr. High, and Lisa had spent her high school days terrorizing Andy’s sister Bonnie, who was too sweet for her own good, and too naive to realize Lisa was as jealous as they come.

Andy however was more of a sour patch kid, Lisa never did find out who had stuffed those fish into her locker, or her car, her parent’s had to end up buying her a new car, some smells just don’t come out, but she had to protect her sister, Bonnie was to soft for this world.

Andy regarded Lisa, the woman was nearly 6 foot, slim, and gorgeous, even if her daddy hadn’t hit the lotto and bought a chain of BBQ joints, her looks would have sent her to the big league boys. Big smokey hazel eyes, the makeup laid heavy on her fair skin, she had never seen Lisa bare faced after the 8th grade, big boobs practically spilled out of her dress blouse, she was of course clad in a pink suit jacket and a skirt just long enough to be professional. She was the owner of the very new, very expensive Casa Del Sol, day spa a town over, she remembered hearing from Sylvie one morning that Lisa said there was no way she would open an elite day spa in a podunk town like Eljoy, yet she still lived here and visited all the business owners to lord over them with her ‘high status’ as she saw it. Sylvie called her a stuck up snot nosed bimbo, as well as a big fish in a small pond, the memory made Andy giggle to herself.

“I suppose you don’t have anything low fat or even half fat?” she asked tapping her bright pink lips, ” Actually, we do offer a wide variety of coffee options. As you can plainly see on the menu our ‘creamer options’ are milk- skim 1%, 2% as well as whole, heavy cream, all organically sourced from the Dillon’s dairy farm as well as goat’s milk, we have fresh made almond milk, made in house, as well as coconut milk, we offer half caff options as well if you do not want as much caffeine, or regular caff and decaff. We do lattes, espressos, americanos , cold brew, iced coffee, frapes and a multitude of other options are available, which we go over every single day when you come in. Now Lisa, would you like your regular, medium flat white, one pump raspberry one pump white chocolate, with heavy cream topped with shaved white chocolate, or will you be surprising me today.” Andy ended dryly as Lisa blinked at her in surprise, yeah, she was a little more curt today than normal, but she was in a foul mood, one Lisa was partly to blame for, but only partially, the other party was just as guilty in her eyes, Bonnie kept telling her Brent wasn’t to blame, but Andy’s wounded heart couldn’t get past it, she never wanted to be the other woman again.

The bells tinkled again, and Andy glanced behind Lisa, thank god, Dane and Samantha walked in, “What would you like Lisa?” she asked again, Lisa shook her head and said superiorly “I’ll have my regular,” then she added with a nasty smile, “as well as a large cinnamon latte, I believe you know how Brent likes it.” Andy’s hand clenched her apron, her knuckles turning white, Lisa smirked when she noted Andy’s reaction, “We’ve been spending quite some time working on our business merger,” she paused, giving the appearance the merger was more than business, ” it’s so nice when a personal relationship can also benefit your professional one, don’t you think.”

Bonnie chose that moment to walk out with a basket filled with cinnamon rolls, throwing an evil death glare at Lisa. Dane groaned behind Lisa, “Don’t piss Bonnie off, I need one of those, she’s libel to use them as ammunition if she’s mad enough” he said out loud and Samantha giggled, Samantha was 16 weeks along with twins, she already had an adorable baby bump and glowed everywhere she went, Andy couldn’t be angry around Samantha, not a chance girl was walking sunshine, and the simple fact she could be so happy after all she they went through just a couple of months ago gave Andy hope she could do it to.

Smiling Andy got an evil little thought, she looked up at Lisa, “I do know how Brent likes it, so intimately in fact, that I know he can’t stand latte’s let alone a sugar filled cinnamon one. He prefers his coffee uncomplicated, sophisticated like a black Sumatra roast, those sweet fussy drinks are sickeningly sweet to him and really empty calories, but he can only handle a small, the caffeine gives him jitters so early in the day that he can’t stop feeling it all day.” she paused and quirked an eyebrow, ” That’ll be 10 even, I’m not giving you Brent’s discount, let him know I made it special for him” Lisa grabbed a 10 out of her purse and thrust it at her, “don’t expect a tip with that rude behavior.” rolling her eyes Andy walked away, set to work on Lisa’s coffee then poured Brent’s adding their names, on Brent’s she drew a little octopus, an inside joke, she slid the coffees to Lisa, without saying good bye she turned to Dane and Samantha, “good morning baby mama and baby daddy!!” Bonnie walked up to the counter, placing two wrapped cinnamon rolls in a bag along with a croissant, “hi guys, fresh out of the oven” she said softly

“Hey Bonnie, you are an angel!” Samantha declared, while Dane nodded his head. Andy got to work making their coffees a large coffee cream sugar with a swirl of cinnamon dulce for Dane, and Samantha was now a large decaff, heavy cream, swirls of caramel and mocha,with whipped cream on top.

