The Espressologist Read Online Free Page A

them?”
    â€œNot the drinks,” I say, exasperated, “the people. The people who drink these drinks are PERFECT for each other.”
    â€œReally? You think so?”
    I nod. “And I’m going to prove it. I’m going to hook them up.”
    â€œWho?” Em asks.
    I sigh and roll my eyes. “Gavin and Simone!”
    â€œSimone?”
    â€œYeah, Sarah’s friend,” I say.
    â€œOhhhhhh . . .” A smile spreads across Em’s face. “I can kind of see that! A little coffee matchmaking, eh?”
    â€œA little
Espressology
,” I answer, smiling back.

    We arrive at Jen’s apartment and knock on the door. No one hears us because the music is turned up and we just walk in. The place is packed, mostly with Columbia kids whom I don’t know. Katie and Ava disappear almost immediately into the crowd and leave Em and me standing there. Someone slips a cold bottle of beer into my hand. Yuck. Beer is gross. I look up.
    â€œThanks,” I say to the cute blond boy smiling at me. He looks familiar.
    â€œNo problem. Jane, right?” he asks.
    â€œYeah,” I reply. “Do I know you?”
    â€œCam. Cameron White. I sit behind you in English. Of course, I haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks.” Oh . . . now I remember this guy. He’s in my English class at the college.
    â€œYeah,” I say. “How’s class going?”
    â€œI can’t complain. It’s pretty easy really. We only have the four papers to write this semester. Are you coming back to class?”
    â€œOh yeah . . . for sure. Just been busy. Well, there’s my friend. I’ll talk to you later.” I zigzag through the crowd away from him, setting my unopened bottle of beer down on an end table, and run smack into Simone.
    â€œHi,” I tell her. “I was just talking about you a little while ago. That’s so crazy to run into you here.” She looks at me like I’m a psycho. “Do you remember me?” I ask. “I met you earlier tonight . . . at Wired Joe’s?” She’s still looking at me like I’m going to drag her out to an alley and turn her into soup. I pull my long dark-brown hair away from my face and twist it up on my head. “Now picture me with a blue apron on and a foaming pitcher in my hand.” A look of recognition comes over her face and she smiles.
    â€œOh yeah, you made my coffee earlier. It was good. Thanks.”
    â€œSure. Glad you liked it. Hey, listen, are you single?” She looks at me funny again. “Not for me, of course!” I quickly add. “I just know the PERFECT guy for you.” She relaxes.
    â€œOh, well, I generally don’t do the blind date thing . . .” she starts.
    â€œYou wouldn’t really have to. Just let me introduce you. Come into Wired Joe’s the next time I work.” I quickly go over my schedule in my mind. “Monday afternoon around sixish. His name is Gavin and he’s so awesome; he comes in and gets a drink about that time every day. You can get a look at him first and decide if you want to meet him. Then I can just casually introduce you. I swear you guys are PERFECT for each other,” I repeat.
    â€œOkay. Why not? I can at least come in and get a drink, right?” she says.
    â€œCool!” I’m jazzed that my first Espressology test is about to take place. “I’ll see you then.” I smile and head off to find Em.

3
    My classes are so, so hard.” Em sets her elbows on the small wooden table and rubs her eyes with the back of her hands. We’re sitting at a table next to the bathroom at Wired Joe’s, waiting for our shift to start. There is an inch-long string sticking off the seam of Em’s black fake-leather shoe and it is driving me crazy. I must get her away from SuperMart shoes and into a decent shoe store. “I was up until three a.m.