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“How do you know that’s what you’d prefer? You don

’t even knohat’s in the Ethan Special”

Judging frorass of the non-wheat variety And since this is my first day, I’m not exactly prepared to risk it, no matter how hot he is “I don’t have to knohat’s in it to know that I’ blend of strawberries, bananas, pineapple juice, and orange sherbet None of which appear to be in the drink you just made”

“This drink has strawberries in it Seven, to be exact”

Thirty-eight blueberries and seven strawberries Is this guy for real? There’s a part of ued despite myself, but I’m not about to let him see that So I just look down redients is not what I would call a perfect match”

“Is that important to you?” he asks, one dark eyebrow raised “That things match up perfectly?”

Absolutely I’s fit exactly where they’re supposed to Making sure the i’s are all dotted and the t’s are all crossed and the rules have all been followed Tori callsso a certain way that appeals to me It’s the order of the end result that I crave, the knowledge that things are exactly as they should be

And while I’m aware that sounds a little crazy, it’s actually what’s kept me sane the last six years Ever since Brandon—

I slam that door shut before the oing to think about hiain ever, let alone on what is the best day I’ve had in a very long tis simple Orderly Easy After all, I’m not one to rock the boat just to see what falls out

I don’t tell any of this to him, of course Instead, I raise one of my own brows and say, “You’re the one who counts the blueberries in his drink All I’et what I ordered sometime before the dinner rush Which, incidentally, starts in”—Iat my watch—“approximately four hours”

“So, we’ve got plenty of tiet to know each other a little? I don’t have anywhere I need to be”

The guy next to him—the trainee—makes a choked little sound in the back of his throat But he doesn’t say anything, just takes a drink fro over at hi ataould be akin to ad

“Well, thatin fifteen minutes that I can’t be late for”

“He then, doesn’t it?”

“Why? Because I have a job that actually requires me to perform the duties that are in my job description?”