Page 19 of Everything We Found

Spotting an empty table under a window, Nadia left Thomas to his friends and headed that way. She dropped her backpack on a chair and sat in the one beside it. Thomas was doing the same across the table from her when she looked up.

“You don’t want to sit with your friends?” she asked.

“No room.” He dropped into the seat opposite her. Nadia glanced back at their booth. They lewdly gestured at them and Thomas scowled.

“Mature bunch.”

“They’re dicks. Ignore them.” Thomas plucked the menus from behind the condiment basket and slid one across the table to her. She wasn’t really hungry, and she didn’t have any money on her. But she picked up the menu and scanned the unappetizing photos. Pancake stacks. Well-done steaks and potatoes.

A waitress stopped at their table and poured them glasses of water. “What’ll it be tonight, Thomas?”

“Coffee. Loads of sugar and cream.”

“Sure thing, dear. And you, hon?”

Nadia peeked at the menu again, uninterested in any of the offerings. Her appetite walked out the door with her dad.

“Want a coffee?” Thomas asked.

She read through the beverage selection. Coffee was two dollars with free refills. She didn’t drink coffee, but maybe the hot drink would chase away the bone-deep cold her parents’ argument had brought on. She should have two dollars in coins at the bottom of her backpack.

“Sure.”

“Cream and sugar, hon?”

“Say ‘yes.’ The coffee sucks here.”

The waitress pursed her lips at Thomas.

“What? It’s true and you know it.” He winked at Nadia, grinning up at the waitress.

The woman rolled her eyes.

“Cream and sugar?” she repeated.

“Sure.” Nadia closed the menu and put it back.

“I changed my mind. Add a hot fudge sundae. Two spoons.”

“You got it.”

“Thanks, Angela.” Thomas returned his menu to the side of the table.

“You know her?”

“We come here a lot after practice to study. Their coffee sucks, but it keeps you awake.”

Angela returned with their coffees and dented cream and sugar canisters. “Your sundae will be ready shortly,” she said and left for the next table.

Nadia sniffed the coffee and took a hesitant sip, scorching her tongue.

Thomas laughed at the face she made. “Told you it was rank.”

“It’s awful. Why do you drink this?” She nudged the mug away, regretting her order.

“Try this.” He added a heavy pour of cream, stirring in three heaping spoonsful of sugar.

She tried another taste. It was barely palatable, but the sugar softened the bitter edge.