As a woman bent over to pick up his fallen notebook, he spotted the shine of the dog tags slipping out from where they'd been tucked under her shirt. He took note, even if he was preoccupied with finally getting his wallet back into his pocket, using his free hand to balance the stack as she offered the notebook back to him. He offered her a smile, thankful, just as the barista announced his coffee was ready.
Another huffed laugh as he glanced at the barista, who just grinned at him before she left him to deal with his full hands and the woman who still had his notebook. Her suggestion had Max's eyes flicking to the last table at the front getting snapped up and he let out a slight sigh, although his mouth was still curved into a smile. There were probably tables in the far back, amongst the bookshelves and more private booths, but he was better off quitting while he was ahead.
“Thanks. Yeah, alright, if you're offering,” he acquiesced, tipping his head down in a mild show of embarrassment, although the crooked smile and his eyes still meeting hers told that his ego hadn't taken much of a hit. Had to take it all in good humour, after all. He picked up said coffee, holding his stack close to his side, finally steady, and gestured to the table by the window, catching the trailing scent of the woman leading towards it, as he stepped forward. “I've got hands enough for my coffee, but you're over there, right?”
Max hadn't been paying attention closely enough to spot her on his way in, but standing next to her, catching the smell of her shampoo, soap, and/or perfume above the strong scents of coffee grounds and sugary pastries, he could retrace her steps. It helped that it was the only table without a body occupying one of the seats nearby, so it was the only choice to go for.
Another huffed laugh as he glanced at the barista, who just grinned at him before she left him to deal with his full hands and the woman who still had his notebook. Her suggestion had Max's eyes flicking to the last table at the front getting snapped up and he let out a slight sigh, although his mouth was still curved into a smile. There were probably tables in the far back, amongst the bookshelves and more private booths, but he was better off quitting while he was ahead.
“Thanks. Yeah, alright, if you're offering,” he acquiesced, tipping his head down in a mild show of embarrassment, although the crooked smile and his eyes still meeting hers told that his ego hadn't taken much of a hit. Had to take it all in good humour, after all. He picked up said coffee, holding his stack close to his side, finally steady, and gestured to the table by the window, catching the trailing scent of the woman leading towards it, as he stepped forward. “I've got hands enough for my coffee, but you're over there, right?”
Max hadn't been paying attention closely enough to spot her on his way in, but standing next to her, catching the smell of her shampoo, soap, and/or perfume above the strong scents of coffee grounds and sugary pastries, he could retrace her steps. It helped that it was the only table without a body occupying one of the seats nearby, so it was the only choice to go for.