Eyes Like Coffee, Skin Like Honey

Pumpkin spice latte. 

Ms. Wallace, the owner of Coffee, Coffee (very original name for a café, I'm aware) has never sold anything expect coffee, tea, and an assortment of pastries. Her cozy, quaint coffee shop was always my favorite place to be; whether that be to write, read, work, etc. No one comes here anymore, so I usually share the place with only half a dozen other regulars. I once asked the poor old woman why she never made any other drinks, or do any new marketing to try to get her clientele up, but she simply smiled and shrugged. She told me it wasn’t about the money for her, just about the connections with people and the joy she has in making us food and drinks.  

She usually gives me my coffee on the house. Black, as I like it. 

Cinnamon chai frappuccino 

So why does she all of sudden have all these new drinks on her menu? Does she even have the tools to make them? I suspect this is the work of her 15 year old granddaughter, Cara. Every so often she comes into the cafe and tells her grandmother she needs to change up the place, make it more modern. I don’t know. I quite like the mismatched mugs and low hanging antique lights. It makes me feel relaxed, cozy, even.  

Gingerbread hot chocolate 

Yes. This is definitely the work of Cara. 

Peppermint iced mocha. 

That sounds…interesting? To say the least. Whatever Cara’s plan was, it worked. This is the first time I’ve seen more than five people in the shop. Currently, there’s about 20 or so, and the line expands to outside. I guess people are really into these new drinks, it’s the only explanation for why there could be so many people at Coffee, Coffee. I’ve been waiting in line for 15 minutes already, and thankfully I'm inside now and out of the chilly autumnal breeze, although the sidewalk lined with red and yellow leaves is not something I’m happy to be leaving behind. 

Hot mulled cider 

“Since when does she serve alcohol?” I mutter under my breath.  

“I’m sorry?” The guy in front of me turns around, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Did I hear someone complain about a coffee shop serving alcohol? My, my, what poor taste in refreshments...”  

“You’re telling me you would drink alcohol at...” I glance at my watch. “Eight o’clock in the morning?” 

“Ah well, you know what they say... it's five o’clock somewhere.” He winks. Do people actually wink in real life? I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone wink at me in real life before. 

Hot hazelnut chocolate-toffee latte 

The guy is still facing me, as he takes a few step closer to the front of the line. He’s handsome, appears to be in his mid-twenties, same age as me. His eyes look like the name of the last drink I read. If I could order a drink the flavor of his eyes, I most definitely would.  

I’m so cheesy. I hate this. 

Vanilla hot chocolate, splash of cinnamon or ginger 

“I take it you’ve been here before? Seeing your shock at the fact that they’re serving alcohol?” questions the stranger. 

“Well, yes I have, but I think most people should be shocked that a coffee place even serves alcohol, wouldn’t you agree?” 

He laughs and shakes his head. “Okay, fun fact number one about you; you don’t take kindly to alcohol in the mornings. The second thing I'd have the upmost pleasure of knowing is your name,” he says teasingly. 

Is it safe to give strangers your names nowadays? I feel like I shouldn’t, but what the hell. If Ms. Wallace is going to start serving alcohol, I should give this guy my name. It’s only fair. 

S’mores in a cup 

Does that even count as a drink? We take a few steps closer to the front of the line. Only three people ahead of us now.  

“Amelia. Pleased to meet you,” I respond. 

“Felix. Enchantée.” With this, he takes my hand as he bows and kisses it gently. His lips are warm on my gloved hands. I imagine they taste like his eyes, chocolate, caramel. Anything on Ms. Wallace’s new list of drinks, really. 

God, I'm insufferable. Truly. 

Caramel macchiato 

“The pleasure is all mine, sir,” I giggle with a curtsy. Did I just giggle? Did I just giggle? “Do you know what a macchiato even is? I feel like it’s one of those things people get just because it sounds cool and classy. But does anyone actually know what it means?” I ask, gesturing to the menu on the back wall. I see Ms. Wallace and Cara running back and forth behind the counter trying to prepare as many drinks as possible. But Ms. Wallace is old, she doesn’t move so quickly. Cara doesn’t really know what she’s doing. She stops every five minutes to ask her grandmother which machine to use or how to know when the coffee kettle is ready. It’s quite comical, actually.  

Felix laughs and runs his hand through his hair. I’d love to run my hand through his hair too. It probably feels smooth and smells like vanilla. I wonder if he’d ever let me smell it.  

Probably not, because that’s creepy and weird. Get a hold of yourself, Amelia! 

“I have no idea, but I know it tastes good. That’s got to count for something, right?” he answers, grin still on his face. 

Fall spice fresh brewed coffee 

“Of course, it does. I already know you have excellent taste, seeing as you think its okay to have alcohol this early,” I say sarcastically.  

He looks at me in mock outrage. “Are you questioning my taste buds? They’ll be very offended to hear you say that you know.” 

“They should be!” 

We both chuckle as the line moves forward. One person in front of us now. I don’t even know what drink I'd get, were I to choose one from this new list. There are way too many options. I’ll probably just get my regular black coffee. Call me adventurous. 

“Can I buy you your drink?”  

Felix, you can buy my heart, if you’d like. I would say that, except that’s also creepy and weird. Not to mention I’ve just met this person. Why has he gotten me all flustered up? Is it his eyes? His hair? His laugh that I want to drown myself in? 

God, save me. 

Apple cinnamon hibiscus tea 

“Sure,” I say, smile reaching my ears. I know without a doubt that my cheeks are pink, and it’s definitely not from the weather outside. 

Maple pecan latte. 

We step up to the counter. Ms. Wallace is beaming at me. 

“Amelia! Look at all the customers! There’s an actual lineup! For my coffee shop! For Coffee, Coffee! Can you believe it? I haven’t seen it this busy in...” she trails off as she notices Felix standing beside me. He gives a small salute as she very clearly and unsubtly ogles him. “Well Amelia, you didn’t tell me you were bringing a friend today...” 

“That’s because I didn’t plan it. Ms. Wallace, this is Felix. We just met in the line a few minutes ago.” 

“Nice to meet you, mademoiselle,” he says with a nod of his head. Ever the gentlemen. 

Ms. Wallace blushes and flicks her hand as she looks away, clearly flustered. “Oh my! Stop that nonsense.” Ms. Wallace gives a small breathy laugh. I know without a doubt that she likes him already. “So,” she says turning back to us, “What can I get you two?” 

We both look up the new menu. So many options. Too many to choose from for me. The list looks like it goes on forever. I’m about to say the usual when Felix leans down on the counter and says: “Do you think you could decide for me? There are so many options, I'd take me forever and another hundred years to make a decision. How about you just make me whatever you like making best?” 

Ms. Wallace smiles and nods eagerly. “Oh, you’re going to love it! My granddaughter, Cara, showed me the recipe last night, and it’s simply delicious! No one’s ordered it yet, so you make sure to stick around and let me know how it tastes, okay honey?” she says, already punching it into the computer.  

Honey. Smooth like his skin. I'd like to run my hands down his toned arms, feeling the smoothness for myself. I wonder if he could be made of honey, that’s how smooth his- 

“Amelia, dear? What about you?” asks Ms. Wallace.  

I’m about to say just a regular coffee. I look at Felix, and he’s smiling down at me. His eyes hold that same mischievous glint as when we first met in the line. I wonder if my eyes look the same.  

“You know what Ms. Wallace? I’ll have the same thing as him.” 

I wonder if there’s any alcohol in it.