Re: Ice cream: Cat & Reece
Reece looked to Cat with surprise that collapsed into a pout and glare. She was being earnest, thanking him, he saw that, but, hey, it was kind of condescending. He knew he wasn't like her and the rest of her friends. He didn't have horrible things to share. But, also, he hadn't wanted the topic to turn to him. But, it was like having fingers too large for keys and mashing buttons. He knew what he wanted to say, but he couldn't seem to get there. He didn't try again, not until Cat said the other her needed to know her crimes, but she didn't. Reece blinked. "Why? Was it sort of masochistic, her wanting to know?"
As the girl pulled a pin from her hair, the boy watched, his ECHO eye scanning the knob and lock as the tumblers gave. Or whatever the word was. "I got promoted," he said with a partial laugh. It wasn't out of any kind of love. It was more a quid pro quo relationship, but Reece figured Cat knew that. "No. We were together... when I was... 22? 23?" He flashed a smile as he passed into the coffee shop. It was dark, but his eye made it so he could see his way around things, and he was quick to position himself behind the register at the espresso bar.—It was taken apart after being cleaned, steam wand soaking and everything drying.
So, he started reassembling the portafilter. "Did I ever mention I barista'd the summer before college?" He smiled in the dark. "It was the popular place on campus, so I went, so I could get in with the important people. Even if it was just knowing they liked extra froth on their lattes." He turned to make sure the grinder was plugged in.