I unlocked the door to Little Beans, locking it behind me again, and threw my coat into the backroom before pulling an apron over my head. I then set to work preparing the shop for opening. Unstacking chairs and checking the machines. One of the frothers gave me a bit of a tough time, but after a few smacks I got that working, "Adding handyman to my list of skills." I muttered to myself. I could see a couple of people waiting by the doors and glanced at the time, "fucking Josh." I pulled out my phone and text Jeri asking him to come in on his day off and then text Gary, [No Josh, I've asked Jerico to come in until Shelley gets here.]
Without time to wait for their replies I opened the door.
No sooner had I got it unlocked when a swarm of caffeine addicts rushed into the small store. They were already calling orders before I could even finish washing my hands. I faked my brightest smile and took the first order. One by one, they ordered, and I served them as quickly as I could.
It was just under an hour before Jeri walked through the door and came to my rescue. "Hey, sorry I took so long," he apologised, "I was in the shower when your text came through so didn't read it straight away."
"It's cool you're here now." I replied as he started taking an elderly woman's order, we worked quickly to fulfil the last few people in the queue and as he wiped the surfaces I sagged against the back wall. "I don't know how I'm going to get through the rest of this shift."
"So, you haven't heard from him?"
I pulled out my phone, "No nothing."
"I hope he's okay." Jerico.
"Oh, Gary's replied, saying Josh emailed in that he's visiting friends for a few weeks. And look," I said incredulously, "He's just posted this topless photo on Instagram, while we're here covering for him."
Jerico took my phone shaking his head, "Absolute liberty mate."
"Excuse me!" a haughty woman practically shouted making both of us jump, "Are you actually going to take my order."
"Sorry miss, I didn't see you there."
...
The rest of the shift went without incident, Jerico left around midday when Shelley took over from him. I waved her off at the end of her shift, locking the door as I finished cashing up. I was just putting the cash away when a flash caught my eye from across the street. I stared across the road my eyes adjusting to the dark. There was a man dressed in black, a hood pulled over his head facing towards me. He seemed to stare at me for a moment before turning fully around and walking back down the street. Nonplussed I finished up and called Ezra. He answered, "Hey handsome, you almost finished?"
"Yeah, just leaving. Just seen a weirdo across the street, so thought I'd call someone."
"Really?" his voice was filled with concern, "Well I'm pulling up out front anyway, I'm stealing you for the night."
My mood lightened instantly, "Oh my god really. That's so nice, I'm exhausted though." I hung up, locking up quickly and jogged to his car, pulling the door open and continuing, "This morning was crazy, and I've barely recovered."
"Yeah, Jeri text me," he grabbed my neck with strong fingers and pulled me towards him, sweeping his tongue into my mouth for a moment before putting his hands back on the wheel and pulling away from the curb, "thought you might want a night in with dinner and a movie."
"Sounds great, thank you Ezra." He squeezed my thigh.