Sirenz - By Charlotte Bennardo Page 0,12

the counter and excused myself to a man in a sharp suit who was still checking the menu, thinking, geez, if you’re not ready to order, let me go first. He backed up a step. Smiling at the guy at the register, a sandy-haired grad-student type in a goofy Santa hat, I ordered, hoping he’d get it right. “Give me one large chai tea and one double mocha latte with skim milk, no whipped cream, please.”

He stared at me and grinned.

“Um … ” I said after a few moments, wondering when he was going to ring me up. “Can I get—”

“A large chai, and a double mocha love with skim.” He cut me off in a dreamy monotone, then flung his head so that the pompom on his hat flicked back.

“Are you okay?” I asked, waving a hand in front of his face, thinking, is he high? I thought places like this had drug-testing policies.

“Sure.” He continued to grin at me.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see a portly woman with velociraptor-length acrylic nails. Tiny reindeer were painted on them. She crossed her brawny arms over her huge and heaving chest and raised an over-penciled eyebrow at me.

“Can you place your order? I’m in a hurry!”

“I did!” I snapped, then turned back to Elf Boy, who had finally started entering my drinks into the register.

“How much is that?” I asked, taking out my wallet.

“I’m giving you our special discount, so you don’t—”

“I’ll take care of that!” Sharp Suit pushed past Dino Woman and whipped out a billfold.

“Hey!” she shouted, but a few more men stepped in front of her.

“There’s no need.” Elf Boy eyeballed Sharp Suit with a menacing expression. “I was about to say that she doesn’t owe me anything.”

“That’s okay,” I said firmly, tapping the counter and drawing their attention away from each other. “I can pay for my own drinks. Here.” I handed him a $20. “Please put the rest in the tip jar.”

I stepped aside and headed quickly for the coffee bar. The barista, a slim pony-tailed blond girl with a lip piercing, looked at me, then peered down the length of the counter. The line was starting to snake around the shop. Alarmed, she darted over to the register. I heard some angry whispers, and then she came back, shaking her head.

“I’m so sorry. What was your order?”

I was too confused to be annoyed. Elf Boy had gone back to work and was waiting on Dino Woman, but he kept glancing my way. That I could tolerate, but not Sharp Suit, who waved and blew a kiss at me—he was old enough to be my dad! A guy next to me, also waiting for his order, caught my eye, and I mumbled, “Please save me from the weirdo convention that’s come to town.” What was wrong with these people?

I turned back to the barista.

“One large chai and a double mocha latte with skim, please.”

“Coming up.” She smiled, obviously relieved that I wasn’t going to be difficult. Then she looked back at Elf Boy and rolled her eyes. “Men,” she grumbled.

Cups finally in hand, I sashayed over to Shar, but my springy step died when I saw her. She sat, posed at the table, her long legs crossed and her slender fingers twisting her wavy blond locks. Her eyes flicked upwards toward the ceiling or down to the floor, but never at the tables around her—which were filled with guys of all ages. They were staring at her, drooly grins on their faces.

“Shar?” I whispered, standing there. “What’s going on?” I jerked my head as subtly as I could at the growing entourage.

“I was just sitting here, and they started crowding around!” she said in a low voice. “What about him?” She pointed to something behind me. It was Sharp Suit, pushing his way through the now-crowded shop as he eyed our table.

“He offered to pay for our drinks,” I said, “but I have no idea who he is!”

“And him?” She jerked her head at someone standing behind me.

“I’m here to save you!” he gushed.

“We’d better go,” Shar said, quickly getting up to leave. A few of the guys around us got up. It was too much.

“Please, leave us alone!” I said loudly. Several of the men sat back down as we hustled out the door, Shar giving one last glance back. When we were a few blocks away, we ducked into the recess of a closed docking bay.

“What happened back there?”