Archive of Our Own

Valerie: Xisuma?

Xisuma: Hello

Xisuma: What can I do for you? :)

Valerie: Okay

Valerie: Deep breath

Xisuma: ?

Valerie: apologies in advance for the ridiculousness I’m about to inflict on you.

Xisuma: Okay

Xisuma: …

Xisuma: Valerie?

Valerie: I had to reschedule some plans after you changed the date of my shift AT MY REQUEST and I’m no longer available on Wednesday WHICH I KNOW FULL WELL IS THE DATE I ASKED YOU TO MOVE MY SHIFT TO and I am so sorry that I can’t make it AFTER YOU CHANGED YOUR LIFE AT MY REQUEST.

Xisuma: Uh

Valerie: Every fiber of my being is cringing at the hassle I’m creating for you.

Xisuma: Valerie

Valerie: Would you prefer to move my shift back to Tuesday, refuse to give me a shift on either day, or find a new date entirely? Blocking me on your contacts list and pretending we never met is also an option.

Xisuma: Valerie

Valerie: Please advise while I consider wading into the Illinois River, never to return.

Xisuma: VALERIE

Valerie: yes sir

Xisuma: First of all, please don’t go wading into the Illinois River

Valerie: I make no promises sir

Xisuma: Second, please don’t call me sir

Xisuma: I know you’re stressed but I’m not that much older than you

Xisuma: You’re making me feel old

Valerie: sorry sir

Xisuma: Valerie

Valerie: *sorry X

Xisuma: And third

Xisuma: I don’t mind you taking back your Tuesday shift

Xisuma: Actually, this is perfect

Valerie: really?

Xisuma: Yeah

Xisuma: After you switched your shift, I tried finding someone else to fill in for you, but the only ones available were already working the afternoon shift, so I planned on manning the café alone

Valerie: HUH???

Valerie: Everyone was busy??

Valerie: People can do that??

Xisuma: Well, no

Xisuma: But I try to be flexible, and the rest of the crew always make it up to me when they’re unable to take a shift.

Valerie: Even when they’re sick?

Xisuma: Especially if they’re sick.

Xisuma: It seems you’ve forgotten that the well-being of my employees is more important to me than filling in time slots.

Xisuma: Anyways, now that you’re no longer busy for Tuesday, you can help me man the café until the afternoon workers arrive.

Xisuma: Right?

Valerie: Absolutely!

Valerie: do I still have to show up by 6:30?

Xisuma: Normally yes

Xisuma: But for Tuesday, I’ll handle setting up the café

Xisuma: Please try to show up before opening hours though

Valerie: I won’t let you down chief o7

Xisuma: Haha

Xisuma: Please don’t call me chief either

Valerie: :P

Valerie: okie dokie

Valerie: anyways

Xisuma: ?

Xisuma: Valerie?

Xisuma: Did your message not send?

Valerie: Are you doing anything this Friday?

Xisuma’s phone fell out of his hands, landing on the carpet with a soft thump. Unfortunately for him, his phone had fallen face up, meaning he could still see Valerie’s question reflecting back at him. His face burned hotter and hotter the longer he stared at his phone before letting out a strangled noise, flopping backwards against his sofa.

Tilting his head back, he hid his flushing face behind his hands as he struggled to calm himself. Once Xisuma felt like he could breath comfortably, his hands drifted until the back covered his mouth.

He took a moment to stare up at his ceiling before digging up the will to peel himself off of his sofa.

“I need a drink,” Xisuma mumbled, his voice a little choked up as he peeled himself off of his sofa. He chose to leave his phone where it was as he left to go brew a cup of coffee.

Valerie: Grian

Valerie: Grian

Valerie: Grian

Grian: what

Valerie: can you text X for me pls

Grian: what

Grian: why?

Valerie: uhhhhhhhhhh

Valerie: I was talking about my shifts with him through text and now he’s not responding

Grian: oh

Grian: maybe something distracted him

Valerie: can you text him for me pls?

Grian: why me?

Valerie: idk

Valerie: maybe he’ll answer you if it’s not me?

Grian: right

Grian: what did you even say to him?

Valerie: nothing!!

Valerie: can you text him please?

Valerie: from one escapee to another?

Grian: you make it sound like we’re ex-convicts

Grian: also

Grian: no

Valerie: I think he already thinks I am one

Valerie: why not?!?!

