The Bell's Corner coffee shop had never been so crowded. Sarah stood in line, tapping her foot impatiently as she checked the time on her phone. Late for work again. She should have known better than to try a new coffee shop during rush hour, but her usual place was closed for renovations.
When she finally reached the counter, she ordered her usual – a vanilla latte with an extra shot of espresso. The barista, looking frazzled by the morning rush, nodded and scribbled on a cup. Sarah found a spot by the window to wait, watching raindrops race down the glass.
"Vanilla latte for Sam!" called out another barista.
Sarah stepped forward, grabbed the drink, and hurried out into the rain. It wasn't until she was halfway down the block that she took her first sip – and nearly spat it out. This wasn't her usual vanilla latte; it was some kind of caramel concoction.
"Excuse me!" a voice called from behind her. "I think you have my drink!"
She turned to find a tall man jogging toward her, holding what must have been her vanilla latte. His dark hair was getting soaked in the rain, but he was smiling. "I'm Sam," he said, slightly out of breath. "And unless your name is also Sam and you ordered a caramel macchiato, I believe we've been victims of a coffee mix-up."
Sarah couldn't help but laugh. "I'm Sarah," she replied, extending his drink. "And you're right – vanilla latte, extra shot."
"Perfect timing, actually," Sam said, trading drinks with her. "I was going to need the extra caffeine to get through the quarterly reports today."
"You work in finance?" Sarah asked, surprised. She did too.
"Tech, actually. Over at Riverside Plaza."
"No way – I'm in the Miller Building, right across the street!"
The rain continued to fall, but neither of them seemed to notice anymore. They ended up walking together, sharing stories about their worst Monday meetings and favorite coffee orders. By the time they reached their offices, they had exchanged numbers and made plans for coffee the next morning – this time, intentionally.
Sometimes the best meetings are the ones we don't plan for, and sometimes it takes a simple mix-up to create the perfect blend.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU6AtVvLGk
