Freckles by Nell IrisThank you to @arealmofwonder on X for the words that inspired this story.
“Excuse me, is this seat taken?”
I tear my attention away from the book on the table in front of me and look up at the speaker. It’s a man, a bit younger than me, in his mid-thirties maybe, holding a giant steaming mug topped with a dollop of whipped cream large enough to peek over the rim.
I look around the coffee shop to make sure I haven’t been so preoccupied with my reading that I haven’t noticed the place filling up. But no. It’s still as empty as it was when I arrived when it opened for the day. “Nu-huh,” I say. “But then again, neither are any of the other seats.”
My standoffishness doesn’t deter the guy. “I’m aware. But it’s this seat I’m interested in.”
I c**k my head and look at hi
