Oncewe are on the elevator and the doors shut, though, both of us start laughing at the same time, like our bodies are saying that we can now relax after a shared tense situation.Andit’s not a chuckle, either.Itis full-on laughter.WhichIthink might be the byproduct of stress because we didn’t know how to be spies and then finding out that we’d made it out to be so much harder than it was.Ourlaughter seems to be fueling each other’s laughter because we keep laughing more.
Daisywipes away laughter tears from her bottom eyelid. “Heheard our code!Heheard me say that the pineapple would be safest with the eagles!”
“Andhe heard me describe him as suave and stylish and, what was it?Nothaunted?”
Theelevators open to the first-floor lobby, and we try to school our faces back into that look of “I’mjust going about my day” professionalism.
Assoon as we are out the front doors and headed toward the golf cart that has theCoffeeLoftlogo on it,Daisyshakes her head and says, “Whohasn’tdreamt of being asked to help with a dangerous mission by an intelligence operative who looks likeDanielCraigorTomCruiseand thought you’d be basically a pro at it.Didyou ever think we’d be in that situation and then have no idea what we are supposed to do?”
“Yeah.Idefinitely thoughtI’dbe better at it.”
“Weare the worst spies ever.Wethought the room might have bugs planted by the bad guys, but it didn’t occur to us that the bug that wedidknow about, the one that was right in your hand, might be transmitting.”
Ichuckle and run a hand over my face. “Well, at least we’ll end the day being more experienced spies than when we started the day.”
Itake the insulated bag fromDaisy’sshoulder and place it on the passenger’s seat as she gets in behind the wheel. “Youknow,” she says, “whenIwoke up this morning,Iwas thinking about how muchIwishedIwas more experienced at being a spy.”
“Thenit’s a good thing you came down that hallway when you did.”
Shenods. “Itis.Thiswas fun.Weshould do it again sometime.”
Ismile big.Shehad fun.Shewants to do it again sometime. “Weshould.Thenext time the opportunity arises to be spies,I’lllet you know.”Ipause a moment, then add, “Thankyou for encouraging me to do it and for going with me.Thatmade a huge difference.”Ican’tbelieveIdid it.Andit was so much better doing it withDaisyhelping.IwishJacehad more for me to do soIcould have a reason to team up with her again.
“Anytime,” she says.
Iglance back at the building. “Mybreak was over ten minutes ago.Ibetter get back to work before my boss starts looking for me.”
Itisn’t untilDaisyis driving away andI’mwalking back into the building, congratulating myself for having a great conversation with her, that it occurs to me that when she said, “Weshould do it again sometime,” it would’ve been the perfect time to say something along the lines of, “Howabout tomorrow night?Wecould take on another secret mission.Likesneaking into the ice cream shop, ordering under a cover name, and then renaming each ice cream flavor using code words.”
Ifonly some ofJace’ssuave-ness could rub off on me.
CHAPTER 6
A LATTE OF SECRETS BREWING
DAISY
Idon’t know what it is about today that has made all the customers come in at the same time, but there are so many here at once thatIdon’t even have time to look out at the line.SoIdon’t even realize thatOlliehas come in untilIhear his voice tellingNora, “Amedium pumpkin-spiced chai latte, please.”Ilook over at him and smile.Hisreturn smile is so cute.
WhenIhand the customer before him her drink,Olliesteps into the spot where she had stood, andIgrab his cup, drawing a smiley face in theO.Thistime,Iadd a pair of sunglasses over the eyes, a fedora on the head, and attempt to draw the shoulders and neck of a trench coat, like the spy emoji, to get him thinking about yesterday again.Ihad a lot of fun with him, andI’dreally like to see him for more than just his morning chai.
“So,”Isay asIstart making his drink, “Itake it you liked the pumpkin-spiced chai yesterday?”
“Idid!Itwas great.Plus, it feels like the right flavor for this time of year.”
“Ihear it pairs well with clandestine side quests.”
Thesmile thatOllietries to hide as our eyes sparkle with the shared knowledge of yesterday is downright adorable. “Ican confirm that it does.Yesterdaywas a good day for you to recommendItry it.”
“Speakingof this time of year,”Isay, glancing up at him asIput the steam wand into the milk, “the fall festival starts today.Areyou going to go?”
“Iwas thinking about it.Areyou going to go?”
Inod. “Iwas thinking about it, too.”Ipour the steamed milk into the spiced chai, topping it with froth and sprinkling on spices.Comeon,Ollie!Askme to join you!Idon’t say anything asIfinish up his drink and put on the lid, giving him ample time to ask.Hedoesn’t.Hejust rubs his thumb in circles over and over against the laptop he’s holding.
WhenIhand the cup across the counter to him, he grabs hold of it with one of his fingertips slightly over mine.Heholds it there for a moment, the cup paused between the two of us, his mouth partly open like he’s about to say something.Iam mentally rooting for him so hard!Iam a cheerleader, waving my pompoms, calling out,GoOllie!Go, go, go,Ollie!
Eventually, he says, “Thanks,” and turns to walk over to his normal table.
