Mira sighed and flopped onto the cool living room floor. She stared out the open window, the sun’s colours turning her skin gold. She glanced over at her tanned boyfriend who was sitting in front of the fan absentmindedly sipping his usual caffeinated drink.

“Hey, Deimos?”

“Hm?”

“Y’know Kalmin?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you think he’s like, stupidly hot?”

He glanced over at her, eyes wide. The drinks they had just gotten were made by him.

“Good to know we’re on the same page,” he laughed.

Mira gasped and cracked a smile. “Wait, so you were thinking that too?”

“Yeah,” he said in a matter-of-fact. “Dude, he’s fucking ripped.”

She burst out laughing. “Hockey boys are always so…gross but he’s like? Super nice to look at?”

Deimos laughed. (God, that beautiful laugh and smile was going to kill her) “Did we just find a mutual hobby?”

“I think we did!” She giggled.

Deimos laid on Mira’s porch with a popsicle in his mouth. He covered his eyes from the blinding sun with his forearm, lazily sucking the sweet treat. He heard the patter of feet and lifted his arm just in time as Raven slid the screen door open and walked into their little veranda.

“You look like you’re having fun,” she commented.

“So much fun,” he muttered. “I’m tanning.”

“You’re burning.”

“I’m fine.”

Raven smirked and slid into a chair beside him while he still laid on his back on the ground. The sun was nice against his skin, if he didn’t move it wasn’t that unbearable. “Where’s Mira?”

“She’s on a grocery run with Renee.”

“Really? She’d go get vegetables in the middle of painting?”

“Well, she was out of white paint so she made a compromise with Renee.”

Raven laughed. “Now that sounds like her.”

Deimos smiled.

“How are you two?”

“Hm?”

“You and Mira. Having any problems with that dork?”

“It’s been like a month and a half, we’re still in the honeymoon period.”

Raven chuckled. “The moment you guys became friends was your honeymoon period. What changed is that you kiss each other on the mouth now.”

“We’ll you’re not wrong.”

“So, having any problems?”

“No, everything’s good. Should I be concerned?”

“No.” Raven shook her head. “Mira can be a little crazy now and then, but you’ve got that shit handled.”

“We’re all a little crazy now and then.”

“Touché.”

“You really like her?”

“Yeah.”

“Love her?”

Deimos felt blush creep across his cheeks. “Y-Yeah.”

“Have you told her that?”

He was silent.

“You totally did.”

“Is that wrong?” He muttered. “Am I going to fast?”

Raven smiled at him weakly and shrugged. “No, I think it’s cute.”

“But?” Deimos has hung out with Raven enough to understand her quirks as well.

She shook her head. “Be patient with one another.”

“That sounds super foreboding.”

“I didn’t mean it to be,” she groaned. She scratched her head nervously. “Anyway, whatever happens, I’ve got your back. You can talk to me if you ever need any help.”

“Thanks, dude.”

“You’re welcome, bro.”

“Always, bro.”

They smiled at each other and snickered.

“Do you wanna get some sweet-ass drinks at the café down the street?” Raven asked calmly. “I’m craving an iced caramel macchiato.”

“Is Gabriel working?”

“No idea. I think Kalmin is though.”

Deimos sat up, dizzy for a second, and ate the rest of his popsicle.

“Kalmin, huh,” Deimos muttered. He remembered his little comedic conversation with Mira about him. A smile stretched across his face. It was nice being out. It was nice having a queer girlfriend. They both could admire both sexes, and people out and in between. They could bond over the cute girl in the bookstore or the hot guy across the street. There was just another sense of familiarity that made him all grossly happy inside.

“Aaron’s friend. The cute mixed barista.”

“He’s pretty quiet,” he commented. And pretty.

“Reminds me of someone half a year ago.” Hotly, Deimos glared at Raven. She smiled. “Hey, I’m not wrong.”

“Don’t need to point it out.”

She laughed and followed him into the house. Quickly, they gathered their money and flip flops, and headed out into the hot summer heat with simmering sidewalks and dead air. Raven was good company to have around, Deimos could see why Mira had a crush on her for such a long time.

The ten minute walk through the blistering heat ended with the glorious rush of an ice-cold air conditioned breeze and the rush of roasted coffee beans. With a jingle, Deimos and Raven entered the quiet golden café and looked to the counter to see the usual lip-pierced barista chatting happily with a group of old ladies near the counter and Kalmin who was grinding said roasted glorious-smelling beans. From the jingle of the bells above the door, he automatically looked up from the machine and met Deimos’ stare. His bronze eyes looked golden in this dark light, popping brilliantly against his bronze skin. He blinked, his curly black hair falling down his face.

God, he was definitely not going to tell Raven how beautiful this man was.

“Hey,” he said with a dimpled smile.

“Hey,” Deimos said bluntly back.

“The usual?”

Deimos nodded. Raven smiled. “Have we seriously been here that many times to just know our order?”

Kalmin chuckled shyly. “Yeah, you have. You guys come here like four times a week- all of us know your orders.”

“What about, just out of spite, I get something different?” Deimos joked.

“Sure,” he laughed. He bit his lip.

“What would you recommend that would suit my taste?”

“Can I surprise you?” He teased.

Deimos laughed. “Try me.”

“Good thing we have free health care in Canada,” Raven commented.

While Kalmin worked, Deimos and Raven chatted with him. It was kind of hypnotizing watching him work. There was this looseness and grace to him that almost seemed like he was dancing. He poured milk and espresso so smoothly and seamlessly. He delicately dabbed at the foam. He drizzled chocolate in intricate patterns. Then the drink was in his hands.

It tasted incredible. Caramel and chocolate in an ice cold drink with the bitterness of espresso to balance the creamy sweetness out. “Holy fuck,” he blurted out loud. “This is glorious.”

Kalmin was beaming at him. Like, literally beaming, it seemed like the sun brightened with that damn smile. He bit his lip shyly. “Secret menu item. The Caramilk Iced Coffee.” Raven stole a sip and sunk into the ground.

“Jesus Christ, that’s really good,” she gasped.

Kalmin leaned against the counter, laughing. “Thanks.”

“Oh my god, you know what I just realized?” Raven said quickly.

“What?” Kalmin and Deimos said in unison. For a moment, they paused, stared at each other, grinned, and fist bumped.

“We’ve got three baristas coming with us to America, which means for a week straight we’ve got beautiful boys making us coffee every morning for free,” she cried. “I’m so blessed.”

“Well, for free is stretching it,” Kalmin said sarcastically.

“Dude, I’m paying for most of the booze and food,” she pointed out, sassing him immediately.

Kalmin shrugged. “I don’t know, labor costs,” he sneered.

“Our unconditional love?” Raven suggested.

“Which is unsolicited cuddles and compliments,” Deimos added. “Well, not from me, but the girls.”

He burst out laughing. What a fucking smile. What a fucking laugh this jerk has a cute laugh-

“I’ll take it.” He bit his lip hard and smirked at them. “Talking about the road trip, it’s coming quick isn’t it?”

“Yep, three more days,” Raven hummed. “Hey, when are you done work for today?”

Kalmin blinked and looked at the time. “Half an hour, and I’m free.”

“You wanna come over for dinner?” She suggested happily. “You’ll get to know the animals you’re going to be housed up with for the week.”

He shrugged. “Sure, if you’ll take me,” he laughed. “Any of them I should be wary of?”

Raven smirked and exchanged looks with Deimos.