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Jonah screams from his stroller as TK pushes him and TK only feels more and more embarrassed as he backs them into Starbucks. Especially considering everyone sitting in the coffee shop looks cozy in their festive sweaters, with their holiday shopping in bags at their feet.
“Shh,” he coos, “You’re okay, Jo-Jo, you’re okay.”
Jonah only continues to cry and TK is officially getting looks from the other patrons. He really needs his caffeine fix because toddlers are exhausting and TK is certain he looks as frazzled as he feels.
“Hi,” he says when he finally gets to the counter, after waiting in line and trying to console Jonah the entire time. He rolls the stroller back and forth in a rocking motion even as Jonah keeps wailing. “I’m so sorry about him...We passed a park on the way here, I said no, it was a whole thing.”
The barista leans forward across the counter and smiles down at Jonah in his stroller—which actually manages to get the toddler to stop crying out of his curiosity at the new face smiling down at him—before looking back up at TK. TK’s breath catches as warm, brown eyes turn on him. “Your son’s really cute,” the man–Carlos, judging by his name tag–says.
“He’s actually my baby brother,” TK laughs awkwardly. He’s not sure why he’s quick to clarify as he stares at the handsome barista. Usually he just accepts it when people assume Jonah’s his kid because it’s not worth explaining otherwise to strangers he’ll never cross paths with again.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” Carlos smiles at TK. “It’s way too cold for the park today and he’s just being a kid. You’re doing a good job looking out for him.”
“Thanks,” TK laughs. “I’m just babysitting but I really did need to hear that today.”
“What can I get you? I’ll make it a venti at no extra charge,” Carlos’s smile is warm and TK sort of wants to melt in it as he grabs a plastic cup and holds up a sharpie, poised and ready to take TK’s order.
“That is incredibly sweet of you, thank you. I’ll have an iced gingerbread latte with a double shot of espresso and gingerbread cold foam please,” TK says with a grateful smile. “And a tall hot chocolate at kid’s temp for this little guy.”
“And your name?” Carlos raises an eyebrow as he glances back at TK, his bottom lip drawn up between his teeth.
“TK.”
“TK,” Carlos repeats like he’s swirling TK’s name in his mouth like a flavorful wine. “That’s nice.”
“Thank you,” TK breathes, so completely lost in the barista’s eyes.
He pays for their drinks and rolls Jonah forward to the end of the bar and finds a free table where he can sit and face Jonah.
“I got you a hot chocolate, buddy, are you excited about that?”
Jonah begins to bounce excitedly in his seat with a happy clap.
A few minutes later, the handsome barista personally delivers their drinks to them.
“Oh my god, this is so sweet of you,” TK gushes. “Seriously, you didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Carlos shakes his head with a tiny smile. “How old is he?”
“He’s two,” TK says, “probably explains a bit of the tantrum.”
“Oh, who doesn’t wish they could still throw tantrums and get away with it?” Carlos chuckles. “Seriously, he’s fine. He’s very cute…not unlike his big brother.”
TK practically chokes on his coffee as Carlos winks at him and slinks off, back towards the counter. Suddenly, something on TK’s cup catches his eye.
In addition to TK’s name and order, a number has been written on the cup with a smiley face and a, “text me! -Carlos.”
TK’s eyes shoot straight up, back to the barista, looking smug as he steams milk behind the counter. He quickly types the number into his phone and texts: do you always give your number out to guys you meet at work?
TK watches Carlos grin as he discreetly checks his watch and reads the message from TK flashing across it. A few minutes later, TK gets a text back: Only when they’re really cute.
TK’s head whips up and Carlos smirks as he catches his gaze, winking at TK. TK just bites his lip. He thinks this barista might just hopefully be the death of him.
“Hey little brother, thank you for being the best wingman ever,” TK chuckles quietly, shaking his head. Jonah just stares curiously at TK while he drinks his hot chocolate.