Kristina Springer: The Espressologist

"I'm a sucky friend. He did kiss me, though. But I should have stopped him." Although it was a freaking fantastic kiss. We both sit for a few moments thinking.

"We're still best friends, right?" I ask at last.

"Of course," she says, reaching over to give me a hug.

"Now your turn. I've been DYING to ask you all week–

why the heck did you match Melissa with Will?!"

"I know, I know!" I exclaim, covering my face with both my hands. "It was so stupid! But I didn't know what to do! Those Gabby Girlz put me on the spot. It was the only match I could see possibly working ..." I trail off. "But Melissa!" Em says. "You hate her."

''True, I agree. ''

"And not to ruin your night or anything, but they totally hit it off. Will was in last night and told me he was on his way to pick Melissa up for a date. He really likes her."

"I've heard," I say. "Big jerk. They can have each other. I hope I never see either of them ever again."

Just then Derek pops his head into the room.

"Customers, ladies," he says.

I glance at my watch. Whoops–it's almost six. Time to go start the last Espressology night. I tell Em I'll see her in a few minutes and step in front of the mirror for last-minute adjustments.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Derek booms loudly to the huge line of people wound around the store and out the front door. "Last chance to find a little love with your latte.

Here she is one more time, our Espressologist, Jane!"

Everyone cheers and whoops and I feel a rush of excitement go through me again. Everything is going to be fine. I don't have Will, but at least I have my best friend back. And I'm different, stronger. I'm not the same weak, timid Jane I was before this whole thing started.

Espressology didn't just change all these people's lives, it changed me. And I have to say that this whole adoration thing is kind of addictive. I totally know how Oprah feels. I give the crowd a huge smile and head for my small table near the cash register. I stop dead in my tracks when I see who is first in line waiting for me. Melissa.

"What do you want?" I say, slipping into my seat and bracing myself for whatever crap Melissa is about to sling my way. "Didn't your match work out for you?"

"It did!" she exclaims. "It really really did. That's why I'm here. To thank you." Melissa is positively beaming. She actually looks altogether different. She's like blissful or something.

"Really?" I ask, trying to hold back a bit in case she is setting me up for some kind of insult.

"You really know what you are doing, Jane," she gushes. "I mean, I didn't believe it at first, but then you matched Will and me and he is just perfect! I'm so happy."

"I'm glad?"

"I have to do something to thank you."

"Don't worry about it," I say. "No, I want to."

"Well," I say, thinking, "how about you just stop being snarky when you come in for your coffee?"

"Of course! That's easy. But I want to do something bigger for you."

"Really, I don't need anything.

"Wait, hear me out," she says. "I already know what I want to do for you."

"Okay ..."

"You know how I attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago? A little birdie told me that you want to go there, too, and you are saving up for the tuition. It's totally expensive.

"Yeah," I say, wondering where this conversation is going. "Well, I can help you."

I shake my head. "No, you can't." What? Is she going to offer to pay my tuition with some secret stash of money? I should have known she was trying to mess with me.

"No, I can!" she insists. "My dad is in financial aid there. He helped me become independent of him and my mom so I could get loads of financial aid. How do you think I pay for school?" Interesting.

"Are you serious?" I ask, trying not to get my hopes up too much.

"Totally! I'll talk to him this weekend. I'm sure he will help you do the same."

"Wow. Well, thanks."

"No, thank you, Jane. And I'm sorry I've been such a witch to you in the past." I nod and we look at each other for another moment. "Can I get a small nonfat latte now?"

she asks. I laugh and give her order to Em.

It's nine-thirty and the final Espressology night is coming to an end. Ginny and Zane, the hot bass player I matched her with, stopped in for drinks half an hour ago.

They both looked insanely happy. There are a few more people waiting in line and I have a free moment while Em and Sarah deal with a frap rush (half a dozen or so young teens who order frappycaps). I scan my spreadsheet, searching for a match for the über-hunky doctor in his late twenties who ordered a mocha Valencia–a mocha with orange syrup, an extra shot of espresso, whipped cream, and orange-colored sprinkles on top. It tastes just like those chocolate orange slices you can buy during the holidays at specialty grocery stores. I hear a rumbling in my line and I look up to see what is going on.

Cam. Cam is standing right here in front of my table smiling down at me.

"Hi," I say.

"Hi," he returns. Okay, this is a little awkward.

Silence. Is he going to talk or what?

"Um, are you looking to be matched tonight?" I ask.

"Yep," he says with an even bigger smile. Okay, this is just plain weird now.

Fine. I'll play your game. I enter his name into my spreadsheet. "Age?"

"Nineteen," he replies.

"Favorite coffee drink?"

"Medium toffee nut latte."

"And what, pray tell, interesting tidbit can you give me about yourself?" I raise one eyebrow at him, anticipating his answer.

"Well," he says with a smirk, "I TOO have the ability to match people based on their favorite coffee drink."

"Yeah right," I say, thinking he's teasing me. "I can!" he insists.

"Then what do you need me for? You should be able to figure out what goes with a medium toffee nut latte all by yourself"

"I can," he says again.

"Well?" I ask.

"A medium toffee nut latte goes PERFECTLY with a large iced nonfat mocha, no whip," he answers, looking awfully proud and smug.

"Huh?" I say, momentarily confused. I quickly flip through my notebook and then it hits me–that's my favorite drink. I look back up at him. "It doesn't really, you know," I start, not able to stop the smile from spreading across my face.

"Jane," he says, taking my hands and pulling me up from my seat, "it does. Trust me." And then he kisses me.

Right there in front of the customers, the baristas, and Derek. I feel the force of his warm lips press against mine and I don't want him to move. I want to stay right here kissing Cam forever. I can hear customers whistling and clapping, but I don't pull away from Cam. It's finally my turn–I found my match. Or really, he found me.

With many, many thanks to: My fabulous agent, Jenoyne Adams, for her never-ending energy, time, and dedication to all my books; my incredible editor, Janine O'Malley, for loving this novel and the main character, Jane, as much as I do; the rest of the FSG team (Jill Davis, Irene Metaxatos, John Nora, Karla Reganold, and Nancy Seitz) for their awesomeness; Deena Lipomi and Emily Marshall, for their endless support, cheerleading, and friendship; all of my critique partners, Deena, Emily, Julie, and Mandy, for always having amazing insights and suggestions; the supercool baristas at my local Starbucks, for letting me write the entire book from the same table in their store and letting me study them without thinking I was a freak; my mom, dad, brothers, and the rest of my great family for their continuous love and support; my four fantastic kids, Teegan, Maya, London, and Gavin, for making my every day sweet and fun and not holding it against me when I hit the cafés to write at night; and, most important, my wonderful husband, Athens, who always believed I could and would do this.