Grian: don’t wanna

Valerie: GRIAN PLEASE

Grian: no

Valerie: this is bullying

Grian: it’s really not

Grian: besides, maybe he’s just busy

Valerie: he was responding pretty quickly before though…

Grian: okay

Grian: so

Grian: what did you say to X to make him stop responding

Valerie: nothing

Grian: if you thought repeating that would make it more convincing

Grian: it wasn’t

Grian: Valerie

Grian: why should I help

Grian: what did you say to him

Valerie: OH WOW WOULD YOU LOOK AT THE TIME I GOTTA GO SHOWER

Grian: ?

Grian: coward

Valerie: YOU CANNOT SAY THAT TO ME

Grian: why not?

Valerie: I looked at your texts

Grian: what

Grian: what texts

Valerie: the uh

Valerie: you know

Valerie: the deleted ones

Grian: VALERIE WHAT THE FUCK

Grian: also WHEN????

Valerie: :P

Grian: Just for that, I’m DEFINITELY not helping you

Valerie: fuck

Grian: good night

Valerie: yeah yeah

Valerie: …

Valerie: good night

“Annie, I love you, but if you glance back at Val through the rearview mirror one more time, I think she’s going to make you crash the car.”

Annette snapped her gaze back onto the road, but not before catching Valerie’s eye roll from her seat in the back. Annette frowned at Margaret, who was trying to finish a last-minute stitching pattern from her spot in the passenger seat.

“I’m just worried,” she admitted, tapping against the steering wheel. “She’s going to be spending the whole day with her boss for the first time after that whole texting fiasco.”

Margaret rolled her eyes, yawning into her shoulder as she tried to focus on the needle in her hand. “It wasn’t a fiasco,” Margaret denied. “She just went about asking for a meeting in the wrong way.”

“You should just let me rot in a hole and die.”

“Hush now Valerie, we need money.”

Valerie huffed and smushed her face against the car window childishly. “Why am I here, just to suffer,” she lamented. “I should just change my name and move to Japan. That would be fun.”

“You’re not moving to Japan,” Annette said in a placating tone, turning onto a quieter street. “You don’t even know the language.”

“I could learn,” she countered. “I could also pretend to be mute and speak solely with gestures.”

“You could also learn Japanese sign language, that’s what most people do when they’re mute.” Margaret paused her stitching. “…I think.” She turned to look back at Valerie. “This isn’t me condoning you ditching us for Japan by the way.”

Valerie frowned. “What about Argentina?”

Margaret hummed. “You do know Spanish.”

“And every other Latin language under the sun,” Annette added, stopping the car before turning her body around to make eye contact with Valerie. “I’m not condoning you leaving us for Argentina either by the way.”

Valerie groaned. “You guys don’t let me do anything!” Valerie childishly flopped her body sideways across the entire backseat, even with the seatbelt restricting her. “Why do you guys care so much!”

“Because we love you, you big man-child,” Margaret teased, glancing out the window. “Oh, would you look at that, we’re here.”

Valerie shot up into a seating position and stared in horror at the café front staring back at her. She snapped her head towards the traitors in the front seats, her whole body shaking as she pointed at Annette in horror. “YOU TRICKED ME!”

Annette rolled her eyes at the childish antics of her friend. “That's rich considering how I always drive you to work,” she pointed out, unlocking the car doors. “Now get out and face the consequences of your actions.”

“No!”

Margaret got out of the car and opened the door to the back seat.

“NO!”

Valerie struggled against her surprisingly stronger friend as Margaret unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her out of the car. It was a lost cause. She never stood a chance. “This is unfair, you shouldn’t be this strong,” Valerie griped. “You’re only up this early because of your internship.”

“Sucks to suck,” Margaret said, pushing her towards the café entrance. “Now stop acting like a child and go to work!”

“You’re never too old to act like a child!”

“I don’t think that’s how that works but okay,” Margaret muttered to herself before adding more force to her efforts. “If anything, this scene you’re causing is more embarrassing than whatever the hell happened over text!”

Valerie planted her feet on the ground and tried to resist, but to no avail. Suddenly, the weight pushing her from behind disappeared, causing her to tip over from the sudden absence of support. Margaret caught her by the arm before she could fully fall.

“Honestly Val,” Margaret sighed, helping Valerie stand up properly. “We did you a favour by bringing you to work at seven. If anything, since it’s just the two of you this morning, you should have shown up earlier to help Xisuma set up the place.”

Valerie winced and looked away. She hated that Margaret was right; she really should have been here sooner.

