#aetherfms

She had completely forgotten that Banks worked at the cat café, but as soon as she spotted him behind the counter, the memory flooded back. Oh, shit. Why did her friend have to pick this place? The last time they met, she basically used him for protection and then left him on the dancefloor at the club. Now, here she was. She had promised her friend that she would meet them at the cat café, and she wasn't about to bail just because of him. Besides, Emily wasn't one to run away, at least not twice in a row. Sending a quick text to her friend to let them know she had arrived, she approached the counter with a small smile. "Um, any coffee specials today?"

"i know it's stupid, but," they began, already shaking their head at themselves and smiling around their straw as they sipped on their second margarita. "every time i drink these now i have that stupid ass tik tok song in my head. did you know it started from a lady preaching on a college campus? we'll really take anything and turn it into a meme."

Arlo observed her with a playful glint in his eye as he tasted his whiskey sprite. "You know, I believe this is the inaugural moment a woman has treated me to a drink," he chuckled, expressing his appreciation. "I'm not complaining, though. It's a delightful shift in the usual routine." Setting the glass down, he turned towards her with a friendly demeanor. "I'm Armando, but my friends call me Arlo. And you?"

"You know what baffles me?" Emily's words spilled out, fueled by the effects of just one drink, a testament to her lightweight tendencies. "Why don't my friends kiss each other more? Seriously, they're all single and good-looking—like, the entire town is just ridiculously attractive." She took a moment to reflect. "Anyhow, my friends need to up their kissing game. Kissing is just too much fun to be underutilized."

"So, what's your go-to?" Arlo perused the menu, caught in a dilemma between a milkshake and a banana split. The temptation of both options loomed large, but he was well aware that indulging in both might lead to a sugar overload. The thought of bouncing off the walls was amusing, but considering Banks, Arlo decided against it. "I'm leaning towards a milkshake. Easy to handle on the go."