the stairs then turned toward the gate in the fence that surrounded the apartment complex. Flipping the latch, I pushed the gate open and held it with my butt as I rolled my bike through.
Standing on the sidewalk, I lifted my helmet and buckled it in place as I watched the few cars that were out so early in the morning pass by. Hopping up on my bike, I swallowed my anxiety and looked both ways before steering into the street. The coffee shop I worked at was only a couple of blocks from my apartment, but those few minutes I spent sharing the road with other vehicles was the most nerve-wracking minutes of my day.
Staying in my lane as cars passed by a little too fast for comfort, I released a sigh as I pulled into the parking lot of For Coffee’s Sake. I giggled like usual as I read the sign, and like usual, I forced myself to stop the childish behavior at the naughty innuendo.
Pedaling around the front, I stopped as soon as I rounded the corner. Leaning my bike against the side of the building, I took off my backpack and pulled out the heavy U-shaped lock. Securing my bike to one of the pipes running the height of the building, I took off my helmet and tried to fix my hair as I made my way to the front door. Unlocking the shop, I stepped inside and then immediately locked the door behind me. After testing it a couple of times, I turned to start my day.
I walked to the door marked ‘Employees Only’ and stepped through. Making my way down the short hallway, I entered the small break room and placed my backpack and helmet into my assigned locker. Ready to get started, I clocked in and then turned on the stereo that piped recent hits throughout the shop. Bopping to the music, I organized the glasses behind the counter and started brewing the stock coffee and teas we offered, knowing I had thirty minutes before customers began arriving.
Once the machines were going, I began working on my muffins. As a part of our signature menu, we offered our customers a variety of homemade muffins. I’d gladly taken over the job when I’d started. It had felt like I was taking back something that Neil had forced me to give up. Baking had always been something I’d loved since the time I’d been a little boy helping my Memaw, but as Neil’s little, he hadn’t allowed me into the kitchen—there’d been too many sharp things I could have hurt myself with. I rolled my eyes.
He hadn’t listened when I’d told him I’d wanted to bake with him and that if we needed something chopped, he could do it. Besides, I wasn’t a little all the time, but he’d still said no. I’d begged and pleaded and had earned myself my first spanking with his favorite wooden spoon and a new rule added to the list that grew daily: no begging.
Beginning to hear his voice criticizing me, I shook him out of my thoughts and focused on making the muffin base. Humming along with the music, I wiggled my hips in a little dance as I divided the batter and began mixing in the different add-ins. I felt a perverse sense of satisfaction as I used the sharpest knife in the shop to chop the nuts and dried fruit that were too big to go into the muffins as they were. One-by-one, I portioned the various muffin batters into their tins and then into the large industrial-sized oven. Leaning against the counter, I closed my eyes and relaxed, waiting for the delicious scent of muffins to waft through the place.
It was the calm before the storm.
Hearing a knock against the front door, I glanced over, already knowing who it was. Laughing at Lee’s pleading face through the glass, I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I approached the front door.
“We’re closed,” I teased, pointing at the sign.
“Miller, open the door.” Lee wiggled back and forth on his feet, biting his bottom lip and begging me with his pretty, hazel eyes. “I need to pee.”
“What’s the magic word?”
I giggled at the death glare he sent me.
“The password is if you don’t open this door, I’m going to pee on it.”
“Okay, okay,” I said through my laughter as I flipped open the locks one by one.