Fractured [SHAWN MENDES]

~24~

"So what's the deal with you and the popstar?" Colin asked as he walked Taryn to her car after an exceptionally grueling Saturday night.

"What do you mean?"

"He showed up several times this week at the end of the shift and one of those times he didn't even order a drink. It seems like he comes by just to walk you to your car."

She wasn't about to share that he'd walked her to his condo instead of her car. Then he'd driven her to the parking garage when they were done. Now that Patricia knew something was up, Taryn had relaxed a little.

"We're really good friends. He was upset that I was robbed, and making sure I get home safely is important to him."

"Yeah, but why keep doing it now that I've got you covered?" he pushed.

"I dunno," Taryn lied. "I appreciate the gesture, so I'm not going to tell him to scram."

"He probably likes you, and I can't say I blame him."

She'd sensed he was into her on his second day on the job. He'd been a little flirty and kept asking her questions about her life while offering up lots of info on himself. She learned that he was half Indian and half British, but his parents moved to Canada when he was an infant. He'd gone to college but had dropped out. That's when he got a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant, which eventually led to him becoming a cook. He was a self-taught computer genius and discovered that he really enjoyed both career paths, hence his current situation. He loved his family, but he wanted to get away from his hometown and strike out on his own. He'd moved to Toronto with a backpack and one suitcase and was currently staying with a friend. Once he had enough money saved up, he planned to get a place of his own. She admired his work ethic and independence, and if it wasn't for Shawn, she'd probably think he had potential. She was pretty darn happy with how things were going with "the popstar," though. They enjoyed each other's company and the sex was amazing, so she had no complaints.

"Don't be ridiculous," she said.

"No guy would show up night after night to walk a girl to her car unless he was hoping to get something in return."

Taryn stopped and turned to face Colin. "That's a little insulting. He could be doing it because we're friends. Or he might be doing it because he's a really good guy."

"Good guys don't destroy their ex-girlfriend's houses."

"He's told me everything about that situation, and I don't hold it against him. It's not my story to share, but I can assure you that he's a decent person at heart. On top of that, he's accepted his guilt and is living with the consequences."

Colin held his hands up in defeat. "Okay...okay...he might be a felon but if you think so highly of him, he can't be all bad."

They continued on until they got to her car. She gave him a smile. "See you tomorrow. We close extra early on Sunday, so you'll have a pretty short shift."

"Maybe we could have a drink after," he suggested.

"I've got plans, so I can't," she lied again.

******

Taryn knocked on Shawn's door with her free hand and waited for him to answer. She knew he was home because they'd been texting earlier.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" the tall handsome brunette asked with a smile when he opened the door.

"I come bearing bagels for Sunday brunch!" she declared as she held up the bakery bag. "And I have good news."

"It just so happens that I love both of those things. Come on in."