“Meg, there’s someone at the counter,” her best guy friend and coworker, Matt, said. He leaned close. “He’s checking you out.”
She laughed. “Yeah, right, Matt. And even if he was, I’ve sworn off guys. You know that.” Still snickering, she turned around and nearly dropped the glass in her hand. The guy standing at the counter was a tall, blue-eyed, built, absolutely gorgeous blonde. She walked over to the register and smiled brightly. “Hi, can I help you?”
“Yeah, can I get two medium mochas?” he asked in a soft, sexy voice.
“Absolutely.” She looked back at Matt. “Two medium mochas, Matt!”
“Okay, just a sec,” Matt replied.
“I’ve never seen you in here before,” she said to the stranger.
“That’s because I’m from out of town. I’m here visiting my little sister.”
She couldn’t help but think of how adorable that was. “Is that who the other mocha is for?”
“Yeah. She sent me to get her coffee to keep her up to help her study.”
“Oh, does she go to the University?”
“Yeah, she does. Are you going there, too?”
“Yeah, I am.”
He looked around, as though nervous about something. “You might know her. BJ Carter.”
“I’ve heard of her.” She paused as something clicked. Someone had said something about that girl having a famous older brother, but what were the details? She couldn’t remember.
“What’s your name?” the guy asked.
“Meg. What’s yours?”
“Nick.”
Nick Carter. It sounded familiar. She knew she’d heard it somewhere, but she wasn’t sure where. “So you’re from out of town? Where out of town?”
“Ruskin. It’s a town outside of Tampa.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard of it.”
“Meg, you’re off. It’s ten o’clock,” Matt stated as he handed Nick the two mochas.
“Oh, you’ll be fine on your own?”
“Yeah, of course. It’s not exactly too busy.”
“Okay, thanks, Matt. See you tomorrow!” She took off her apron and hung it up on the wall, then walked out from behind the counter as Nick waited for her at the door. “Any reason you’re standing here?” she laughed.
“I wanted to open the door for you,” he said politely.
She looked back at Matt, and he grinned and winked at her. “Well, thank you, Nick. It was nice meeting you.” Offering him a wave, she started her walk back to her apartment.
“Do you have a ride?”
“No, I usually walk or wait around for Matt and he gives me a ride.”
“Where do you live?”
“Six blocks from here.”
“Oh, let me drive you. You look like you’ve had a long day.”
“Are you sure? Thank you so much.” She got into his green Durango, not even caring if perhaps he was famous for being a serial killer or something. It wasn’t like she was afraid of dying. “Just turn right at the corner and go straight for six blocks,” she instructed.
After a few moments of silence, they pulled up to her apartment building and she reached to open the door. “Uh, wait, Meg,” Nick requested.
“Yeah?” she asked.
“Could I maybe have your number? I’m here for another two weeks. Maybe we could go out some time or something, I mean, just as friends, unless you want it to be a date. That would be nice, but if you’re not comfortable with that – “ he stammered.
She finally interrupted him, putting him out of his misery. “Of course you can have my number.” The only paper she could find in her purse was a piece of a receipt, so she pulled out a pen and wrote it on that.
“Thanks,” he said. “I’m not usually this nervous, you know. It’s just – “
“Don’t worry, Nick. It’s not a big deal,” she laughed.
His cheeks were a deep crimson color by now. “Bye, Meg. I’ll call you.”
“Bye.”
She walked to the door, looked back, and waved. Today was the best day she had had in a long time.