Chapter Text
What the hell do I order? Steve wondered, steady blue gaze trained on the boards overhead. There was a very long list of…he supposed they were drinks but they had some rather strange names and Christ, but the prices! He grimaced a little and was about to turn around and leave, his anxiety over what to order combined with the guilt of how much it was going to cost and the level of noise in the place and the people and it was all just a little too much to handle, when a young woman bumped into his side.
“Oh, sorry!” She quickly apologized and Steve glanced down at her, ready to help set her to right if need be and wondering if she was okay.
She hadn’t bumped into him hard or anything, but his shoulders alone could unintentionally knock someone flying if they came at him too fast. And wasn’t that an absurd thought? He smiled his little apologetic smile and turned to look at her properly, an apology on the tip of his tongue when he finally made eye contact with the young woman.
His apology died in his throat as her bright dark eyes met his and then she was smiling up at him a little bashfully. It was a captivating smile. “Sorry, this place is a little cramped, didn’t mean to bump into you,” She apologized, voice soft and warm and-Steve still hadn’t apologized properly, too busy staring at this gorgeous brunette with waves for days and chocolate doe-like eyes.
“Uh, not your fault, miss, really,” He insisted, finally having found his voice. “I’m taking up too much space and time trying to decide what I want to order and-“ He cut himself off with a wry sort of smile at his rambling; thinking of space and time in a crowded coffee shop, not a good idea.
The young woman laughed lightly and nodded, her dark waves shifting lightly against the lapels of her forest green pea coat at the motion. She turned her own attention to the boards above where the three baristas were running around with their metaphorical heads cut off and Steve was left to stare at her in a sort of dumbfounded stupor.
“Oh, I know what you mean,” She sighed, blowing an errant lock from her face. “This place is pretty crazy, what with all the different kinds of coffees and then all the stuff that isn’t coffee but sounds like it should have coffee in it and then the breakfast treats and the sweets, don’t get me started on the sweets,” She laughed again and Steve’s gaze really hadn’t left her in the first place but he had the inexplicable sense that he wouldn’t be able to ever look away.
She was lovely, pretty in a way he hadn’t quite seen before. She had slightly darker skin that made him think she might be European and she was young, so young. Perhaps 19 or 20 but there was something about her eyes-her smile-that had him feeling drawn to her and what the-he hadn’t even talked to her yet!
She had a wonderfully soft laugh though, a little exasperated, a little hopeful and a lot sweet and he shook his head in an attempt to clear it wondering, who is this woman and why the hell am I being so weird? He ignored the little voice in the back of his head that suspiciously sounded like Bucky saying, it’s a woman Stevie, are you really at that surprised? You never could talk to ‘em.
“Is this your first time?” She asked, startling Steve out of his thoughts and his brain did a strange sort of thing in that moment; it came to a grinding halt.
“Pardon?” He blurted, rather flabbergasted; first time talking to a woman? Might as well be, he thought wryly, Bucky’s snicker echoing faintly in his skull.
She blinked and then she was tilting her head slightly as she turned to survey him and was he crazy or did he see the beginnings of a cheeky smile there?
“First time at Starbucks?” She queried and yep, Steve’s brain finally caught up.
“Oh! Yeah, uh, yes…it’s my first time at Starbucks,” He agreed, a fierce blush working its way over his cheeks; he really wished he’d worn a scarf, maybe then he could have hidden some of the no doubt horrendous flush he could feel racing down his throat.
And now she really was giving him a cheeky smile and somehow it wasn’t patronizing or overly teasing, though she was clearly thinking about teasing him for his momentary lapse. She definitely wouldn’t be the first person to do so, either so it’s not like he could blame her. He was an easy target, always had been, always would be.
“Well, then maybe I can be of assistance, if you’d like,” She offered, glancing back to the board.
Steve nodded as he caught her looking at him out of the corner of her dark brown eye before focusing on the front again. He tried valiantly to will the flush from his cheeks and maybe only succeeded a little bit. “Sure, that uh-that would be really helpful,” He admitted, relaxing a fraction as she smiled and nodded her head.
“Okay, so, what kind of coffee do you like? Strong, medium or a lighter roast? And do you prefer espresso? Like, one or two shots?”
Steve shifted awkwardly and adjusted his leather jacket just for something to do with his hands. “Those are uh…options?”
