Free Be Mine by Kris Calvert

away.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “Just know we’ve all been there.”
    Lexi nodded. “You can pick your coffee up at the other counter.”
    Sarah smiled. “Oh…” she paused. “Did my coffee cup get delivered, by chance?”
    “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Sarah nervously fidgeted in her heavy winter coat and tugged at the tight scarf around her neck. “I did something really out of character for me. I left a coffee cup with a note on it for a guy named Mike Montgomery. I was just wondering if he got it.”
    “What?” Lexi stopped. “ You left a note for him ?”
    Sarah kept her head down and glanced up with her eyes, almost ashamed. She couldn’t even say the word yes . Instead she nodded like a guilty kid.
    “Let me see if there’s anything in the back.”
    Lexi walked into the storeroom filled with more emotions than she was capable of sorting through. She desperately wanted to tell Sarah that her little brother was an ass. A heartbreaking ass. Surely if she did, Sarah would chew him out. That would spark another pity call from Tom, and that was the last thing Lexi wanted.
    She fumbled through the notes and information left behind by other baristas. Then she saw it. Mike’s business card was pinned to the employee bulletin board with a yellow post-it note that read: For whoever left the coffee note for Mike Montgomery.
    She removed the post-it, wondering what Mike would have the guts to write.
    I’m smiling today, because of you. – Mike
    She brought the business card out of the back room and handed it to Sarah. Lexi was surprised at her wildly beating heart. Even if her perfect evening had come to a crappy end, it was nice to see that someone was finding luck with love.
    She watched as Sarah nervously took the card. Her fear quickly turned into a beaming smile as she read the back.
    Lexi considered telling Sarah how Mike had asked about her over and over, but then thought it best to let him do his thing. She realized he probably had their relationship planned down to the smallest detail and she would be wise to stay the heck out of the way.
    “Thank you,” Sarah smiled as she pulled the card into her heart with both hands. “Thank you so much.”
    Watching Sarah’s excitement reminded Lexi of her own last night as she left for Tom’s concert. Suddenly she became something she loathed – a blubbering, teary-eyed girl. Still, she managed to hoarsely murmur the words out of her tight throat. “You’re welcome.”
    “Lexi?” Sarah asked as she started to leave. “If I bring something back this afternoon, can you make sure Mike gets it? I mean, if or when he comes in.”
    “Sure,” Lexi nodded. “And don’t worry. He’ll be in. He’s always in.”
    “Thanks. You know, Tom hit the nail on the head with you.”
    “What do you mean?” Lexi asked as her heart began to pound.
    “He said, ‘She’s different – really something. And she makes me feel comfortable to be me.’ So please, don’t break his heart.”
    Lexi took a deep breath and told herself it was too early in the morning to cry. As the shop began to get busy, she decided she’d listen to Tom’s messages on her break. She’d read the apologetic texts, but knew if she heard his voice, she might cave. And she didn’t want to be a sucker if he turned out to be a player.

    Tom hadn’t slept all night worrying about Lexi. For once in his life, he cared about something other than music and school – something other than himself. And now it was all hanging by a thread.
    He showered and dressed for class, deciding he needed to be bold. He picked up his backpack and went not to class but straight to the Starbucks on Vine. He prayed that Lexi would be there and that he’d have the courage to say what he needed to say.
    It was almost eight a.m. and as he approached the coffee shop. He saw how crowded it was and thought maybe he’d picked the wrong time and place to confront her. But after the trip from