First Day of the Rest of Your Life

(first official day at work with Fred. Remember, this is before Kayla met Tom.)

Finding the espresso machine, Kayla slipped a mug on to the tray. She turned her back to the counter and saw Fred thumbing through the other mugs she was supposed to be filling with espresso.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

She hadn't seen him since yesterday this hour, and when she came into the coffee shop just twenty minutes ago to find him nowhere, the disappointment had been nearly palpable. So, she'd gone straight to work, cleaning mugs and taking orders, but all she thought about while pressing the buttons on the machines was Fred.

She hadn't crushed this hard since John Travolta in Grease. Not that she would call this thing...whatever it was... a crush. She looked forward to seeing him, was all. A friendly crush was more like it.

Fred pulled a blue mug out of the group and held it up for her. "Have you had any of the coffee here?"

"I don't like coffee." She said, forcing a dish towel in Fred's hands to clean the glass.

Fred folded the towel and placed it on the counter with the mug. "Actually," He smiled. "I'm supposed to be in Holly's office."

Kayla looked up at Fred with a worried expression. "What? What did you do? Don't tell me you're getting fired already." She was sure Fred could sense the desperation in her voice when he said, "Really, i'll be fine."

"But Holly's office is out there"-she nodded to the doorway behind Fred's shoulder-"and to the right."

He wagged his finger at her. "So that's where it is. I was wondering. Well, i should get this over with, before dinner is spoiled." He left the front and headed into Holly's office. Holly smiled at him and grabbed her phone. After handing it over, she left the office.

He dialed and talked to someone on the other line. Kayla knew all of this because she was peeking out the window of the room watching him. He was so danged cute. Just watching him made Kayla smile. And talking to him usually had her laughing harder than she had in months. If she had to pick between her sacred alone time or an hour with Fred, she'd pick Fred.

When he hung up, he glanced over at the window and Kayla ducked. She went around one of the counters, losing herself among the customers before Fred came back.

She grabbed two empty mugs from a deserted table before he popped up behind her, making her jump, dropping the mugs in her hands. They smacked against the hard wood floor with a crash.

"I didn't mean to scare you," he said, then frowned as if mulling that answer over. "Well, okay, I'll be honest. I did mean to scare you, but not that bad." He ran behind the counter and took the dustpan and small broom that was hidden in the cabinets for emergencies. He bent down and scooped up the broken glass. "Here."
She took the pan. "Thanks. For picking up the mess. Not for scaring me." Her heart still drummed in her chest and her hands were suddenly clammy, but she had to admit it was kind of funny. It'd have been funnier if it were someone else though.

"So, what are you doing this Saturday?" He leaned his elbow on the counter, sticking his fingers into his curly hair as Kayla dumped the glass into the trash bin.

Was she ever doing anything on Saturday other than laundry and watching TV? Not like she would tell him that. Of course, now that she had her friends back... maybe they'd want to do something together.

"Why?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Some of us go to Eagle Park on Saturday mornings. I think you'd have fun."

"What do you do at Eagle Park?" She raised an eyebrow.

"It's not like i go and burn the trees. It's fun, and other people come." He paused. "Sometimes."

"I don't know." It was funny to imagine Fred spending his Saturdays at the park. It was even funnier to hear him say he wanted Kayla to join him. What would they do at the park? Was he asking her on a date? Whats wrong with dinner?

"Okay, okay. I have another idea and you have to pick between it and the park."

"I HAVE to pick?"

"Yes, it's the rule."

"What rule?"

"The Kayla-has-to-pick-between-two-things rule. Jeez, where have you been?"

She laughed. "Okay, what's the other option?"

"Either we go to the park, or... we go to Stixs-N-Yarn and make my dog a sweater."

"Knitting?"

"Yes." He nodded incessantly. "I'm a master knitter. I'm a level three."

"There aren't levels in knitting."

He made a disgusted face. "Seriously? Well, there should be. What's the point if there aren't any levels?"

Holly popped her head through her office doorway. "Mr. Coury," she said in her best authoritative voice, "what are you doing?"

"I'm trying to ask Kayla out on a date, but she's rebuffing my advances."

"Smart girl," Holly said, winking at Kayla. "Just hurry it up then."

Grinning, Kayla said, "Okay, the park, i guess. What time?"

"Nine. In the morning. At Eagle Park."

"Got it. I'll meet you there."

"So you can get out fast if the date goes sour. Nice." He made his way to the kitchen. "Later, Kayla," he said over his shoulder.

Hugging a mug to her chest, she squeaked out, "Later," and watched him leave. For the rest of the day, Kayla couldn't think straight. All she could think about was, what could Fred be planning for their date at Eagle Park?