The woman’s brows furrowed as she turned her attention back to him. She looked him over, though her gaze remained trained on his face and Steve was beginning to feel rather naked in the face of her stare. “You really are new at this,” She said, voice softer than he imagined she thought he could hear.
Instead of having much time to dwell on what was sure to be yet another failed attempt at a human conversation, she cut it short by smiling at him and then clapped her hands together, the sound muted by the leather of her black gloves…and that’s when he noticed the leash wound around her wrist. He blinked, gaze straying lower and saw that she was accompanied by a…very strange looking animal. Though he was pretty sure it was a dog of some kind. Huh.
He didn’t get much time to say anything to that, however, before she was off again and it was all business. “Okay, so, you’re new to coffee, which is obviously not a problem. Do you like sugary sweet stuff, more mild or no sweetness at all?”
“Um…” He thought about it for a moment.
Since…waking up-for lack of a better term-he’d found everything to be too sweet, so maybe sweet wasn’t the way to go, but he did like just a little sweetness in his treats and lord knows the coffee he did used to have and any of the stuff he’d had the last few weeks…well, they hadn’t been all that sweet, so used to drinking black coffee from…before, that he just hadn’t bothered trying anything new yet.
“Maybe just a little bit sweet,” He conceded and she seemed oddly happy with his response, nodding and smiling as she turned her attention back to the boards.
“Right then and what about milk? Do you like a little bit of milk or lots of milk? Almond milk or coconut milk?” She asked and Steve tried not to hover too close to her, despite really wanting to be in her space.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so drawn to someone, especially a woman. Well, maybe he could…didn’t mean he really wanted to, not right then. He blew out a slow breath and smiled gently, these were simple enough questions, he could do this. Carry on a normal human conversation like a normal person and not some semi-unstable-
“Lots of milk,” He interrupted his inner monologue, afraid to go down that rabbit hole first thing on a Monday morning in the middle of a busy coffee shop. “I think and uh, I’ve never had almond or…coconut milk before. Didn’t even know those were things to be had.”
The young woman hummed, the soft pleased sound making Steve’s cheeks flush after he’d managed to calm them a bit. His eyes darted away from her for only a moment as he attempted to collect himself and when he looked back to her, catching her side-profile as she concentrated on the menu board, his smile turned a little dopey. He really hoped she wouldn’t notice he was so hopeless.
“And what about spices? Do you like cinnamon, maybe nutmeg, vanilla or cocoa?”
Steve blinked, he actually liked all those things. “I like all of those things, though…I do prefer cinnamon and nutmeg more so.”
A smile lit up the young woman’s face, ethereal in its beauty and as she turned her attention back to him, her dark eyes finding his bright blue ones-Christ, but her smile was contagious-the way her cheeks rounded and that little crinkle at the corner of her eyes…she was far too adorable for words. “Really? Those are my favourites, nutmeg especially,” She went on and then she snapped one of her gloved fingers, the sound quite muted as her attention swung back to the board. “I know the exact drink for you,” She proclaimed and then stepped up to the counter.
Steve blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned by her young face and excited smile, the little dimples in her cheeks and the way those cute freckles stood out on her tanned skin, that he didn’t immediately realize what she was doing until it was too late. She handed over a twenty-dollar bill and Steve’s eyes widened in shock.
“Wait-“ He started to object, already reaching for his wallet but the young woman had completed the transaction and had moved over a foot to where a sign said, pick-up.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. My treat,” She told him upon realizing what he was on about, smiling at him and genuinely pleased either with herself or Steve’s sudden attempt to pay, he couldn’t be sure.
She was still smiling brightly at him though as she leaned her hip against the counter and Steve glanced down as her pup sat down beside her to patiently wait, tail wagging as he looked up at his owner in adoration. Steve knew the feeling, honestly, if he’d had a tail, it’d be wagging too. Steve blinked at the thought and mentally shook himself.
He was a little beside himself at the picture she presented, the gesture she’d made. No one had treated him like this in a…in a really long time. Not with this sort of kindness, not with this general sweetness and ease, no hero-worship or idolizing to be found here. There were no expectations of him in this conversation and yes she was being polite, but that was because she seemed to be a genuine sort of person. At least, that’s the impression he got from her; even if he’d only just met the woman, he somehow had a good feeling about her.
