Coffee Shop Romances (sprace)
Spot clocked in and set about making himself a highly caffeinated and sugary beverage, his fellow shift lead, who everyone called Hotshot -because he can just drink a fucking freshly poured espresso shot without flinching and that shit is hot as hell- came over and talked him through the day and schedule, “Davey will be coming in for mid shift and I think Jack is closing” Hotshot explained, “great, at least I’ll be gone before night shift, I don’t think I can take another shift filled with their weird sexual tension” Spot jokes, he’s pretty convinced that the two were seeing each other but desperately trying to keep it a secret from their boss so that neither of them would have to transfer stores. Spot got on with most of his co-workers just fine, at least the morning shift gang was pretty great.
Spot was put on bar for most of the morning, along with Rafaela, she focused on cold drinks and he made the hot ones. They worked together in perfect harmony until peak ended. Spot had just started running cleaning cycles on the first espresso bar when he saw them enter the store, two young men around Spot’s age. One with fiery red hair tucked under a SnapBack, and the other with soft blond curls that fell in a million directions, like he’d rolled out of bed and hadn’t bothered to fix his hair. Spot watches them as they stand in line, he almost forgets that he’s making a drink for drive thru, he can hear Romeo speaking to him through the headset “earth to Spot, I need that Macchiato!” Spot quickly comes to his senses and finishes the drink, handing it off to Romeo who’s flirting with the people waiting at the window.
Spot kept his attention mainly on the blond boy, there was something about him that made Spot wanna get to know him, maybe it was the way he smirked at his friend (Spot hoped it was just his friend) as he ordered both their coffees, or the way his blue eyes sparkled when he said thank you when Spot handed him his coffee. Whatever it was Spot knew he had to get to know this guy.
The next day went about the same as the day before, Spot got to work shortly before peak started and helped finish getting everything ready for the rush of angry people headed to work that needed their morning latte. Katherine was opening with him today, she was their new assistant manager, Spot liked her okay.
“Spot, I’m leaving the sampling to you today. We need to get our customer connections score up so please be friendly” Kath told him, writing down the assignment in the play book, Spot groaned internally but nodded, peak had ended about an hour ago so things had slowed down. Spot couldn’t help but think of the blond guy from the day before, he hoped he’d come in again. Spot set about making sample sized mochas and cutting a scone into tiny pieces to hand out to customers.
Spot had just about finished with the sampling when he notices the guys from yesterday seated at a table in the corner, he made his way over to them. “Hi, would either of you like to try our mocha and or a scone?” Both boys looked up at him, red haired boy nodded and grabbed the last scone and a tiny mocha, the blond boy smiled and took the other mocha, “what’s your name?” Blond boy asked, “I’m Spot, at least that’s what everyone calls me, and you are?”
“I’m Race. Middle School nickname that stuck, why do they call you Spot?”
Spot moved the sample tray so he held it in his arm against his side, and pushed up his right shirt sleeve, exposing the vitiligo that made lighter spots of skin all up and down his arm, “kids were mean but the name stuck…why do they call you Race?” Race shrugs “I could run fast.”
Over the next two weeks Spot saw more and more of Race and his friend Albert (he’d been introduced to the red haired boy after the second or third encounter)
Spot just couldn’t figure out how to ask Race if he wanted to go out with him, he still wasn’t sure if Race and Albert were very close friends or boyfriends and it felt rude to ask, so Spot stuck to making Race his insanely caffeinated espresso drink and making small talk. Race on the other hand was pining hard, and made sure whenever he and Albert studied together they went to the coffee shop. Race would go out of his way to complement Spot, calling me cute pet names which Spot would roll his eyes at but Race loved how flustered it made him, so he continued.
Pretty soon everyone at the shop knew what was up with Spot and their new regular who only stayed to hang out if Spot was working, everyone on morning shift was rooting for them, but neither boy was quite ready to take that next step and actually ask the other out.
“Oh Spotty! Your boyfriend’s here!” Romeo had yelled it so everyone in the cafe could hear, Spot resisted the urge to punch the kid in the face, knowing it was a joke, but still. Spot moved over to the register, surprised to see Race alone, normally he and Albert were attached at the hip. “Hey Racer, your usual today?” Spot asked, “yes, and also your number” Spot looked up from the registers screen to look at the boy in front of him, who was wearing his signature smirk, “I mean, since according to Romeo we’re boyfriends, I should probably have your number.” Race laughed nervously, scratching at the back of his neck. “gimme your arm” Spot said, and Race did, Spot took a sharpie out of his apron pocket and scrawled his phone number onto Races forearm, “if you wanna grab a drink or something you can text me, just don’t ask for free coffee” Spot said with a wink. And went to fix Race’s drink.
Months after they’d started dating Race was still one of the shops regulars. Spot would write stupid sappy notes on his coffee cup and then cover them with the sleeve so no one but Race knew, and Race would read them and smile and send Spot a text telling him he’s “a real sap” and Spot would reply “only for you babe”
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