going to a cottage in St Ives) when Sean walks in.
I turn away from the door to look at Cerys, my eyes as wide as they can go. Her eyes are just as wide, and the only difference in our expressions is that sheâs smiling.
âShut up,â I hiss, but she only stifles a giggle. I turn back so Iâm facing the counter, trying my best to look calm and collected. Seanâs still in the doorway, looking for a table â or at least pretending to â and heâs with two other guys.
The other guys, who I guess are his mates, look at me in a way that they probably think is subtle, but isnât, and then they look at each other, raising eyebrows and pulling faces. Sean turns to them, pointing at a table.
After last night, I donât know what I should say to him. Thatâs the second time heâs comforted me, and I donât know how to thank him for it. I also donât know if he did it because he cares about me, or just because heâs a nice guy.
One of the guys glances back over at me, and I stare down at my nails, trying to look as if Iâm not bothered by any of this. I really need to sort out my cuticles, I think, getting distracted. Then theyâre standing in front of me.
âHi,â says Sean.
âHi.â My voice gives me away â it comes out squeaky and nervous. I clear my throat. âWhat can I get you?â
âIâll have a medium latte,â says one of his mates, pushing Sean aside. Is it just a coincidence that theyâve all come here when Iâm working? I canât tell. Are they here acting like wingmen?Or are they just trying to make Sean feel awkward?
I sort out the latte, and the other guyâs large mocha and a cookie, and they go off to a table on the other side of the room, leaving me at the counter with Sean. Cerys announces that sheâs going to clean some tables and make sure thereâs enough milk out. I grab her arm but she shrugs me off.
Leaving me and Sean, effectively, alone.
Iâm not nervous. I donât have any reason to be nervous.
âSo,â I say, after drawing in a deep breath. âWhat can I get you?â
âLatte, please. Medium.â
âAny goodies?â I gesture at the glass case of cakes and sweet things.
âAre you on the menu?â He winks, and I canât help but burst out laughing.
I say, âSean, are you flirting with me?â
His grin is mischievous. âSorry, but you left that line open for the taking. I couldnât resist.â
âSo no cakes?â
âNo cakes.â
I put it through the till, and as Iâm making the latte, I say to Sean, trying my best to be casual, âDid you, um, did you go back home for the holidays?â
âYeah, but I came back a couple of days ago. Itâs a bit easier to revise here. A little more peace and quiet, and Iâm working, too, soâ¦â
âYeah. Fair enough.â
âHow about you?â
âOh, Iâm not that far away. Itâs not long on the train to come into work, or if they want me on the early shift, I can stay in the house here rather than at home. But thatâs kind of lonely, because none of the girls are back yet. Their uni term doesnât start again for a little while.â
He nods, and I push the latte across the counter to him. I donât let go of it before he wraps his hand around the cup â so around my hand, too. I blush, and my hand starts to sweat. Only I canât take it away and wipe it on my trousers. That would be even more embarrassing. Oh, man, I hope he canât tell my palms are sweating.
I look up from the latte and our hands to see Sean studying my face. He meets my eyes. I gulp.
âAre you still hung up on that guy from last night?â
âActually, I think Iâm finally over him. Last night was just⦠closure. I mean, I thought I loved him, but now Iâm starting to think that I just fell for all the
I turn away from the door to look at Cerys, my eyes as wide as they can go. Her eyes are just as wide, and the only difference in our expressions is that sheâs smiling.
âShut up,â I hiss, but she only stifles a giggle. I turn back so Iâm facing the counter, trying my best to look calm and collected. Seanâs still in the doorway, looking for a table â or at least pretending to â and heâs with two other guys.
The other guys, who I guess are his mates, look at me in a way that they probably think is subtle, but isnât, and then they look at each other, raising eyebrows and pulling faces. Sean turns to them, pointing at a table.
After last night, I donât know what I should say to him. Thatâs the second time heâs comforted me, and I donât know how to thank him for it. I also donât know if he did it because he cares about me, or just because heâs a nice guy.
One of the guys glances back over at me, and I stare down at my nails, trying to look as if Iâm not bothered by any of this. I really need to sort out my cuticles, I think, getting distracted. Then theyâre standing in front of me.
âHi,â says Sean.
âHi.â My voice gives me away â it comes out squeaky and nervous. I clear my throat. âWhat can I get you?â
âIâll have a medium latte,â says one of his mates, pushing Sean aside. Is it just a coincidence that theyâve all come here when Iâm working? I canât tell. Are they here acting like wingmen?Or are they just trying to make Sean feel awkward?
I sort out the latte, and the other guyâs large mocha and a cookie, and they go off to a table on the other side of the room, leaving me at the counter with Sean. Cerys announces that sheâs going to clean some tables and make sure thereâs enough milk out. I grab her arm but she shrugs me off.
Leaving me and Sean, effectively, alone.
Iâm not nervous. I donât have any reason to be nervous.
âSo,â I say, after drawing in a deep breath. âWhat can I get you?â
âLatte, please. Medium.â
âAny goodies?â I gesture at the glass case of cakes and sweet things.
âAre you on the menu?â He winks, and I canât help but burst out laughing.
I say, âSean, are you flirting with me?â
His grin is mischievous. âSorry, but you left that line open for the taking. I couldnât resist.â
âSo no cakes?â
âNo cakes.â
I put it through the till, and as Iâm making the latte, I say to Sean, trying my best to be casual, âDid you, um, did you go back home for the holidays?â
âYeah, but I came back a couple of days ago. Itâs a bit easier to revise here. A little more peace and quiet, and Iâm working, too, soâ¦â
âYeah. Fair enough.â
âHow about you?â
âOh, Iâm not that far away. Itâs not long on the train to come into work, or if they want me on the early shift, I can stay in the house here rather than at home. But thatâs kind of lonely, because none of the girls are back yet. Their uni term doesnât start again for a little while.â
He nods, and I push the latte across the counter to him. I donât let go of it before he wraps his hand around the cup â so around my hand, too. I blush, and my hand starts to sweat. Only I canât take it away and wipe it on my trousers. That would be even more embarrassing. Oh, man, I hope he canât tell my palms are sweating.
I look up from the latte and our hands to see Sean studying my face. He meets my eyes. I gulp.
âAre you still hung up on that guy from last night?â
âActually, I think Iâm finally over him. Last night was just⦠closure. I mean, I thought I loved him, but now Iâm starting to think that I just fell for all the
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