Page 24 of Cream & Sugar

“It’s over?” He glances at the clock. “Wow, that went fast. Guess that means I was having fun!”

“You did great,” I say, taking the tip jar from the counter and counting out coins. “How about tomorrow for another shift? Maybe in the afternoon this time?”

Freddie looks relieved to be dodging another early morning alarm. I don’t know how he’s survived on so little coffee; my eyes feel like balls of scrunched-up newspaper.

“Sounds awesome,” he says. “Will you be here?”

I’m about to answer, when Anna interrupts.

“No, he won’t,” her hand clamps down on my shoulder like a vice, “because Shaun is going to take a couple of days off and get somerest, aren’t you, Shaun?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say, hanging my head in mock-shame.

Anna removes her hand. “Good! You’ll be with me tomorrow, Freddie. How’s eleven till five?”

I’m probably imagining it, but Freddie looks almost disappointed.

“You got it!” he says, glancing between the two of us. “So, I can just go?”

“Just a sec,” I say, decanting coins into the till. I pull out a crisp twenty-pound note and hand it to him. “Your tips from this morning.”

His eyes light up. “Seriously?”

Anna raises an eyebrow. “Wow! Busy morning?”

“Not particularly,” I reply, matter-of-factly. “Freddie’s just a hit with the customers.”

Freddie beams as he accepts the twenty. “Rad!”

“You earned it,” I say. “You keep all the tips you earn on shift.”

As Freddie pockets the note, he frowns.

“What about you?” He gestures towards the tip jar. “That was empty this morning. Shouldn’t you get half?”

For a moment, I’m speechless, surprised at Freddie’s generosity. Then I shake my head. “I’m the owner.”

Freddie’s frown deepens. “But you made all the coffees. Well,” he shuffles his feet, bashfully, “all the good ones.”

“He also takes all the profits,” Anna interjects with a pursed smile.

“She’s right,” I say. “It wouldn’t be fair for me to take a cut of tips. Plus, I know how much harder you’ll all work because of what a benevolent leader I am.”

Anna grins, playing along. “Maybe we’re not though. Maybe we’re all secretly taking advantage of you.”

I pretend to deliberate for a moment. “Well, if you’re going to stab me in the back, now’s your chance. I’m weak as a kitten. Just let me lie down first.”

“Noted,” Freddie pipes up. He gives me one of his cheeky winks and I feel myself redden. Anna, thankfully, doesn’t seem to notice. She’s already busy rearranging the display fridge.

“Go home, both of you,” she says, shuffling ham and cheese sandwiches around like a blackjack dealer. “And Shaun, please try to get some sleep. You’ll scare away the customers looking like that.”

Her comment makes me cringe. I’ve been avoiding my reflection all morning. I must look even worse than I thought. Maybe Freddie was just being charitable after all.

“Thank you for your honesty, Anna,” I turn to Freddie, gesturing to the back room. “You can grab your stuff first, if you like? It’s tight back there.”

The corner of Freddie’s mouth twitches.

“Sure,” he says, turning off the tap and shaking his hand dry. As he walks away, I find myself watching him go, staring at his—