The morning air is crisp and pleasantly cold. But not for two girl friends making their way to their local coffee shop. The previous night’s four wine bottles aren’t really feeling enjoying anything at the moment.

With heavy steps and ringing heads, Esme and Flora join the morning crowd at Joe’s Diner. The crisp morning air is replaced with one slightly thicker, warmer, and one that carries the beautiful smell of fresh coffee. Now this, they could enjoy.

They walk over and plop themselves down on two bar seats. Just as they do, Paula glides over, with her professional smile and two diner mugs. As she pours from the coffee pot, she stares and smirks.

“Seems you two had a rough night. How many bottles did you go through?”

Nose to cup, Esme holds up four fingers.

“So who had the bad date?” Paula asks.

This time, while mid sip of her coffee, Flora raises her hand and motions with her eyebrows and eyes that she has a story for Paula.

Before Flora can talk, someone motions to Paula for a coffee refill.

“Hold that thought, I’ll be right back.” Paula lives for the tea. She’s learned there is always some when the girls walk in the way they do.

STORY TIME. IMAGINE ONE. A BAD ONE. AN AUDACIOUS ONE.

Across from her, Esme spots “coffee refill,” the name she’s given him, laughing with impeccable timing. Oh, he was listening and getting a kick out of the story.

It seems Esme wasn’t the only one that noticed. Paula turned her body to “coffee refill.”

“I see you laughing Greg.” Paula says giving “coffee refill” a name.

Greg widens his eye, still silent laughing.

“Sorry, it’s funny. I couldn’t help, but overhear.”

All three, Esme, Flora, and Paula smile. If it was a secret, they wouldn’t be talking about it at the diner. Also Greg was cute, they silently agreed.

“So, what happened after?” Greg asked, his curiosity peaked and having felt accepted into the conversation.

Flora taking her cue, continued to tell her date gone wrong story. As she spoke, shocked gasps and laughter filled the space. By the end of the story, coffee had been refilled at least once and Greg was most definitely a part of the conversation.

“Well, I didn’t expect this to be a part of my morning, but I’m glad it was.”

“We didn’t expect you either,” Flora said.

“I’m Greg.”

“Flora.”

“Esme.”

“And I’m Paula.”

With Paula’s introduction came laughter and more coffee.

And that is how Esme met Greg.