One Shots
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (3)
Nuge picked you up at 10:30 for coffee. Surprisingly enough, he knew of a quaint little cafe in a quiet spot downtown. Once you walked in, you saw one of the baristas behind the counter wave at Nuge. “Hey, Ryan!”
You guessed he must come here fairly often once Ryan waved back and called, “Hey Adam! What’s new?” He didn’t seem shy at all here, as he continued to chat with the barista.
You stood awkardly at Ryan’s side, waiting for him to finish. You were about to say something to him when Adam asked him who you were. You caught Ryan blushing out of the corner of your eye, and Adam laughed. “So is this the girl you’ve been telling me about?”
Nuge laughed nervously, still blushing furiously. “I, uh, think it’s time to order now,” he said, changing the subject abruptly. He turned to you. “What would you like?”
You gazed at the menu. “Just a latte, I think.”
Ryan turned back to the counter. “A latte, please, and the usual for me.”
“Coming right up,” Adam winked at you, handing Ryan a steaming cup of coffee. “Hazelnut, cream, and sugar for ya there, Nuge. Don’t go too crazy.”
You laughed, and Nuge smiled a bit. He nodded at Adam. “Just put it on my tab,” he told him, and Adam nodded. “Right-o, kiddo.”
Nuge turned to you, pointing out a small table for two in the sunlight by the corner. “I’ll just be over there,” he said. He left, sitting down in the sunlight, sending a cloud of disturbed dust motes to dance in the beams of sun.
“Ahem..” you heard behind you, and turned around. “Here’s your latte,” Adam grinned. He handed you the drink, and you noticed the foam on the top had been shaped into a heart. Adam leaned over the counter, speaking quietly. “Oh, and make sure Nuge gets a sip; lattes are his guilty pleasure,” he chuckled.
You said your thanks, and left to seek the table where Ryan sat. The seat opposite of him was warmed from the sun, and it was a welcome relief from the bite of winter.
You took a sip of your latte, careful not to disturb the art on top. Ryan watched you as you set the mug down. He raised an eyebrow once he saw the design on top, but said nothing. “Want a sip?” you asked. When he didn’t reply, you pushed it over to him with a smile. “Go ahead, try it. It’s really good.”
He took a small sip, savoring the taste. When he set it back down, there was a small foam mustache on his top lip, which you found insanely funny. “What’s so funny?” he asked.
You could barely choke out the words, “The.. must-mustache… it’s better than your playoff one!” before collapsing into a fit of giggles. You found Nuge laughing at you before long.
You grinned, and soon stopped laughing, but still talked. It ended up being early afternoon when you finally decided to pack up.
Ryan had one last thing to say before you left, though. “You know, I’ve never brought anyone here before. It’s kind of my private haven.”
“I love it here, it’s really nice,” you smiled affectionately, leaning across the table to give him a kiss. “Thank you.”
