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“Wh— Colt?”
“Just a second, babe, I’ll, uh, be right back.”
Colt gave a confused Jody a smile and wave before heading towards to little cafe on the side of the road.
He and Jody had just returned from the Metalstorm screening in Hall H, super cool, and everything had been spectacular, except for when Colt’s long needed coffee spilt before it even reached his hands because some dude loved Jason Momoa too much to give a shit about his surroundings. The poor stuntman would’ve asked for a replacement, but Dan was too keen on getting them out of the place before traffic amassed.
It really seemed like ever since the Ryder Messed Up incident, he and coffee had been destined to never cross paths again.
Ah, coffee. What an abstract concept.
Which was why, as he walked into the cafe, every bit of his body he could cross, he kept crossed.
When Colt breathed in the scent of roasted beans and cream and cookies, it hit him like drugs.
“Oh my god,” he mumbled under his breath, halting and closing his eyes for a second. He took a second to regain his composure, before walking up to the barista.
“Hi, sir! What would you like?” she asked, smiling wide, but Colt was too focused on the pretty paper coffee cups stacked behind her.
“You— your coffee machine works, right?”
The barista frowned. “Yes, of course.”
Still, Colt didn’t bring his hopes up.
“I’ll, uh..”
The man was more of a Latte lover, but unsurprisingly, he craved a little more decaf today.
“Hi, um, could I get a flat white?” he asked, fingers drumming on the inner lining of his jean pockets in utmost dread. “On the go, please— kinda in a hurry.”
“Sure, yeah.”
Colt went and stood at the other end of the counter, foot tapping aggressively. Please, coffee, come to me.
His phone rang. It was Jody.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said.
“Hey. I’m assuming you went to get coffee.”
Colt grimaced. “Just another minute, I’m so sorry-“
“Oh my god, don’t apologize. I know how bad you need it—t I just hope nobody knocks it over or something again.”
“…Me too.” Colt meant that from the bottom of his heart. He’d missed far too many times.
It took a minute and 23 seconds (yeah, he counted) for the flat white to get to the counter.
Colt grabbed it so quickly, paying the barista in less than a few seconds before rushing to his truck, both hands tenderly holding onto the cup.
“Hi,” Jody said, amused. “Got your coffee?”
“Got it, yes. Haven’t had it, though.”
Colt looked so tense, staring intensely at the cup. Nothing had gone wrong yet.
“Please drink that, Colt, I think I’m going to die out of anticipation,” Jody said, suddenly just as tense as her boyfriend. “Gosh.”
He looked at her, Adam’s Apple bobbing.
“Yeah, okay.”
He brought the cup to his lips, and the absolutely intoxicating aroma of coffee rose to his nostrils.
Oh, dear.
Colt took a big gulp, and when the taste of perfectly brewed goodness washed over his taste buds, he could’ve sworn he ascended to another plane of existence for a bit.
He leaned against the seat, eyes closing and a relishing sigh leaving his lips.
Coffee.
“Good?” Jody asked.
Colt just nodded, still in ecstasy after that hit of delicious, delicious caffeine.
“I can tell you like it,” she said, lips pulled into an extremely amused smile. “Need a second to process it?”
“God, yeah.”
Despite the giggles, Colt didn't slow down, gulping down the coffee so quickly, but still savouring the taste.
He was carrying a flask with him everyday from now onwards.