Seeing her expression, the look on Margaret's face softened as she gave her friend a snug hug. “You’re going to be fine Val,” she comforted, giving her one last squeeze before pulling away. Margaret smiled at her. “If you ignore the fact that the shop is short on staff this morning, it’s basically just a normal day at work!” With your boss but I probably shouldn’t bring that up again.

Valerie bit her lip, fiddling with her hands as she stared into Margaret’s eyes. She glanced back at the shop before turning back to face her friend. She took a deep breath. “You’re right,” Valerie said. “I’ve got this.”

“Atta girl!” Margaret cheered, watching as Valerie made her way towards the café entrance. She gave her a thumbs up. “We believe in you!”

Margaret remained standing outside of the car, watching as Valerie talked with Xisuma inside. She smiled. Yeah… Margaret thought as she got back in the car. She’s fucked.

I’m getting a sense of déjà vu…

Xisuma leaned against the counter, watching as Valerie moved from table to table, cleaning up after customers who had already left the coffee shop. He used his hand to hide a smile as he observed her, only for it to morph into a frown when she bumps her hip against another table. Something was bothering her, and Xisuma couldn’t help but wonder if he was the cause for her current behaviour…again.

He tried not to think about the phone in his back pocket.

Xisuma sighed before moving to clean the coffee machines. Usually around this time, the coffee shop would start getting busy as people started waking up. Luckily for the two of them, however, they were having a slow morning. On the other hand, this meant he had more time to stew over what his mind could only describe as his pretty bad blunder. Feeling weak in the knees, Xisuma squatted down in front of the machines, hanging his head down in shame.

Why did I leave her on ‘read’?

It was all he could think about.

I should have answered, he thought. If not for myself, then for her sake.

If he was being honest with himself, Xisuma wasn’t even too sure as to why he hadn’t.

Ever since the New Years party, things had been different. Not a bad different...sort of. Lately, Xisuma’s noticed that there had been a change in how Valerie interacted with him. She seemed to be more at ease when it came to initiating a conversation, and Xisuma was glad she’s become more comfortable around him. He also couldn’t help but notice how she had gotten into the habit of making him his own cup of coffee whenever she came in for her morning shifts. It had happened so often that he had begun to anticipate the coffee and moment of chatting that would follow the knock on his office door.

He hadn’t realized that this brief interaction between the two had become a staple part of his daily routine until it stopped.

Throughout the day, Xisuma had tried to remind himself that it was probably because of the odd circumstances of the day, that it would come back. And yet… some part of him worried that its absence would be permanent...

He still didn’t know how he felt about that.

Hearing footsteps heading in his direction, Xisuma tilted back his head…

…and caught himself from falling to the floor.

Valerie peered over him, turquoise eyes curious as she fidgeted with a dish towel. Xisuma was a rather tall guy, so despite his current squatting position, the pink ends of Valerie’s short hair framed and gently brushed around his face.

They stared at each other before Valerie tilted her head to the side. She bit her lip, trying to hold back a smile. “…You okay?” she asked.

Xisuma blinked. He slowly got to his feet and offered her a hesitant smile. “I feel like I should be asking you that,” he said, gesturing at her hip. “You’ve bumped into at least ten tables in the last couple minutes.”

Valerie's hand snapped to her hip, a pink flush spreading across her face.

He slipped his hands into the pockets of his apron. “Something on your mind?”

She winced and Xisuma squeezed his eyes shut, wishing the ground would swallow him up on the spot. The silence that followed made him even more aware of the phone burning a hole in his back pocket.

“Sorry,” he managed to squeak out, struggling to find the will to open his eyes. “That was…um…”

“No, no it’s…” Valerie sighed and suddenly he found that he could. He observed as Valerie took a deep breath, wrestling with the dish towel in her grasp. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t mean to make things weird with that text.”

She paused. Xisuma swore he heard her mumble “Someone please kill me now” to herself before she forced herself to make eye contact and rushed out: “I just wanted to schedule a meeting about my shifts in February.”

Oh!…Oh.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” Valerie tried to laugh only for it to come out a little forced. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked away. “I know that it’s faster to just…um…”

“Do it by text?” Xisuma offered.

Valerie nodded. “...But, I wasn’t sure how to go about explaining the way my availability would change," she started to ramble. "I thought it would be simpler to talk about it in person so that there wouldn’t be any delay in checking if my request would even be possible— but now I’m regretting even sending that stupid text because—”

Xisuma cut her off by gently taking her hands. If this were any other situation, he would have laughed at the almost comical way her mouth snapped shut.