It took about 10 minutes to finish up their coffee orders, Andy took that time to calm her temper and caught up with them about their day and what they have planned, Andy slid the cups across the counter to them. “Who was that awful woman Andy?” Samantha asked, taking her coffee, Dane laughed reaching for his as well, “Oh that’s Lisa…. ” Dane broke off as the bells tinkled again, and an agitated looking Brent stormed in.

“Andy, seriously, did you send Lisa with coffee???” his face was flush, his eyes looked annoyed but Andy rolled hers in response, “No Brent, I can’t stand the vapid airhead, she claimed to be getting you your favorite coffee, since the two of you are ‘merging’ so much these days,” Andy said, air quoting the phrase, ” she ordered something she knew for a fact you enjoyed, a large cinnamon roll latte….. So I helped a girl out, and I let her know what you actually liked.”

Brent’s eyes changed, Andy leveled him with an angry stare but she couldn’t hide the lust that filled them all the same, damn he was a handsome man, “What do I enjoy Andy?” he asked, his voiced heavily laced with innuendo, sliding his hand across the counter, tracing a finger over the back of her hand that rested on the counter. Dane and Samantha looked back and forth between the two, Andy’s challenging stare, Brent’s eyes hungry and heated, “You like it uncomplicated, robust and a bit feisty, not sweet, but for sure hot” Andy replied, innuendo just as heavily loaded, yanking her hand back as if burnt. Just then the bells tinkled again, and a livid Lisa stormed in the door, Andy snorted, “But that cup got ice cold as soon as you picked up that one.” she said sparing Lisa a glance, “You LIAR!” Lisa raised her voice shrilly, “You put me on! You made that disgusting coffee for him on purpose! He took one drink and asked where I got this crap from, I told him you made it and assured me it was his favorite and he stormed off!! I want my money back!”

Brent smiled, but annoyance at Lisa’s intrusion showed, “Did you tell her you knew me better than she did just to cause me trouble?” he asked Andy, a spark of amusement in his eyes, Lisa was fuming in the background as Samantha and Dane stood by, watching as if paralyzed. Andy answered in a low tense whisper, “I believe I said I knew you intimately” Andy’s face flushed, Brent’s face flushed further as Andy continued to glare at him, Samantha cleared her throat, addressing the elephant in the room, “So, um, what’s the deal with her?”

Andy cut her eyes to Lisa, practically snarling, “The deal is, Lisa always gets what she wants, and apparently she wants Brent, well she can have him. ” she twisted her hands in her apron, pulling it over her head roughly, sending her red curls flying wildly about her face, “And Andy is under the impression I am encouraging her!” he huffed out loud and annoyed, Lisa cut in just then, ” Of course you’re encouraging me Brent, that’s why you went out of your way to get my number.” Brent turned to Lisa, total exasperation on his face, “For BUSINESS purposes, not to have you maul me and think you have a claim on me!”

“Well, you didn’t complain while her tongue was shoved in your mouth at the Inn’s Christmas party!” Andy shouted at Brent’s back, whirling around he said, “How could I have? She’s bigger than I am! Also, as you said I had her tongue shoved in my mouth! But you can’t bother to listen!”

“Did you just say I was big!!” Lisa huffed and effectively looking like an angry blond giant, Samantha choked on her coffee laughing, Lisa turned and glared daggers at her, apparently realizing they had an audience, Brent dismissed her with an eye roll.

“Who needs to listen when I have fucking EYES Brent!” Andy seethed, those blue eyes of hers burning with anger, and a touch of hurt, she threw her apron at Brent’s head and stormed to the back, Bonnie apologized softly, “sorry, I better go check on her she’s sensitive you know” she slowly edged toward the back room.