The sudden burn behind his eyes had him inhaling sharply at the threat of tears and he forced himself to walk those couple of steps towards her, ignoring the way his heart pounded behind his ribs. He knew he was smiling and succeeding in doing so without her being weirded out or anything, but he was sure she could see his lower lip wobble even as he struggled wholeheartedly to keep it still in the sudden rush of emotion he was experiencing.
“Thank you, you…you really didn’t have to do that,” He explained, still holding his wallet, clutching it, more like.
The young woman merely shrugged, like it really was no big deal to her. Even when she’d seemingly turned his day upside-down just by being kind. “It’s my pleasure and besides, it’s always fun to get someone new hooked on caffeine,” She teased, winking at him for good measure.
Steve barked out a surprised laugh at that and her sweet smile turned cheeky once again. “Fair enough, think you’ll manage to convert me? I’ve only ever had crappy black coffee in my lifetime,” He chuckled, watching as she turned when one of the young men working behind the counter called out, “Bailey!” And set down two cups on the counter in front of her.
Bailey, a name to the very pretty face, finally. He swallowed hard. “Oh I think I’ll succeed with this,” She announced, extending one of the cups out to him, Steve accepting it gratefully.
She scooped up the other to-go cup and cradled it in her still gloved hand, the black leather leash still dangling from her wrist. “Want to have a seat?” She invited, gesturing towards the tables scattered throughout the place while looking up into his face with a sort of hopefulness that had his chest seizing with his next breath.
Did he want to have a seat? He blinked, surprised at the question and he stumbled over his response for nearly a beat too long. He rushed to answer her when she started to apologize. “S-sure, that sounds nice,” He interrupted, smiling and nodding, perhaps a little too vigorously, but she barely hesitated before nodding as well as if that decided it.
She smiled a little easier then and Stevie felt a strange flutter in his stomach. Nerves were still a thing and he still couldn’t talk to women for shit, Bucky would be laughing his ass off, but of course that wouldn’t have been anything new. He tried not to dwell on that as he followed her towards a small table and watched as she slid into a chair, setting her coffee cup down and shrugging out of her coat. She was clad in a cream sweater, much too big for her, but somehow he was sure that was the look she’d been going for. It was a loose knit and looked comfy and cozy and with the colder weather he was sure it did the job of keeping her warm rather well.
Steve watched in stunned silence as she draped her coat over the back of her chair and suddenly shoved her gloved finger in her mouth. His eyes widened minutely at the gesture and then she was tugging off the glove with her teeth and then easily removing the other thereafter. He felt like a total creeper as she made herself more comfortable and Steve was…Steve was still standing there like an idiot staring at her…and then his gaze slipped towards the dog who had taken up the space beside her chair, tail still wagging, his piercing blue eyes trained on him.
He was a spotty thing, not like a Dalmatian or anything. He had longer hair, sort of like a border collie, come to think of it, but somehow, different. He really liked the look of him. Read: fluffy.
“Are you afraid of dogs?” The woman’s concerned voice filtered in and Steve blinked, glancing towards where she was watching him, brows pinched.
“Uh, oh no, no,” He quickly explained. “Sorry, I just…I’ve never seen a dog like that,” He told her, gingerly sitting down in the seat in front of her, unzipping his jacket but keeping it on and setting his own coffee down on the tabletop between them.
“This is Jack,” She introduced, her now bared hand settling atop the dog’s-Jack’s-head. “And I’m Bailey,” She told him, thrusting her small hand out to him.
Steve blinked and found himself smiling as he reached to take her hand. He shook it-ever so carefully-and tried not to feel affected at the light contact, the warmth of her skin, nor the way his hand seemed to nearly envelop hers entirely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bailey. I’m Steve.”
She hummed and he found himself shifting a little in his seat. He maybe liked that sound coming from her a little too much. This was not the time.
“Nice to meet you, Steve and-“ She withdrew her hand when Steve reluctantly let it go and curled it around her take away cup. “Jack here is an Australian Shepherd.”
Steve nodded at the information, gaze trained back on the pup and he was clearly a pup, a little lanky and long limbed, still coming into his own. Adorable, honestly. “He’s lovely,” Steve admitted. “May I?” He extended his hand, palm up and Bailey beamed at him.
“Of course, he’s very friendly, he’d make a terrible guard dog,” She laughed and Steve willed himself not to look back at her, afraid the smile she wore would somehow undo him.
