Payment

"So, uh, what's the damage?" Ethan pulls out his wallet, having almost no idea what a coffee in a non-chain place could possibly cost.

"This one's on the house," June smiles, "Just this one though. Don't want you to start takin' advantage, ya hear?"

Ethan smiles, slipping his wallet back in his pocket. "I hear ya... Thank you, June."

"Not a problem Ethan," June nods, "Don't be a stranger, ya hear?"

Ethan assures her he won't, and coffee in hand, makes his way to the entrance. Opening the door and stepping out the threshold, he hears June call out to him.

"Say 'Hi' to Samantha for me."

Ethan's step stutters for a second on the way out, hearing June chuckling behind him.

The walk back over to Sam is short, so short Ethan thinks she really could have spared the three minutes it took him to go get it for her. Reaching her, Sam doesn't regard him at first, looking down at her phone intently. Standing there for a few awkward heartbeats, Ethan considers saying something, until Sam reaches out her hand out expectedly, still not looking.

"It's hot," Ethan warns, moving the cup into her waiting hand.

"I'd hope so," Sam grasps the cup, taking it from Ethan, "Thank you."

Ethan watches Sam bring the cup to her lips, taking a long sip. He hadn't really noticed how full her lips are, especially when they part ever so slightly... He clears his throat, shaking his head slightly. "You're welcome."

Sam ends her sip, smacking her lips, eyes still on her phone. "So," she shifts her face slightly, almost peeling her eyes off her phone. "You earned yourself a few words."

"Only a few?" Ethan frowns, "For an extra large?"

Sam smirks, her eyes flicking off her screen, finally meeting Ethan's face. "Gonna waste all your words on dumb questions?"

"Depends," Ethan shrugs, "Still don't know what kinda word count I'm working with here."

Sam tilts her head, eying Ethan for a second, slowly bringing the coffee back up to her lips. She sips it slow, both because it's hot and, Ethan knows, to buy her time to think. He's seen this thing before. After a moment, Sam lowers the cup, smacking her lips again. "I'll give you fifty words."

Ethan scoffs. "Only fifty?"

"Yes," Sam turns her attention back to her phone, "and you're lucky I'm not counting what you've already said. Forty-eight left."

Biting his tongue, Ethan resists the urge to snap back, getting the distinct feeling Sam is going to hold him to those forty-eight words."

Taking a moment, Ethan considers how to spend them...