Talk to Kristen on the way out

You decide you’re not going to just sit there and wonder.

You finish the last of your coffee, stand up, and walk over to the counter where Kristen is pretending to be busy reorganizing the menus. She looks up as you approach, cheeks still faintly pink.

“So,” you say, leaning one elbow on the counter with a small smirk, “those two girls who just came in. They seemed pretty interested in me. Mind telling me what that was about?”

Kristen lets out a small, embarrassed laugh and tucks her hair behind her ear. She glances toward the door like she’s making sure they’re really gone.

“That was Alicia and Kelly,” she says, keeping her voice low. “They’re the two friends I was talking about. The ones coming to the cabin tonight.”

She bites her lower lip for a second before continuing.

“Alicia’s the one in the crop top and shorts. She’s… kind of the bold one. And Kelly’s the curvier one with the low-cut top. She’s a lot more outgoing than she looks.” Kristen shakes her head, still flushed. “I told them I might be bringing someone to see the cabin tonight. They got… excited. Sorry if they made it weird.”

You can tell she’s a little mortified that her friends were so obvious, but she doesn’t seem upset about it either.

You let the moment linger for a second, then nod toward the window.

“Well, if we’re still on for tonight, I should probably go grab those drinks I offered. Anything in particular you three like?”

Kristen’s face lights up a little at the reminder that you’re still planning to come.

“Whatever’s cheap and cold is fine,” she says with a small smile. “They’re not picky. Just… maybe don’t get anything too strong if you don’t want things to get out of hand too fast.”

She gives you a shy but playful look as she says it.

You thank her and head for the door. As you push it open, you glance back and catch her watching you leave, her soft chest rising and falling a little faster than usual under the pink uniform.