“Hi Jack,” He murmured instead, carefully extending his hand towards the pup and was rather surprised when he immediately plopped his head down on his open palm and closed his eyes.
Bailey laughed lightly and Steve glanced back towards her, unable to resist. “He’s a big suck,” She chuckled, propping her chin up in the palm of her hand, elbow on the table…she looked so…sweet, her eyes…endearing…Steve didn’t know what was wrong with him!
He sat up a little straighter and shifted his palm down to cup the underside of the pup’s snout, scritching his fingers through the fur of his throat and melting when the pup leaned into him. “He’s really sweet,” He chuckled, voice quiet, thoughtful.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d pet a dog, perhaps it was that time in France, or maybe Germany. They’d found this mutt of a thing in one of the abandoned houses and it’d been friendly, but skittish. It took it a couple of days to warm up to them, but the little scraps of food sure helped.
“Yeah, he is,” She sighed fondly, picking up her coffee. “So, take a sip, tell me what you think. And if you hate it, that’s okay too, but I hope you like it.”
Steve smiled down at his coffee cup and raised it to his lips. He inhaled the scent of coffee, the steamed milk, cinnamon and definitely nutmeg and breathed out slowly, savouring the scents. He closed his eyes and took a sip and-and it was Heavenly.
He was groaning before he’d even tasted the damn thing properly and wasn’t that embarrassing? He tried to will the oncoming blush down and glanced across the table to where Bailey was smiling at him, the corners of her eyes crinkling endearingly so as she looked at him over the rim of her own coffee cup.
“Good?” She prompted, voice nothing but a soft murmur.
Steve nodded, still blushing as he lowered his cup and met her gaze head-on. “It’s uh, it’s really good,” He admitted, smiling probably rather dopily at her as he glanced down to where Jack had crept closer, laying his head on his thigh and Steve couldn’t help idly running his fingers through his incredibly soft fur.
“I’m so glad you like it. It’s called a flat white but I had it made with cinnamon and nutmeg mixed right into the milk. It’s one of my favourite drinks and it’s so light and frothy and yeah, bit of a sprinkle of vanilla and more nutmeg on top and it’s perfect,” She announced, chuckling softly. “It’s what I always order.”
Steve’s gaze softened, smiling kindly across at her. “It’s lovely, thank you. I was…definitely a little lost when I came in here,” He explained, a hint of laughter escaping him.
Bailey gave him a sympathetic smile. “It can be a little overwhelming, sure.”
“Yeah,” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It uh, Starbucks, I mean…was recommended to me.”
She hummed again, the sound so low, but he heard it and he really did try to ignore the stirring in his belly. This was certainly not the time or place for an inappropriate bodily reaction. Ahem. “It’s a big coffee chain,” She explained. “Their drinks are kind of expensive, but once in a while it’s a nice treat, I think, anyway.”
Steve nodded, glancing down to where he’d left his wallet next to his cup. “I can pay you for the coffee, you didn’t need to-“
“Nonsense-“ She said quickly, waving him off and there was light amusement in her tone right then. “It was nothing, really,” She insisted and Steve backed off, slipping his wallet into his coat pocket once more; he recognized that no-nonsense tone she was giving him well enough to know he wasn’t going to be paying her back for the coffee today.
“Alright, if you insist and thank you again,” He said, toying lightly with the edge of his cup. “I uh, probably should get going though.”
He needed to get back, sooner rather than later or he might be questioned and he really didn’t want to be questioned. Not about this. He swallowed thickly, blinking himself back into focus as his gaze settled back on the young woman in front of him.
“Of course,” She was smiling, but there was something off about her eyes now and he hated himself for taking that little sparkle from them. “Sorry I kept you.”
It dawned on him then that maybe she didn’t want him to leave just yet. His heart fluttered at the thought. “I-I wanted to be kept,” He tried to reassure, words nothing but a breathy rush.
He ducked his head a little in slight embarrassment at his eagerness and forced himself to look up at her through his lashes. He was rewarded with the sweetest blush spreading across her gorgeous features and Stevie’s heart beat a little faster at the sight. “I um…actually should be going soon too,” She appeared rather reluctant to leave herself right then. “I have an appointment with my realtor about a space for sale. Just up the street, actually.”
Steve blinked. She was moving nearby? “Oh?”