“Valerie,” he said softly, waiting for her to look at him again. He smiled when she did, though he felt a pang in his chest at her watery gaze. “It’s okay.”

Valerie’s lip trembled. “Yeah?” she whispered.

Xisuma nodded. “Of course,” he said, letting go of her hands. “How about we talk about your shifts after I make you some coffee.”

Valerie’s lip continued to tremble, causing Xisuma’s heart to hurt, before she managed to give him a small smile. “Okay,” she whispered. “I can do that.”

He smiled. “So,” he started, grabbing a cup from the employee cupboard next to the coffee beans. “What kind of coffee would you like?”

“…Could I have a latte, please?” Valerie asked. She hesitated before continuing. “I think it’d be really neat to see what kind of latte art you do.”

Xisuma froze. “Latte art?”

“Yeah.” Valerie’s eyes darted over Xisuma’s face. “Um…I mean, you don’t have to.”

But he had seen the way her eyes twinkled at the thought of her boss doing latte art and knew what he had to do. “No, it’s fine,” he reassured her. “I’m just…not great at it. But if that’s what you want, then I’ll do my best attempt.”

“I’m sure you’re fine at it,” she said, most likely in an attempt to reassure him.

Xisuma winced. “I’m really not,” he confessed. “The first time I showed Cleo my latte art, I was worried I was going to have to call an ambulance.”

Valerie looked so alarmed that Xisuma rushed to explain: “No no, wait, it was because she was laughing really hard,” he said, panicked. “She couldn’t stop laughing, and at one point I thought her face was going to go blue.”

“Oh…” Valerie calmed down, much to his relief. She held her hands behind her back and offered him an encouraging smile. “I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”

Xisuma snorted. “Just wait and see,” he said, making his way over to the coffee machines. “Once I’m done, you’re going to see why Bdubs was the one to teach you guys how to do latte art.”

And when Valerie burst out into uncontrollable giggles when he handed over her latte with art, he couldn’t find it in him to regret this humiliation. For now.

“I feel bad,” Valerie admitted, watching as Xisuma poured himself a cup of green tea.

Xisuma glanced at her as he set the kettle back in its spot. “For what?”

Valerie frowned. “I always make you coffee,” she stated. Xisuma bit back a grin at the way she glared at the cup in his hands. It was like the cup had personally offended her. It was…kind of cute.

“I’m just making myself a green tea latte, so technically you still do,” he pointed out. “You can just make me a cup next time you’re working.”

Valerie kept frowning as she tapped against her own cup of tea. “But what about today?”

The shop’s bell almost drowned out Xisuma soft laughter at her pout. “Go handle the customer,” he said, shooing her off as he went to steam some milk.

Xisuma smiled to himself as Valerie playfully grumbled on her way to the register with her tea.

“Oh!” he heard when Valerie’s grumbling switched to genuine delight instead of her typical customer service greeting. “Hey Etho! How’s the commission going?”

Xisuma glanced over at the register, momentarily distracted before focusing on carefully pouring the milk into the cup. He saw Etho looking at his phone as the door closed behind him. At the address, Etho looked up and pocketed his phone, making his way up to the register.

“It’s going,” Etho said, an awkward chuckle leaking into his words. “I’m having a hard time with it, so I thought maybe I just needed to get out of the house you know?”

“You could always work on it here,” Xisuma called out from his spot behind the counter, his attention solely on finishing up his drink. “As you can tell, it’s really not busy.”

“Is that okay?”

“Etho.” Xisuma gave him a pointed look that doubled as reassuring. “You have a laptop bag with you.”

Pink seeped past the top of Etho’s mask as he fiddled with his winter jacket. “Can I order please?”

Valerie laughed, leaning on the counter. “What can I get for you Etho?”

Etho looked up at the menu above her head, rocking back on forth. “Can I have a green tea latte?”

“Ooh good choice,” she said, typing the order into the register. “You want some latte art with that?”

Xisuma froze.

She wouldn’t…

Valerie caught his eye and her innocent smile turned slightly mischievous. “Xisuma’s latte art is phenomenal.”

She would.

Xisuma regretted reconciling with her.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Xisuma interrupted, nervously. “He probably doesn’t want any.” For the love of everything good in this world he better not ask for latte art.

Unfortunately, judging from the way Etho was switching his gaze between him and Valerie, he must have clocked in on his hesitancy. “Actually you know what?” He began saying in a smug voice, “I would love some latte art.”

Etho was definitely grinning behind his mask as he asked Xisuma: “Can you make me a dragon please?”

