Free COOL BEANS by Erynn Mangum Page A

be a cinnamon vanilla latte.
    I smile. “Lots of foam or only a little tonight?”
    “Happy medium.”
    “I don’t do that.”
    “Make an exception, Maya. This is the clergy talking.”
    “Did you join the pastorate just for the handouts?” I accuse.
    He thinks about it for a second. “Pretty much, yes.”
    “So much for me believing you were called to this.”
    “All illusions dissolve eventually.” He accepts his drink with a nod. “Thanks, Maya, this is perfect. I especially like the sunflower mug,” Andrew says, rolling his eyes. “Maya, I have to preach on the Bible tonight. Who will take me seriously with this mug?”
    “I’ve wondered that for a very long time.”
    “Not my
face,
you idiot.” He starts laughing.
    I grin. “I couldn’t resist.”
    Andrew’s still chuckling.
    Liz Chapman walks in then. She’s twenty-three, a fifth-year senior getting her degree in mathematics, and is not-so-secretly in love with Andrew.
    Andrew, on the other hand, claims he’s waiting for the human version of post-fins Ariel on
The Little Mermaid
— because she was silent.
    I told Andrew he shouldn’t have any trouble because he talks too much to let anyone get a word in anyway.
    He just rolled his eyes and ignored me.
    Anyway, this scene takes place every single Wednesday night, and it hurts my heart. Liz always comes early so she can see Andrew before anyone else gets here.
    “Hi, Andrew,” Liz says, flirtatiously tossing her long, gorgeous red hair. Liz is extremely attractive. She’s tall, and whileshe’s on the thinner side, she definitely has curves that I envy. She has crystal-clear, creamy skin, emerald green eyes, a great sense of style. And she’s brilliant. Makes me wonder why she’s going after an overgrown, sarcastic Viking like Andrew.
    “Hey, Liz, how’s it going?” He keeps setting up chairs, and she sways over to help him.
    Andrew has to know Liz is nuts about him. It’s fairly obvious.
    “Good,” she answers. “How is your week going?”
    “No complaints yet.” He responds in a cheerfully yet completely blasé voice.
    I sigh silently. I put away the clean mugs I’ve finished drying and go find Jack in the back room, where he’s locking up the cash and making a supply list for Alisha.
    “Hey, Pattertwig, how many gallons of milk did we use today?”
    I check the fridge in the back, trying to remember how many are still in the small refrigerators under the front counter. “About five, I think.”
    “Okay.” He makes a little note on the clipboard he’s holding. Then he looks up at me. Jack looks tired.
    “You okay?” I ask him.
    “I’m exhausted. I stayed up most of last night studying for a mammal behaviors exam, and it was at seven thirty this morning.” He yawns, blocking it with the clipboard. “If I skip Bible study, do you think you can close without me?”
    “Yeah, definitely. Go home and sleep. Between Polly and this, you haven’t gotten much lately.”
    He groans. “That’s another thing. Polly’s owner called, and they’ll be gone another week.”
    “Sorry, Jack.”
    He gives me a small smile. “Not your fault, Nutkin. Anyone here yet?”
    “Andrew and Liz.”
    He grimaces knowingly. “Got it.”
    “Andrew knows she likes him, right?”
    Jack shrugs. “Maybe. Sometimes Andrew’s not the most observant, you know?”
    “Maybe his hair gets in the way.”
    He laughs. “That’s a good possibility.” Jack sets the clipboard down and slings an arm over my shoulders, yawning again. “I’m tired.”
    “Go home.”
    “Okay.” He follows me out to the counter. There’s a happy chatter coming from the main room. About fifteen people are milling around, settling on couches, staring tiredly at the fire flickering in the fireplace, or squinting at the menu, deciding what they want.
    My heart suddenly decides it likes skydiving instead of beating, and I smack my chest to remind my heart of its position in my life.
    Jack runs into the back of me, since I