She nodded, fiddling with her cup still as she glanced down to Jack who was still getting his light pets from Steve. “A little storefront. I’m opening up a bookshop, hopefully in the very near future. I just need to find the right space and she’s promised me that this is it.”
Stevie blinked in surprise at the information. “Really? That’s wonderful, I didn’t know that people still read books. I mean I still read them, but-”
And in his surprise, he realized what he’d said and wasn’t sure what to say to make it right, to explain himself but he didn’t really get the chance, nor was it apparently necessary. Bailey laughed, shaking her head and sending her light waves flying, a rueful smile on her pretty face. “I know, it’s sad the way that things are all turning into online print and don’t get me wrong, I still do read a lot of things online, but when it comes to a good book? Nothing beats having the real thing in my hands where I can feel the pages beneath my fingertips. It’s a treat and I think I could do well enough for myself with a little shop, try and bring reading back to the forefront. It’s a good hobby, a passion for some, like me,” She admitted, shrugging lightly.
Steve nodded in agreement. Online print, that had been something else entirely for him to grasp and he still definitely preferred to have a book in his hands whenever possible, despite what SHIELD tried to show him on a number of occasions.
“I think that sounds lovely. Actually, back in-“ He stopped himself and swallowed bad what he’d been about to say and tried again. “Well, I recall a couple of bookshops where it wasn’t just about the books, you know? It was a space for people to gather and share what they love, there were reading groups and reading lessons. It was just a nice, calming atmosphere.”
Bailey was nodding, her dark eyes so round and wide. “Right? I’ve always wanted to create a space like that. A place where anyone can come and learn, have fun and-and I’m talking too much,” She laughed, shaking her head a little bashfully.
Steve smiled, murmuring a soft disagreement but she was already pushing up her sweater to look at her watch. “Aaand now I need to get going,” She sighed, looking up at him reluctantly as she slipped into her jacket.
He was treated to the sight of her sweater riding up slightly as she slipped into her coat and though he didn’t catch a glimpse of her skin, he did get to see the curve of where thigh met buttocks and he huffed a little through his nose. Leggings, whose bright idea-? Steve tried to keep his face from falling too noticeably as she started doing up the toggles on her coat. He really did have to get back as well, however. “Oh, right, me too,” He agreed, rather reluctant himself as he stood, watching as Jack looked between them eagerly, perhaps thinking they were going to take him someplace fun.
Bailey pulled on her gloves and readjusted the leash, though Jack seemed to be rather well behaved and it was just a formality at this point. It was only a minute or so before they’d stepped outside together and Steve looked down at her as they both seemed in no rush to leave. He didn’t exactly have to look too far down at her. She was taller than most women he knew. She must be 5”8 or so, nearing 5”9 and slender as anything. He was used to curves in a woman, at least in his time, but uh…he did like what he saw in her and okay, so she was young, but-
“I uh, have to head this way,” Steve explained, jerking his thumb over his shoulder as he derailed his thoughts.
Bailey nodded, biting her lower lip a little as she looked up at him, seemingly unable to look away. It was a distracting sight. She was a distracting sight. “Right and I have to-“ She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, in the opposite direction.
“It…it was nice to meet you, Bailey…” He trailed off, hopeful for more information about this young woman.
“Varvaro,” She said, filling in the blank for him. “My last name…”
Italian then, he thought before breathing out, “I’m uh, Steven Grant,” He only half-lied, but really, SHIELD made him do it.
“Well, Steven Grant,” She smiled, a little bit of that cheekiness creeping back into her voice. “I’d better get going, but um, maybe I’ll see you around?” And she phrased it as a question, sure, but her voice was tinged with a sort of hopefulness that had him breathing out shakily.
Steve was nodding before he’d even given himself permission to do so. “Yeah, I’m-I’m close by. I’m sure I’ll be back into Starbucks…and I’ll keep an eye open for your bookshop, wh-what was its name going to be?”
“Elysian,” She breathed, the word falling from her lips like freshly falling snow, a gentle smile on her face and before Steve had a chance to ask what that word meant, a cellphone was ringing, startling him.
She apologized, reaching into her coat pocket for her phone and glancing to him apologetically. “I’m sorry, Steve. I-it really was nice meeting you,” She went on, reluctant to go clearly, but she was smiling sweetly as she gestured with her phone, already walking backwards in the opposite direction.
