"Sorry, sir. Our coffeemaker needs a repair so no drip coffees today. But I can offer you anything else on the menu for the same cost." The cute Asian girl with long pigtails smiled at Blaine, waving behind her to the menu board. 

Raising his eyebrows in disbelief, Blaine looked over the choices. "Ok, give me a London Fog then."

After paying, he stepped to the end, waiting as the young barista did his magic, concocting secret formulas worthy of a potions class at Hogwarts.

It broke him from his daily routine of grabbing a coffee quickly and leaving. He had to wait a couple minutes.

And looking around the cafe, noticed a man tucked off in a corner, by himself. He looked in his mid-twenties, with a slim build, and chestnut hair styled off his attractive face.

But what caught Blaines eye the most was his intense attention to his book. On the table in front of him, there was a notebook, pens, and some other books. The book he was reading was quite large and thick. Clearly not a Steven King paperback or something light like that. 

Blaine also got the feeling that he wasnt a college student. He was dressed too nicely, in grey pinstriped pants, a lavender dress shirt with an open collar and scarf tied around his neck. His outfit was a bit too stylish to fit in with most offices around here. 

"Blaine." The barista called out, and he turned to get his drink. But as he left, he found the image of the reader still on his mind. 

---

"Sorry, sir. We are now waiting for a part for the coffeemaker. Would you like another London Fog?" The Asian girl behind the counter was wearing lots of glittery green eye shadow today. 

"Um.... No, Ill try a macchiato. What the hell." Blaine shrugged. 

She smiled, and charged him the medium drip price. He tipped well, as he had enjoyed the London Fog the other day and felt a little bad paying the lower price for it. 

As he waited for the drink, he glanced over into the seating area, and that man from yesterday was there again. At the same table, and still intent on the book in front of him. 

Today, he was wearing teal jeans, and a charcoal grey shirt. A silver pin was at his throat. 

Blaine watched him, the soft morning light coming through the window making his skin seem to glow. 

"Blaine." Again, the baristas call drew him back to the real world. 

---

For the rest of the week, Blaine tried different drinks each day and looked for his mystery man. It was such a silly thing to do, but he found himself looking forward to it by Friday. 

Blaine shook his head. Obviously his work at the office wasnt interesting enough, and he was seeking something to shake things up. And all his addled brain could come up with was ogling a stranger and trying new coffees. 

He sighed. Since moving to San Francisco three years ago, hed worked hard to establish himself in his job, working long hours. He was proud of his achievements but lately he was noticing other people his age. They were out together, having fun, enjoying being in their 20s while they were still young. Blaine couldnt remember the last movie he saw in a movie theatre. Or the last date hed been on. And he was living in San Francisco! There were supposed to be gay men everywhere here. 

As Blaine waited for a matcha latte, he gazed at his mysterious reader, and wondered if he was gay. He certainly dressed well, but so many men did these days. Today, it was a light green shirt with a vest that was quite fitted over his torso. His attention was unwavering from his books, as always. 

And as Blaine left the cafe with his drink, he decided to start coming earlier to the cafe, starting next week. He'd drink his beverage there, hopefully able to snag a table nearby, and see what more he could find out about his stranger. 

A change in his drink order AND a change to his routine? In such a short time???! Blaine could hear how his older brother would bug him about this if he mentioned it. Cooper was always encouraging Blaine to live a little, stop taking life so seriously. 

Well, they were two tiny steps. Wasnt there some saying that a journey of a thousand miles began with a single step? 

---

Monday, Blaine carried his chai latte over to one of the cafe tables, cautious to not spill any. Hed dressed with care today, charcoal grey dress pants, an ice blue dress shirt and a coordinating tie, and had to admit it was kind of fun to dress for someone. Looking over his closet and thinking about what he looked good in, making the effort. 

His table was two away from the readers, but it was still closer than Blaine had ever been to him. 

Even though it was a half hour earlier than his normal time, the reader was already deep into his subject. The cafe was just as busy, most people just grabbing their coffees and leaving for work. 

Blaine could have sat closer to the reader, but it would have looked weird to do that when so many tables were empty. 

Sipping his drink and enjoying the zing of ginger, cinnamon and other spices, Blaine looked over at the other table, trying to be nonchalant. He almost wished he could wear sunglasses, to hide his gaze, but obviously couldnt indoors. 

Maybe he should get a newspaper and cut a discrete viewing window out of it. Maybe he should read more spy novels, get some tips. Blaine smiled to himself over the silly ideas. 

He found a magazine nearby, and flipped through it, although his eyes were hardly on it. 

Today, the reader was in black jeans, a deep red shirt, and a striped fitted vest. The red against his skin looked wonderful, really playing up his fair skin and dark hair. This close, Blaine could see how well his hair was cut and styled, and it made Blaine remind himself to get a trim after work tonight. 

Blaine tried to make out the title of his books, but the reader's hand covered the spine of the one book. The other one in the table was half-covered by a notebook, and Blaine could barely make out one word. Greek.

As he tried to discreetly look at his magazine and gaze out the window, instead of staring constantly at the reader, Blaine pondered the book. Was he planning a trip to Greece? Studying the current economic situation? Studying the language? Blaine found himself more intrigued. 

---

Thursday was an amazing day. Blaine arrived at his regular time, and at first glance, was disappointed, as the seating area looked empty of people. But looking at the reader's normal table, Blaine saw his books spread out on it, and his coffee cup. 

Obviously hed just stepped away to the washroom for a minute. 

When Blaine got his cinnamon dolce latte, he made a point of walking slowly by the table, and learned two exciting things. The book hed been reading was sitting there with a bookmark in it was titled Greek Mythology. And on the side of his paper coffee cup, beside a little heart, was the name Kurt. 

Blaine sat down at his close, but not too close, table and smiled. Finally, he had a name for his crush. And Blaine recognized it as a crush. Kurt. He was a bit tempted to squeal like a teenage girl and doodle their names together. 

And Greek mythology?? Not exactly a light topic, or one that people pursued for fun. Again, he didnt get the feeling that Kurt (Kurt!!) was a college student. There was no book bag or backpack, and he dressed too well. It just didnt add up. 

And then Kurt walked back to his table and sat down, picking up his book. 

Blaines heart was pounding. Oh my. Seeing Kurt simply walking, that lovely body moving quickly in black pants, an olive green military styled jacket, and plaid scarf. 

God, he was such a dope. Crushing on a stranger at a cafe. Was this any way for a grown man to act? 

OK, enough. Blaine thought. Time to figure out how to get talking to Kurt, and actually see if there was any chance hed go out with Blaine. If he was straight, attached or simply not interested, Blaine needed to move on. 

Blaine pondered ways to get talking to Kurt. Maybe get a book about Greek mythology and read it, holding it up so the book title was clearly visible, and hope that it caught Kurts attention enough to start a conversation between them. Yeah, that was subtle. 

Maybe he could try coming earlier to the cafe, and see what time Kurt arrived. Then he could try to be there at the same time, waiting for their drinks at the barista's station, and Blaine could make small talk. Hmmm... That is a possibility. 

Or he could have some balls and just walk up to Kurts table and say something. Something that would charm Kurt and make him smile.

"Hi, Im Blaine and you are hot! Want to go for lunch sometime?"

"Oh, I see you are reading about Greek mythology! Lets go out for Greek food and talk all about it!"

”You look like a Greek God. Do you really need to read about it?

Blaine went back to stalker mode, trying to think of his next step, or at least a better opening line.

___

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

-My idea of the cafe, with Voting Tip Jars, yummy lattes and other drinks.