Chapter Text
Charlotte had begun to frequent Beanies even more than Paul. She insisted otherwise, of course; they went together more often than not, and how did her coworkers really know it was her car outside on Monday evening and Thursday before work? They don’t mention that she’s the only person they know who still drives a Saturn Ion.
This particular day they went after work and Paul’s girlfriend, Emma, was working, as was Ted. Emma got the job about two weeks after opening. Paul was very happy about that; it justified his frequent coffee trips, even though he wasn’t really one who needed justification when it came to coffee.
Charlotte needed the justification. And she had it, she just would rather not admit it.
It wasn’t particularly busy this day, even though it was pouring buckets outside. Charlotte chalked the quiet up to the hour; she assumed not many folks in Hatchetfield wanted a coffee at 6pm. She pushed open the door, Paul quick to follow behind, and she shook some water out of her hair with a soft laugh.
Ted was pretty glad he worked the register that day. It had been very quiet for the past couple of hours, so hearing the bell chime was a relief no matter what. When he looked to the door to see the cute regular, he brightened that much more.
“Afternoon, Charlotte,” he grinned. She turned her head, curls bouncing, and smiled brightly.
“It’s six o’clock, I wouldn’t call that the afternoon anymore.”
“Well, then, good evening. What can I get for you today?”
“Can I have a hot chocolate with… with some sort of flavour shot in it? You pick,” she smiled.
“No coffee?”
“It’s six o’clock, remember?”
“That doesn’t stop me,” he joked. He wrote the order on a cup, specifying a raspberry flavour shot- his favourite. “Alright, is that everything for ya?” She shook her head and turned to her coworker.
“What do you want, Paul?” He looked up and made a ‘no’ motion with his hand, but she didn’t take it. “C’mon, I said it’s my treat.”
“Uh, just black coffee,” he said, clearly looking past Ted, who wrote out that order with a tight smile. He had absolutely no reason to think anything of this man who came in with Charlotte. Nothing. Why would he care, anyway? There were plenty of cute Beanies regulars, not just Charlotte. But Charlotte...
“That’s five-fifty,” is all he said.
She handed him a ten. “Keep the change.”
“You sure?” He gripped the bill loosely in his hand, genuinely asking. She nodded and smiled yet again, that smile that could soften his own so easily. “M’kay. Uh, Emma’ll get that ready for you guys.” Paul brightened a little at the mention of his girlfriend. He retreated to a table, but Charlotte lingered at the serving counter, tracing patterns on the granite. After about a minute of no new customers coming in, Ted made his way over to her.
“Y’have a good day?” he asked, leaning against the counter. She perked up even at the small question.
“Work was a bit of a drag, but Paul and I had plans to come by, so that made it easier to get through,” she explained.
“Paul, that’s…” Ted pointed in the direction of where the aforementioned Paul was sitting and staring at the rain. Charlotte nodded.
“My coworker. He told me about this place, actually. Whole reason I came here.” Ted hummed in response. Coworker. Nothing else? He shouldn’t assume, but…
Just before he could ask something (although he didn’t quite know what), Emma slammed the two drinks on the counter beside Ted. He jumped briefly but scowled at her, and she stuck her tongue out in retaliation.
“Paul, babe, your coffee’s ready,” she called. Paul grinned and walked up to the counter, and Ted relaxed significantly now that he knew where everyone stood, relationship-wise. Why did he care so much whether or not Charlotte had a thing with Paul? It didn’t affect him, did it?
Charlotte, still focused on the interaction between Emma and Ted, couldn’t help a small laugh as Paul returned to his table and she took her own drink.
“What’s with that?”
“Just Emma. She’s a bit… much, but I say we’re friends,” he explained.
“I’m a bit much? Dude, come on, have you met you?” Emma called from across the cafe.
“Shut the fuck up!” This got Charlotte laughing again, light and musical, and Ted’s face broke into its own grin. “We’re friends, I swear.”
“Uh-huh, sure.” She took a sip of her drink, eyes widening at the pleasant surprise. “This raspberry?”
“Er, yeah, do you… like it?” Why was he nervous? Get a grip, Ted, it’s just a… a pretty girl. Yeah, okay, he knew those well, but it’d never been this difficult.
“I love it, oh my god,” she said, taking another sip. “Fuckin’ genius.”
“Well, glad you like it.” Charlotte gave him one more smile before heading to the table Paul had occupied for them. Ted picked up a cloth and started wiping down the counter, definitely not staring at her, bright and cheerful, an excellent contrast to the dreary weather outside. No, he certainly wasn’t staring, who gave you that idea?
~~~~
Beanies closed at nine, and Emma left with Paul at eight. Ted could take care of the last hour just fine, and cleanup got done before closing itself most days, so it wasn’t a problem. Today was no different.
Well, maybe it was a little different.
Charlotte stayed late, too. After Paul left, she pulled out a book, some period fiction piece with a floral design on the cover. Ted was definitely still (not) looking at her. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, lips parted, and fingers drumming on the cafe table. She was…fuck, she was cute.
Ted served two more customers in that last hour, both fairly simple and both leaving right after receiving their drinks. The rain was still coming down steadily, perhaps harder than it had been all day.
“Closin’ time,” he called. Charlotte lifted her head. Once she registered what he said, she slammed her book closed and started scrambling to pack up her things.
“Oh, my god, I’m so sorry, I’ll-“
“It’s okay, just lettin’ you know. D’you have a way home?” Ted asked.
“Uh, yeah, I drove here. Just left my car at the office. Do you?” She tried shoving her book in her bag, pulling more things out to make it fit properly. He rubbed the back of his neck, still watching her.
“I walked, actually. I’m not too far though, maybe twenty minutes.”
“Twenty- do you… do you want a ride?” Her tone was nonchalant, or as nonchalant as she could make it. She definitely couldn’t show even the tiniest bit of excitement she felt at spending proper time with the cute barista. But she smiled anyway, and that made him cave.
“If it’s not too much trouble… you really don’t have to though.”
“Look at that rain! I’m not lettin’ you walk in this weather,” she said. “CCRP is about three minutes away, that’s much better.”
He nodded and she finished packing up her bag. He let her leave first, then shut off the lights, locked the front door, and thanked the coffee gods for this opportunity.