Back behind the counter, Andrew poured three glasses of water while sneaking glances at the table. The man was talking—low and steady. The girls weren’t responding. They were just nodding. The red-hoodie girl fumbled with her straw wrapper. The tote-bag girl kept glancing toward the front door, then away, then toward Andrew.
He returned with the waters. “Thanks,” the man said. “We’ll have three soups. Bread on the side.” Andrew scribbled the order, but noticed how the girl with the tote opened her mouth for a second—like she was going to say something—only to close it again when the man glanced her way.
“Coming right up,” Andrew said and moved toward the kitchen. Marie passed him with a tray of drinks. “That guy give you the creeps too?” she muttered under her breath. Andrew didn’t respond. He was still thinking about the taller girl’s eyes.
Andrew returned with three steaming bowls of soup, a basket of bread tucked under his arm. The man looked up and nodded in approval. The girls didn’t look up at all. “Soup for three,” Andrew said, gently setting everything down. “Let me know if you need anything else.”