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Chelsea couldn’t wait to just sit down with her book, her coffee and her beignet. It had been one of those days! She had gotten her first Science Fiction book. Skimming through it, she knew she’d be bored within the first few pages and lost within a few more.
Not that the author hadn’t done a fine job writing the book. The words seemed well thought out. She thought the characters were fine for characters set in space, but how exactly did she know? She had no idea if the specifications of the spaceship sounded plausible or not. A die-hard Sci-Fi reader would, though.
Chelsea felt like a failure!
As she strolled into Joe’s, her face tangled into a mask of anger. That case could not possibly be empty again! She grits her teeth as she walked up to the counter.
“Joe, where’s my beignet?”
“I’ll share it with you.”
She knew the voice instantly and couldn’t believe she was hearing it. Slowly, she turned to face the cause of the massive headache that was brewing in her skull.
“You stole my beignet, too?”
Sitting at the table in the corner of the room with a cup of coffee, Marcus shook his head. “I didn’t know it was yours. It was the last one in the case. I asked for it and Joe gave it to me. I assume if it was reserved for someone, he would have told me.”
Chelsea angrily crossed to his table. “For years, I have come here every night and had a beignet and coffee before going home to bed. For the last two nights, the last beignet has been gone. I can only assume that last night it was you as well.”
Marcus grinned sheepishly. “Guilty. But all I can do is apologize, Chelsea. I didn’t know they were spoken for.” He gently used his foot to push the chair across from him out. “Please join me. I’ll buy your coffee and you can have the beignet. I haven’t touched it yet.”
Chelsea pushed the chair back in. “You don’t understand. I want some peace and quiet. Some relaxation time. Some down time before bed.”
Pushing the chair out again, Marcus narrowed his eyes playfully at her. “You just never do anything out of the ordinary, do you? Something different. Sit, have a cup of coffee with me. What could it hurt? We’ve obviously gotten off on the wrong foot. I’d like to fix that.”
“You are an infuriating man,” she said with a slight huff to her voice.
He nodded. “I’ve been told that. So, you’ll sit?”
“If I sit and have a cup of coffee, will you leave me alone and let me have my beignets in the evening?”
“I’ll happily sit in my corner and eat crullers.”
Chelsea threw herself into the chair. “Something black and strong then.”
Marcus grinned in triumph as he stood and crossed to the counter to order a coffee for Chelsea.
***
Marcus placed the cup in front of Chelsea and took his seat back. Sliding the plate with the beignet on it toward her, he smiled and nodded to the pastry. “It’s all yours.”
Chelsea was silent as she stared out the window and picked at the beignet. She stole quick glances at Marcus over the top of her coffee cup as she raised it to her lips, but never said a word.
Marcus watched her blue eyes sparkle over her cup as she looked over at him. He couldn’t help but wonder what went through her mind. However, he had to admit that he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. She hadn’t shown anything except disdain for him since they’d met.
“Why do you hate me so much?”
Chelsea shook her head. “I don’t hate you. I like order, and lots of it. You’ve wreaked havoc in my life in just two days. All of my carefully planned order is out of order.”
Marcus leaned across the table, right into her personal space. “Chelsea, a little havoc isn’t so bad. It can actually be quite invigorating at times. Just go with it and enjoy it.”
Chelsea swallowed hard and clutched her coffee cup tightly. Standing, she grimaced. “Thank you for the coffee, Mr. Teresi. I like my life havoc-free, if you don’t mind. I will learn your Science Fiction books and do my job, but I am quite happy with my organized life.”
With that, Chelsea angrily strode out of the donut shoppe. Joe glanced between the closing door and Marcus, who still sat at the table watching her stroll past the window.
“Wow, what did you say to piss Chelsea off, Mister? I’ve never seen her that upset.”
Marcus chuckled and turned to face Joe. “I suggested that she loosen up a little.”
Joe sighed and wiped at the counter with his towel. “Chelsea’s a sweet girl. You play nice with her, Mister.”
“Unfortunately, I’m her boss. I have to play nice.”
Marcus stood and placed a few bills on the table for Joe. Smiling at Joe, he waved. “See you tomorrow night, Joe. Make a few extra beignets tomorrow and save them for her, will ya? My treat.”
Joe grinned ear to ear. “You got it! See ya!”