Dirty Chai

Frankie woke up with a headache. Feeling the need for caffeine she got up and ready for the day. Grabbed her favorite pair of hip hugging jeans that accentuate every curve and the green silk blouse she only wore on dates. It had been too long since she wore this blouse and it needed to be worn again. Once she finished getting ready she checked in on her grandpa who she was living with. He has alzheimers and she was all he had left. Grandma had passed on years ago and her mom had too. It's been hard taking care of someone who can't remember who you are to them, but he's never forgotten he loves her. He was still asleep so she didn't want to bother him. They both had a long night. “Grandpa, why don't we get you to bed?” she asked for the 100th time, it was now past 3am and he was still up. “I'm not tired yet!” he exclaimed. “I gotta go to work! Leave me be!” Frankie sighed. He was confused again. So she did what she always did. “I’ll give you a ride Marty. We just have to get ready first.” She helped him back to his room and got his pajamas on him. “I gotta go to work.” grandpa said this time looking more confused. “You just got back form work Grandpa, it's time for bed.” her eyes were pleading with him now. She knew she shouldn't try to confuse him more but she needed sleep. How can she take care of him if she can't care for herself? Frankie yawned and stretched remembering last night. The nurse was due any minute now so she’d be able to head out soon. She grabbed her purse and keys and then heard a car pull up in the drive. She looked out the window and smiled. It was the nurse, and Grandpa's favorite too. Frankie opened the door for Seth. A strong handsome looking man with blue eyes and tanned skin with a stubble beard. Just her type too but he was taken. Seth and her got along well and he was her favorite too. “Morning Seth” she said quietly. “Grandpa is still sleeping” “Good morning Frankie!” Seth said. “You look terrible, girl. Did you get any sleep last night?” “No grandpa stayed up till 3 thinking he was late for work again,” Frankie was stifling a yawn but couldn't hold it back anymore. “I gotta go though, let me know if yall need anything ok?” “You know I will. I’ll try to get him up soon and not take as many naps. Hopefully you both can get to bed sooner tonight” He said with a smile. “Thanks so much! Help yourself to what's in the fridge.” She said on her way out the door. Frankie was thankful she could trust Seth to care for grandpa while she was working. Frankie decided she needed coffee and wanted to walk to her shop. Thinking on her way of all the things that needed done today. She had some shipments coming in and needed to get the preorders packed for the new sets of lingerie. After 10 minutes she was at the coffee shop. There was a line but thankfully she wasn't in too much of a rush to get to her shop; they didn't open until 11 and it was only 10 now. But she liked to get there early to get the online orders packed before she unlocked the doors. Finally at the front of the line she placed her order and waited next to the pick up counter. “Dirty chai for Frankie!” one of the baristas shouted. “Thats me! Thanks so much” Sweet caffeine at last. She moaned when she had her first sip, and headed for the door. ….. Oliver was finishing up a phone call when he was walking into the coffee shop. So he wasnt looking when he walked into someone. “OH No. my coffee.” The woman said in a sad tired tone that made Oliver feel guilty. “I am so sorry” he said looking up from his phone. “Are you ok?” “No, I just lost my coffee to the sidewalk and don't have time to grab another. I NEEDED that coffee.” she said. Her honesty was refreshing to Oliver and he smiled without thinking. “This is so NOT funny.” “You’re right. It's not funny. What did you get?” Oliver wanted to see her smile but was not rewarded with one. Instead he received a confused look that was still enticing. Her blue eyes sparkled and her expression showed some other emotion he was not sure of yet. Was it impatience? Annoyance? Intrigue? He hoped it was intrigue. He too felt intrigued by her and again wanted to see her smile. “What do you mean?” she asked. “I'm going to replace your coffee. So, what did you order?” Oliver was enjoying himself. He hoped she would let him buy her that coffee. “ a dirty chai with soy, 2 shots, but I have to go. I need to get to my shop” she said. Oliver decided she definitely looked intrigued. “Great. I didn't see you digging for keys so you must work close. Where should I deliver this chai?” Oliver was trying very hard to not smile. “End of the block that way.” she pointed away from them. “Its the lingerie store.” She was smiling now. It was a very beautiful smile, perfect ratio between teeth and lips. Those lips were so…. Oliver didn't complete his thought. “My name’s Oliver. I’ll see you in a few…” Oliver arched his eyebrow. He wanted her name, and was hoping she would volunteer it. “Frankie,” she said. “Knock if you can, the doors will be locked.” Frankie brushed past him. She smelled of citrus and chamomile. Oliver was excited for his day now. Before he was just doing his normal routine and was living in a gray world. Just work and sleep, work and sleep. He was fine with that for a time, but now he wanted more. He just met more. He wanted to know Frankie on so many levels. And it was about time he finally starts to get what he wants. He got the coffees and headed towards the store Frankie said she’d be at. It was in an old brick building with large shop windows nestled between another boutique for fashion clothes and a salon. The store was called ‘knickers’ written in cursive and in neon pink, like a neon sign but it was painted. It looked almost like it was glowing. Oliver knocked on the door, balancing the extra coffee on his own for a moment. He was still looking in the windows admiring the displays when she walked out of a back room. She smiled when she saw him. He smiled back. “Hey, I didn't think you were serious.” she said with surprise. “Well I do what I say I will.” Oliver said. Handing her the chai. “That's different,” Frankie took a sip moaning into her cup again. And how he wanted to hear that moan for him. He bit his bottom lip at this thought. “Thank you for replacing my coffee. I appreciate it” “ You’re welcome.” Oliver had his mouth open to say something else but then his phone rang, he sighed. “ I better get this. I hope to see you again soon.” “Well you know where I work now.” Frankie said with a smirk. “Just don't be a stalker.” Oliver blinked, taken aback but then he laughed. Frankie was quirky and funny in her own way. His phone rang again. Sighing he said good bye and that he would see her again with a wink. He answered his phone as he walked back towards the coffee shop where his car was parked. It was work again. He was really tired of this. He needed a change.