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Joy glances at her coworker out of the corner of her eye. Emma is cleaning the steamer in one of those rare moments of quiet before the next wave of busy office workers and harried college students come into the tiny coffee shop, really more of a stand with walls. Joy knows she's ridiculously down bad, because there's nothing particularly attractive about it and yet she can barely contain the impulse to flirt with her pretty coworker.
Joy gets distracted from her thoughts by the entrance of everyone's least favorite customer. James Ogilvie is a medical student at the local university and he makes absolutely sure everyone knows it. He's so annoying. Joy and Emma exchange grimaces, before Emma perkily asks his order, somehow managing to be the customer service icon she always is.
"Large black coffee, room for cream and sugar. Blegh, I can't believe you guys sell that pumpkin spice shit. It's so basic."
Joy hates him, she really does, and she can't resist jumping in. "Well I can believe you refuse to explore any interesting flavors like some kind of sad little corporate drone!" She hears Emma snicker under her breath.
James huffs, "I don't pay for you to judge my choices."
"If you're unhappy with our services, Dunkin is right next door," Joy fires back.
"Ewww, the coffee there tastes burnt."
"Well then your coffee is $5.23." Emma pipes up. "You can wait for it at the end of the counter and listen for your name!" He nods stiffly at Emma and avoids Joy's eyes while slinking to the side of the counter. Unfortunately, this heralds a busy period where there's tons of people coming through, so the baristas have no time to giggle over the interaction until an hour has gone by and there's a lull again. When there's a moment though, Joy wipes down the counter and breathes for a moment.
"It's always so obnoxious when people comment on PSLs being basic. Like, we get it! You're cool and alternative!" Emma grumbles as she busies herself checking the stock.
Joy rolls her eyes. "If James was the real 'cool' guy he thinks he is, he'd drink his coffee black. Besides, who cares what other people drink! No one is forcing it down his throat."
Emma giggles, "Right! Like, God forbid other people experience happiness when he's immune." This makes Joy cackle outright. She sees Emma preen just a bit at that before she continues. "I know he's a reliable regular but he's the worst."
Joy glances at the clock. "At least we're unlikely to see him again."
Emma blows out a breath. "Yeah. Though, seriously Joy; I know you drink your coffee black. I appreciate you defending those of us who don't."
"It's like when men get all uppity about fruity cocktails, like, it all serves the same purpose, don't be obnoxious." Before she can continue though, they are interrupted by the door swinging open for what Joy sincerely hopes is the last rush before close.
A little over an hour later, Emma flips the open sign to closed with a relieved sigh. "Finally!"
Joy raps the counter in response. "I got the machines if you get the counter and the stocking."
Emma salutes back. "You got it!" Working together, they get everything done in record time. Joy goes to pick up her stuff when Emma reaches out to grab her hand. She turns to face the other girl.
"Yeah?"
Emma looks horribly anxious, so Joy just waits patiently. She'll obviously cover whatever time off she needs.
"Um, I just wanted to thank you again for telling James off. And for generally being really cool but hanging out with me anyway. And I just—" Emma trails off and seems to gather her courage. She leans forward slowly, giving Joy plenty of time to pull away. Instead, Joy stares at her disbelievingly, her heart hammering with hope. Emma very softly presses her lips to Joy's, pulling away after only a moment. She smiles shyly at Joy.
Before she can respond, Joy yanks Emma closer to her, kissing her firmly. Emma kisses back enthusiastically. Joy ends up with her back against a wall, slowly inching her hand under the Emma's shirt and trailing her fingers lightly along her stomach.
Breathing hard, Emma breaks the kiss off. "I think we should take this party elsewhere. Like, literally anywhere that isn't our place of work."
Joy huffs out a laugh. "Yeah, sure." She checks the time. "Maybe some dinner would be in order? Down the street makes some great tacos and we can go to my place for dessert."
Emma pecks Joy one last time. "Let's do it."