Read Cursed for Free Online Page B

white teeth.
    “I’ll be with you in a moment,” he said and turned away. The beautiful gold edged antique mirror that hung over the sink behind the counter was gone. Sasha stared at the huge hole in the back wall as a memory from Friday flashed in her head. She saw the mirror burst into hundreds of pieces after a bullet shattered the surface. The police must have dug the slug out of the wall because the hole in the drywall was the size of a fist.
    Teebow puttered behind the counter adding milk and fruit to a blender. An older woman with salt and pepper frizzy hair waited impatiently beside Sasha. She tapped her foot and kept checking her watch.
    “How much longer?” The woman said to Teebow.
    “One more second,” he said giving her a smile over his shoulder.
    When Teebow turned on the blender the noise of the café faded. Sasha couldn’t even hear voices over the grinding noise. It ended as quickly as it started and Teebow poured the foamy drink into a plastic cup, sealed the lid and jammed a straw into the opening. He handed the irritated woman her drink with a smile.
    Sasha wouldn’t have been able to do that. She didn’t like demanding people. Maybe that’s why she and her mother clashed so often. Sasha shook her head to get rid of the thought. She didn’t want to think about her mother.
    “What about you?” Teebow said. “What’s your pleasure?”
    He smiled although not as widely as before.
    “Latté with cinnamon please,” she said pulling her change purse out of the front pocket of her knapsack.
    “Full fat, skim, fat free or almond milk?” he asked
    Sasha shrugged. She couldn’t remember if someone had asked her that before. “Full fat I guess. Almond?”
    “It’s new for those who are lactose intolerant,” he said.
    Teebow nodded and moved over to the cappuccino machine. As he frothed the milk Sasha heard the office door close and glanced up to see Evan. He was adjusting his waist apron and didn’t see her.
    “Hey bro, can you ring this up?” Teebow said.
    Evan looked up and saw Sasha standing at the register. He gave her a smile that touched his eyes and made them sparkle. Sasha’s heart warmed at the reception. Maybe she hadn’t been wrong.
    “Hey good to see you,” he said taking up his post behind the register.
    “You too,” she said feeling tongue tied.
    “You two know each other?” Teebow asked.
    Evan faced Teebow and motioned toward Sasha. “This is the girl from Friday night,” he said.
    Teebow’s mouth dropped open and his face softened with concern. He stopped working, walked around the counter and stood in front of Sasha.
    “Well come here girl and let me give you a big hug,” he said wrapping his arms around her and lifting her off her feet. Her arms were pressed to her sides and she couldn’t move. He hugged her so tightly she exhaled dramatically.
    Seeing her distress Evan intervened. “Easy Teebow,” he said. “She’s a girl, not one of your buddies.”
    Teebow let Sasha go. She stumbled once she was two-footed and Teebow held her arm to balance her.
    “Sorry,” he said a red flush appearing on his bronze face. “I take it a bit far. I’m just so glad you’re alright.”
    He squeezed her arm, a soft smile on his lips. “Drinks for life,” he said. “I wish there was more I could do.”
    Startled Sasha shook her head. “I can’t accept drinks for life. That’s too much.”
    “I own the place, I can do what I want,” he said returning behind the counter. “I can’t have my customers getting robbed. Nobody would come back.”
    Sasha shook her head. She appreciated the gesture but thought it excessive especially considering the robbers didn’t actually steal from her or the store.
    She waved around the store. “Doesn’t look like it’s hurt business,” she said. “I can’t even find a seat.”
    “Yeah, my peeps are loyal,” he said turning to Evan. “Ask those folks by the fireplace to move. That’s her favorite spot.”
    Sasha