I’d rather not, Xisuma lamented to himself. He already humiliated himself by making latte art for Valerie, he hadn’t planned on being teased by two people today. But seeing Valerie look him straight in the eyes, after she had avoided doing so all day…

“...Yeah alright,” Xisuma agreed. Reluctantly. Very reluctantly.

Xisuma went through the motions of making the tea, taking his time with the art as Etho and Valerie chatted away over the countertop with Valerie taking the occasional sip from her own cup. Once he was done, he debated for a couple minutes whether it was worth it to just scribble the art away, before finally placing the untouched cup in front of Etho. “Here you go, one green tea latte with latte art.”

“Thanks Xisuma,” Etho cheered, pulling the cup towards him. When he saw the art, Etho tried (and failed) to muffle his amusement. “Wow I love my horse.”

The worst part? Xisuma had actually tried to make the dragon.

“Your drink’s getting cold,” Xisuma said, trying to keep the embarrassment off his face.

“Will do boss,” Etho joked, going to take a sip from it before his eyes widened. “Oh, wait, before I forget.” He set his cup down before pulling his phone out of his pocket, taking a quick picture of his cup. “There’s been a change of plans regarding your ride.”

Valerie pressed her lips against the rim of her cup, slowly lowering it away from her mouth. “That’s…new.” Valerie hesitated. “Since when?”

“Since right about when I walked in,” Etho explained, showing Valerie and Xisuma his phone screen. “Your roommate asked if I could drive you home at the end of your shift.”

“An emergency shift at the clinic?” Valerie read off the phone, worry seeping into her voice.

“Emergency Contact?” Xisuma read off the phone. He leaned back to give Etho a curious look. “I thought your emergency contact was Cleo?”

Etho went to take a sip from his latte. “Annette is Valerie’s emergency contact,” he clarified, flashing Xisuma a cheeky grin before pulling his mask back over his face. “Not mine. That’s still Cleo.”

“Anyways, I’ve still got that commission I need to do,” Etho said, taking his cup and lifting it towards the two in a ‘cheers’ motion. He turned more towards Valerie. “Just let me know when you’re ready to go.”

“Will do!” Valerie said, waving him off.

Meanwhile, something about the way Etho had talked about the emergency contacts raised a red flag in Xisuma’s mind. Something told him that he was definitely going to regret making Etho that latte art.

Xisuma: Your boyfriend sucks

Bdubs: ASKLDJFAKHDSKJFLH

Bdubs: NOW THAT WAS OUT OF POCKET

CleoZo: *sends picture*

CleoZo: Did you let the intrusive thoughts win?

Xisuma: Of course he’d tattle

CleoZo: Well someone’s grumpy

CleoZo: A little out of character, I’ll be honest

Xisuma: I’m sorry

Xisuma: I’m going to apologize to Bdubs later too

Xisuma: I don’t know what came over me

CleoZo: Definitely the intrusive thoughts

Xisuma: …maybe

Grian: the more I think about it, the more I realize that there’s no way you could have seen my texts before I deleted them

Valerie: ack

Grian: Valerie

Grian: you never actually saw the original messages

Grian: did you

Valerie: uhhhhh

Valerie: nope

Valerie: ^^;

Grian: I hate you

Valerie: AW COME ON!

CleoZo: Oh yeah, I almost forgot

CleoZo: *sends picture*

CleoZo: Nice latte art by the way

Xisuma: …

Xisuma: I knew I was going to regret that

Valerie slipped off her apron and hooked it into her work cubby in the breakroom. She exited, bundling herself up in her coat, and waved to Grian who was still working behind the counter. “I’m off!”

Grian looked up from where he was currently making a customer’s order. “Is Etho still here?” he asked, turning to look out the windows at the front.

She nodded. “Yeah, he went out to start his car,” she explained. “I’m going to wait outside for him to bring the car around front.”

Grian frowned. “Then you can still help us in here,” he complained. “Put your apron back on.”

“Hmmm let me think," Valerie said, tapping a finger against her chin before shooting him a mischievous smile. "Nah.” Valerie fought the urge to cackle at Grian's glare. “I’m off the clock now, and I don’t get paid overtime.”

Grian proceeded to glare at her, but he didn't get a chance to reply with a snarky comment.

“That’s because no one ever works overtime,” Xisuma pointed out, walking out of the storage area. He looked over at the apron-less Valerie. “Going home?”

“Yup!” Valerie grinned. “It’ll just be you, Joe, and Grian for the rest of the day.”

