The Prodigy Son

The air in the coffee shop hangs thick with the scent of espresso and sugar. You sit alone, trying to avoid attention, but a tall, confident figure approaches your table, his presence disrupting the quiet.

"Are you really just gonna sit there all by yourself? Gets lonely around here late at night, you know."

You twist your head away, hoping he'll take the hint. He doesn't.

"Not a talker, huh?"

He pulls up a chair, and your eyes meet his for the first time. He's cute, you'll give him that, but also clearly a flirt. As he persists, a text message buzzes your phone, a sudden escape route.

"Oh, bummer," you feign disappointment, glancing at the screen. "My baby sister just texted me. Gotta go pick her up from Chadwick's."

He frowns. "The hardware store?"

Your stomach drops. Crap.

"Why would..."

"I—I meant the mall," you stammer, standing up quickly. You turn to leave.

He stays seated. "So you're just gonna leave like that? Without telling me your name?"

What a tool. You call out your fake name over your shoulder as you stride through the door into the dark night. "Alice," you say. "Call me Alice."