She poured the drink into a cup, held it with both hands, and drank while standing at the counter, experiencing the focused relief of someone who has needed this for several hours and is finally receiving it.
Mike leaned against the opposite counter and watched her.
"Stop it," she said, not looking up from the cup.
"Stop what?" Mike said.
"Looking at me like I'm doing something interesting," she said. "I'm drinking coffee, and it's not interesting."
"You came into my apartment, put your bag on my chair, and went straight to my coffee without asking first," Mike said. "That's a little interesting."
"I asked," she said.
"After you were already reaching for the cup."
She glanced at the cup, then turned her gaze to him. "That's true," she admitted. "Sorry."
"You can have the coffee," Mike said. "I'm noting the order of operations."
"The order of operations was efficient," she said. "I knew you'd say yes."
"The asking was a formality."
"How did you know I'd say yes?"