“It was nice meeting you too,” He called softly, smiling at her as she waved as best she could with a hand full of coffee-cup and the other busy shoving her cellphone to her ear.
He watched as Jack seemed to hesitate before bouncing around by her feet and she laughed lightly when he jumped up and barked, trying to get her to acknowledge him. Steve was enamoured as she leant over to press a kiss to the pup’s head without spilling her coffee or dropping her phone, which seemed like quite the feat to him.
Steve was smiling fondly as he looked down at his coffee cup cradled in his hand and he knew he probably looked like quite the idiot, but he couldn’t help it just then. When he looked back up, she was farther down the street and when she started to turn her head to look over her shoulder for him, he pretended to be turning to walk in the other direction…and then actually did.
He shook his head when he was sure to be out of her sight and breathed deeply as he struggled with All smiles and genuine laughter that had him feeling a little lost. Something he usually felt a lot nowadays, but…this had been different. She didn’t look at him as if he was someone to be pitied. She looked at him as someone human, someone who just hadn’t…tried a fancy coffee before, is all. It was-he swallowed hard. It was nice.
He inhaled shakily as he made his way back towards SHIELD. They’d just moved him into an apartment last week and he was supposed to make regular check-ins with Fury and subsequently, SHIELD. He wasn’t exactly back from the dead yet, at least not entirely. They’d set him up with an apartment, some money, a bank account even and basic necessities. Even a few things he wasn’t exactly in need of, like the surveillance cameras and the mics he’d found scattered throughout the apartment; all of which he’d left exactly where they were as he busied himself around the place. If they wanted to listen to him watch television or cook dinner, then that was just fine by him, for now.
He disliked using the cellphone they’d given him, unable to make sense of a lot of the features or anything that was more complicated than dialling a number. And the texting thing, don’t even get him started on that. He’d been told he could even look up things on his phone, but he’d opted for visiting a Library whenever he could instead, not wanting SHIELD to know everything about him…even if it felt like they somehow did anyway. Somehow everyone knew more about him than he’d ever imagined possible. He’d visited the Smithsonian and…well, it’d been an experience, that was for sure. One he was in absolutely no hurry to go through again. He’d already planned on making several changes to the exhibit, if he would be granted the opportunity, however.
He was…adjusting…as best he was able, given the circumstances. He thought so anyway. It’d only been a little over three and a half weeks since he’d been out of the ice and he’d spent nearly the entirety of the first week feeling like a bug under a microscope. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but it was one he was accustomed to. Eventually they let him…well, go, sort of. They’d given him a place to live, asked that he keep a low profile until they were ready to make a statement, to bring him back to life on national television, essentially. But they thought he needed a little more time to adjust before they did any such thing. He appreciated that much, at least. There weren’t exactly any world wars at the moment, so he figured he was in the clear for the time being.
He’d remained in a sort of daze as he went through his check in, routine by this point and it was fine, really. He knew they just wanted to see how he was managing and such, any questions and the like he needed answered. After he left SHIELD, with explicit instructions to meet with his therapist the next morning-which, he wouldn’t-he made his way towards the local Library.
He had a word he needed to look up.
.
“Huh,” He whispered, head tilted slightly in thought as he stared at the page before him.
Elysian; blissful or delightful, celestial, heavenly, ethereal, at peace. Steve breathed out slowly and carefully closed the dictionary enjoying the weight of it in his hand. That was a…that was a word and a half, now wasn’t it? He let himself think about it, about Bailey, about the coffee he still felt clinging to the back of his teeth, making his mouth feel fuzzy with it. He’d enjoyed the coffee; all through his check-in too. A few people had commented, said their hello’s as he passed them in the hallways, asked him how he liked his coffee these days, but most seemed to be excited about the fact that he’d tried Starbucks at all.
He was sure there’d be a surplus of visits to the coffee shop in the coming days thanks to his own visit. He took a little pride in knowing that whenever they asked him what he’d ordered, he didn’t lie exactly, but he didn’t tell them the whole truth, either.
“Just a flat white,” He’d murmured, to which most of their responses were, “Aw, I would have pegged you for an Americano kind of guy.”
Steve had tried very hard not to roll his eyes at that. He maybe didn’t know what an Americano was, but he surely wouldn’t be ordering it based on the name alone, not now, anyway.