Xisuma leaned against the door to the storage with a soft smile. “Thanks for all the help this morning,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

A pale pink flush built itself onto Valerie’s face as she suddenly became shy. Grian pretended to retch.

“You guys are disgusting,” he commented with a little tsk. He didn't even try to hide the severely disgusted look on his face.

“You’re just jealous,” Valerie said, sticking her tongue at him. Grian brought his hands up towards her in a choking motion. Valerie held up her purse like a lasso in retaliation.

Despite the counter acting as a divider, Xisuma stepped in. “Alright, okay, that’s enough,” he ordered, and both of his employees stood down. “There are still customers in here, and I’d rather not have this place gain a reputation for having violent employees.”

“He started it,” Valerie grumbled, before hearing her phone chime. "And that's my cue." She winked when Grian threw another glare her way behind Xisuma’s back.

The man in question saw the glare anyways and just shook his head. “Here, I’ll walk you out,” Xisuma said, moving out from behind the counter.

Valerie stopped her teasing and stared at her boss, eyes wide in surprise. “Oh, you don’t have to,” she insisted. “Etho parked right outside the entrance. I’ll be fine.”

Xisuma put his hands in his pockets and sidled up next to her. “It’s fine,” he reassured her. “I needed some fresh air anyways.” He tried not to fold under Grian’s piercing stare.

“Oh, um…” Valerie stayed rooted to the spot, watching as Xisuma moved around her and towards the door. She snapped out of her daze before hurrying on after him. “Yeah, okay, um…if you’re sure.”

Xisuma held the door open for her, trying not to shiver as a blast of cold air hit him in the face. Valerie passed through, thanking him as she made her way towards the car. She only got a couple of steps away from the door before she slowed to a stop.

Xisuma, who was still keeping the door open, leaned against the entrance to the café. He raised an eyebrow when Valerie suddenly turned around and took a couple steps back towards him.

“Thanks again,” Valerie said. “You know, for not being weird about the way I worded that text.”

“Well, I mean, I kind of did,” Xisuma pointed out. “But that’s why communication is an important part of any relationship. We’re all good now though, right?”

He was relieved when Valerie smiled back at him. “Right…” Valerie still hadn’t moved towards the car.

He was starting to get a little worried (and really cold) when Valerie suddenly blurted out: “Is it okay if I give you a hug?” Xisuma blinked as she fidgeted with the buttons on her coat. “Because like, you’re my boss and all that, and it’s weird to hug your boss right? But I also think of you as a friend, but I don’t know if that’s weird or if I’m just making it weird—”

Xisuma cut off her rambling by gently tapping her boot with his own. Once Valerie’s mouth snapped shut, and he knew she was looking at him, Xisuma smiled. “Well, since you’re off the clock right now, I think it’s okay to think of me as a friend.” His smile turned sheepish. “I mean, I’d like to think we’re friends at least.”

Valerie’s cheeks flushed, but she was beaming at him as she went in for the hug and Xisuma prayed to whatever deity was listening that she couldn’t feel the way his heart was pounding in his chest. He was going to have to get that checked. Valerie’s phone chimed and they pulled apart from each other. Xisuma looked behind her and saw Etho in his car, giving him a look. He didn’t want to decode what that look meant.

Valerie looked back towards the car before leaning in close. “I think Etho’s telling me to hurry up,” she whispered in his ear, amused. Meanwhile, Xisuma was busy trying to fight off the shivers brought about by her breath against the shell of his ear.

Thankfully, Valerie must not have wanted to keep Etho waiting as she began to pull away. But right before they fully stepped away from each other, Valerie slid her hands down to Xisuma’s forearms. He’s about to ask her what was up when she pushed herself upwards to kiss his cheek.

He didn't even get a chance to react before Valerie shoved herself away from him as if he'd suddenly caught on fire.

“OKAYGOTTAGOBYE!”

Valerie rushed off towards the car and Xisuma could only watch as she threw herself into the passenger seat, hurriedly mouthing something to Etho. The next thing he knew, the car sped away down the street and out of sight. Somehow, he found it in himself to make his way back inside, letting the door close behind him.

Grian looked up after handing a customer their drink. He raised an eyebrow. “Why is your face so red?”

Xisuma paused in his tracks, bringing a hand up to his face. He recoiled from the warmth emanating from his cheek. He dropped his hand in a flash and swiftly made his way towards his office. “I’m going to do some paperwork,” he called out before slamming the door behind him.

Grian blinked at the door before rolling his eyes. Disgusting. The whole lot of them.