The coffee shop was empty, the deserted hour between lunch and dinner. The lone employee kept himself busy as he tried not to think about her, the one who had been occupying his thoughts for so long. She visited every day, and their flirting had become less and less subtle in the past few weeks. Today, that was going to change. Hopefully.

As if on cue, a familiar figure approached the counter.

“And how are we this fine afternoon?” The barista greeted her, grinning as he leaned across the counter while the girl approached. “Double latte?” he asked, already pulling the shots as she nodded in confirmation. They bantered as he steamed the milk, pouring it into the ceramic cup over the splash of espresso.

“And now for the pièce de résistance,” he announced with a horrible french accent. Ever so carefully he added the requisite layer of foam over the drink, but artfully arranged it so that it was unmistakably heart-shaped. As if it were the most delicate china, the boy delivered his drinkable question.