where: Java Junkie Cafe when: Wednesday, 8 am. who: @mariannebyrne
Like any self respecting government employee, coffee was his lifeblood. Unlike the office intern, though, he wasn’t expected to pick up anyone else’s coffee order - something he was both surprised and happy that his father didn’t assign to him.
Java Junkie was one of the very few Gravewood originals that he enjoyed, second only to Marie’s. While the town hosted a Dunkin Donuts and a Starbucks, he was a purist when it came to his coffee and Java’s dark roast americano couldn’t be beat.
His phone buzzed with emails the entire time he stood in line. His eyes poured over dull descriptions of meetings and new outreach initiatives. When he approached the counter, he dropped his phone into his pocket and diverted his full attention to the brunette behind the counter. His voice was smooth and kind as he ordered, his eyes fixated on hers with soft creases in the corners. Disarming. Charming. As he’d been taught to be. She giggled as she punched in his order and, by the end of the conversation, told him his coffee was on the house. He protested, of course, but graciously accepted the offer. As he retreated from the counter, he went to fish his phone out of his pocket when he spied a familiar face.
Normally, he would have noted Marianne sitting nearby and returned to his emails. But today, he was feeling ballsy. A little reckless perhaps. When he remembered who her best friend was, it shot excitement through his veins. What better way to annoy Lou than to be seen chatting up her best friend over a cup of coffee.
“Mari?” He questioned, though it was not a question of who she was and more a polite southern conversation starter. “I couldn’t mistake that hair anywhere,” he grinned as he spoke, sliding into the open seat across from her without asking. “How long have you been back in town?”
