The two stayed like that for a while until Elias expressed his boredom with a protracted yawn as he stretched his arms above his head. He then set aside the manual, finally deciding to test the coffee machine itself. He moved with purpose, and soon, theclunkof a weighty mug bearing Moodie’s face was quickly followed by the aroma of freshly brewed breakfast blend. Elias struggled with the faulty door of the pastry case before selecting a sweet potato scone, then perched himself on the counter near Kai with casual ease. A contented expression settled on his face as he indulged in a bite. “Do you want to hang out after work? I don’t know anyone else in this town other than Mood,” he mused.
Kai hugged the sketchbook to his chest. “You want to hang out with me?” he replied, excitement rising as he felt his chance to ask about the concert. With a nervous laugh, he joked, “What if I just talked about NFTs the whole time, then tried to sell you my mixtape?”
Elias shrugged. “You seem like you’d have some bars.”
“I—” Kai began, but the bell above the entrance jingled. He mentally shouted into the void, frustrated by the interruption.
Elias glanced at Kai, as if seeking approval to handle this customer alone. Kai gave his blessing with a slight nod, and Elias immediately leapt into action. Elias leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter in anticipation of the customer. She strolledover to him, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the counter as she approached.
“How can I help you?” Elias asked, adding a subtle lip bite to the end of his question.
“Hi,” the girl said. Kai followed her gaze and found that it was directed straight at Elias’s lips, though he didn’t blame her. Elias’s jaw tensed when he said certain words, exposing that perfect little dimple, and at the ends of his sentences, he wouldn’t close his mouth right away, so his tongue lingered on his teeth as though he was giving his words a chance to go back in.
“I’m looking for a comic book as a gift for my little sister, and I know absolutely nothing,” Kai heard the customer say as he walked to the back room to give them some space while he continued to sketch.
“And here I thought you came in just to talk to me,” Elias said. “I’m Elias.”
Shaking his head, Kai let out a short laugh.
“You’re cute. I’m Bri,” she replied with a warm smile. “So, can you help me?”
“You’ve come to the right place, but you’ve got the wrong guy,” Elias teased. “I don’t know anything either.”
“Then why do you work here?” Bri whispered behind her hand.
“Nepotism,” Elias replied, dropping his tone as well. “And to talk to girls.”
Kai snorted. “Corny as hell,” he muttered to himself as he set down his sketchbook and stepped out from the back room. As soon as he appeared, Bri’s eyes traveled up his entire body. The look of pure betrayal on Elias’s face made Kai burst out laughing.
“Are there any other cute boys who work here?” Bri asked, playfully trying to peer around Kai.
“Just us,” Kai said, hiding his laugh behind his hand. “Come with me. I can help you.”
“So, it’s like that?” Elias said. “You’re just going to love me and leave me?”
“Oh, it’s definitely like that,” Bri replied as Kai led her away to the stacks. Kai glanced back at Elias, giving him a triumphant eyebrow raise.
Elias pretended not to be watching, but every time Kai glanced over, their eyes met.
After some deliberation, Kai and Bri eventually settled on the criminally underrated Squirrel Girl. He expertly wrapped it and placed it carefully in a bag.
“Before you give me my receipt, can you write your number on it?” Bri asked.
Her delivery was so direct that Kai felt there was no other option but to comply. That, and the fact that Elias wasn’t even trying to hide how offended he was. Kai laughed and scribbled his number down. “I’ll see you later,” he said, sliding it over.
As Bri left, she offered a friendly wave to Kai, her voice playfully singing, “Bye, Elias,” as she stepped out the door. It shut slowly, and as it neared the frame, a vacuum effect pulled it closed with a final rattle of the bell.
“It’s the height,” Kai said, trying to reassure Elias as soon as the store was quiet again, but he knew it was coming off as gloating. “Gets them every time.”
“My dimples usually have the same effect,” Elias said, seemingly dumbfounded. He stood up. “And I’m tall too. I’m six foot,” he said indignantly. “In the morning,” he added as he rose to his tiptoes.
“How tall are you in the afternoon? Like, right now, for instance.”
“Give me a few minutes to do some stretches, and I’m pretty sure I could clear five eleven and a half, easy.”
“You’re cute,” Kai said with a smirk, echoing Bri’s tone.
The grin that stretched across Elias’s face was a cultural reset. He seemed to want the tension to linger a moment before he asked, “Why’d you give that girl your number?”
