Coffee Wars - Excerpt # 10

Coffee Wars - Chapter Four, Part Two

The rest of Christina’s co-workers eventually straggled in and congregated around the center tables. Just as Christina moved to join them, Roger called to them from behind the counter. “Hey, can one of you yokels get Buddy from out back so we can get this meeting over with.”

Since everyone else paid absolutely no attention to him, Christina went to the back door and poked her head out. Buddy was splayed out in a chair with his feet up on another chair, holding a joint.

Christina rolled her eyes. “Everyone’s here, Buddy. Do you want to start the meeting?”

Buddy nodded but held up one finger, indicating she should wait. Then he drew deep on the joint. She rolled her eyes again and walked back inside.

“He’s on his way,” she said to no one in particular and took a seat outside of the circle they’d formed. Roger came out from behind the counter and pulled up a chair. The circle parted so he could squeeze in. Christina sighed, but she wasn’t surprised they hadn’t opened the circle to her. She never smoked weed with them, so none of them really like her.

When the smell of marijuana wafted toward her, Christina knew Buddy had finally made his entrance. She glanced up only to be met with his lazy gaze and goofy smile. She tensed at the sight of him but shoved down the urge to roll her eyes again.

He looked around at the group. “Everyone here?”

No one responded, so Christina said, “Everyone but Adam. He said you put him on inventory. Want me to get him?”

“Nah. He already knows what I’m going to say, so he doesn’t really need to be here. Let’s get started.” Then he completely shifted gears. “I’m hungry. Is anyone hungry?”

A couple of people said no, while everyone else stayed quiet.

“I’m starving,” Buddy repeated. “Do we have any more of those chocolate chip cookies?”

“Yeah, a few,” Roger said.

“Good. I’m going to grab a couple. Then we can start the meeting.”

Buddy walked behind the counter, and everyone took his absence as an invitation to start chatting again. The distinct sound of the milk steamer drifted over the drone of voices. Christina craned her neck toward the counter. Buddy had a cookie clamped between his teeth and was making himself a drink. Christina shut her eyes and wished for this hell to end.

With a drink in one hand and at least five cookies in his other hand, Buddy finally rejoined the group. He took a sip of his drink and a bite of one of the cookies before saying, “Ready for the meeting?”

A cookie crumb flew from Buddy’s mouth. It must’ve hit Roger on the face because he touched his cheek and twisted toward Buddy. “Jesus, Dude,” Roger said. “Could you try not to be so disgusting?”

“Sorry,” Buddy muttered around a mouthful of cookie mush.

Because he was standing right beside Christina, she worried cookie particles were raining down on her head. With a glare at Buddy, she brushed her fingers through her hair.

“Oops,” Buddy said after a noisy swallow. “Sorry, Christina.” He swept the back of his hand over her hair, dragging the cookies along the top of her head.

She knocked his hand away. “Stop it.”

“My bad.”

“Can we just get on with the meeting?” she said.

© 2024 Beth Pontorno