Rex didn't move. He simply looked at the man's date. She wasn't looking at Bradley. She was staring at Rex with wide, admiring eyes, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and attraction.
The "Successful Man" had just realized he wasn't the protagonist of this room. And for a man like Bradley, that was an unforgivable sin.
The silence that followed Bradley's outburst was heavy. The chatter of the sorority girls died down, replaced by the awkward shuffling of feet. Arthur, standing by the pastry case, looked worried, his hands trembling slightly.
Rex, however, remained unmoved. He looked at Bradley as if he were an interesting, albeit poorly tuned, instrument.
"Blue Mountain," Rex repeated, his voice echoing in the quiet shop. "A fine choice. It's a delicate bean. It requires patience. Something tells me you're a bit short on that today, Mr. Vance."