Brent turned to Lisa, “I have told you, time and time again, I am not interested in you! It was purely business but you can’t take the hint!” Lisa glared at him, ” I can see you are in a bad mood today, I’ll come by later, we can get some dinner, you can take me to that super fancy Italian spot near my spa!” She leaned in to kiss his cheek, he jerked back, “Lisa” He warned a hard growl to his voice, “I like when you are commanding Brent, especially in private” She smiled over his shoulder at something, then making a big show of her exit, “I’ll be sure to be ready by 7 for our date tonight lover” she trailed her hand down his chest, before Brent could respond she tore out the door without a glance back.

He turned to see Andy standing at the counter splotchy red face with tears spilling down her cheeks, “You are a scumbag Brent Love, I don’t ever want to see you again!” Andy shouted, throwing a day old bagel at his head and storming into the back room. “It’s gonna be one of those days,” Bonnie sighed softly, she picked up a small to go box, placed some pastries, a note with Chris’s name on it, a bagel and a cup of coffee in it, “Here Brent, some pastries to go with your coffee and if you could give Chris the coffee and bagel I’d appreciate it. ” S

he blushed softly, Brent nodded and headed out the door a look of utter defeat on his face as he headed back to the Inn. Dane shook his head, “Poor sap, what on earth just happened here?” he looked confused as Samantha looked away and Bonnie blushed, “Andy was kind of seeing Brent around December, they kept it quiet since it was so new. Well Andy was at the Christmas party with Brent, and well…” Bonnie left the rest unspoken as Andy came back out more composed, ” And I found my date under the mistletoe with Santa’s biggest HO HO HO, she was sucking his face like a damn candy cane, I’m sure she’d have sucked something else like that too.” her lip trembled, “Oh no honey,” Samantha handed her drink to Dane and rushed around the counter hugging both Andy and Bonnie.

“I told you it was a misunderstanding” Bonnie whispered, “Can’t you see Brent keeps pushing her away” Andy hiccuped, and Samantha added, “Brent has told me how horrible he feels, he had no intention of her coming on to him like that. He just wanted to offer a couples deal using her spa. I didn’t meet her around the holidays, but she is every inch the nasty bimbo he described her to be.” Samantha spoke, her words laced with venom.

Andy laughed a little then, feeling blessed to have people who loved her so much, pulling back and looking at Samantha and Bonnie with watery eyes, ” I don’t have it in me to be hurt again. The last time…” Bonnie cut her off, and spoke in a voice that was not normal for her, “Ricky was a son of a bitch Andy, yeah what he did hurt you, but I’m glad he finally did something that made you leave him. Brent is not Ricky, he doesn’t flirt with your sisters, he doesn’t grope my ass in a dark hallway, and he sure as hell doesn’t sleep with the neighbor lady. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you this.” Andy took a deep shaking breath, and nodded, ” I know he isn’t Ricky, thank God, but I need time to think and as long as Lisa is sniffing around any type of relationship is going to be impossible, no matter who the guy is. Do you remember Colt?” Bonnie nodded solemnly, Dane spoke up, “wasn’t he the quarterback in high school he was in my grade I think.”

Bonnie nodded, “he sure was, he was in love with Andy, he was” Bonnie paused looking at Andy, “‘Special’, well he and Andy were dating senior year, and Lisa decided as a cheer leader it was her that should be dating Colt, it was awful guys. Andy’s senior year was terrible, and ever since then Lisa has made it a tradition to snatch away Andy’s boyfriends, use em and lose em, Brent is her next intended target, he better be on guard.”

Bonnie looked at Dane, who sighed, “I’ll talk to him, he has zero interest in Lisa, but sugar we gotta go, don’t wanna be late for school, we might have to do detention again” he wiggled his eyebrows at Samantha suggestively, “Only if I get to be the teacher this time” she winked, “we’ll take turns then, maybe buy a new paddle” Andy shot her head up, pushing Samantha toward her soon to be husband, “EWWWW TMI guys, go go, coffee’s on the house since you kept me sane!!” Samantha waved to them, “don’t forget girls, tonight, we have wedding stuff to plan!!” giggling to Dane as they walked out the door, Andy saw Dane swat Samantha’s behind and smiled, those two truly were couple goals, she sighed maybe one day she would have that. Today however, she needed to do the inventory, balance the ledger and submit a coffee order before the day was up, squeezing Bonnie tight she let go and got to work.