Shattered

Chapter Five

He stood silent for a moment just taking me in. He looked me over, his eyes traveling over my entire body, face, and eyes. His cheeks and ears grew redder the more he stared at me. Swallowing once more he finally spoke.

"Hey."

We stood in an awkward silence that made me want to shrink down and run away. What are we doing? Why aren't either of us talking?

"Can you step outside? Is that allowed?" He asked glancing from me to Jess.

Jess laughed and wave me off, telling me to go.

I followed him out the doors to the side of the building were tables sat for customers wanting to sit in the sun. He placed his coffee on a table and sat down. I followed suit and sat across from him nervously. I felt dread, almost as if I knew I were about to get in trouble for something and I was waiting for the punishment. There was a pit in my stomach, I was holding back tears. Could I do this? Could I sit across from the man who broke my heart and shattered my entire world?

"Cassia," He smiled. The way he said my name hasn't change, it still rolled off of his tongue as if it were an exotic name. It sent shivers up my spine.

"Rhett," I smiled slightly in return. His mossy green eyes danced with mine. They sparkled as they reflected in the sunlight making my heart flutter. I needed to calm down. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. When I opened them, he was looking down at his cup, fiddling with the lid.

"What brings you home?" He asked unsure of what to say.

"Work."

"Ah," He nodded casually.

Not knowing what to say, I said the first thing that came to my mind just to fill the awkward silence.

"So, I hear you're getting married." I tried to force a bright smile, I'm sure it was obvious that it was fake.

"Yeah." He didn't raise his eyes to look at me. In fact, there wasn't much of a reaction at all. Shouldn't he be over the moon with happiness right now? He's two weeks away from becoming a married man, he's wanted that since high school.

"Everything ok?" I asked, genuinely concerned.

His eyes moved to his arm, I followed his gaze and realized I reached out and placed my hand on his arm as I used to do when I tried to comfort him. I snatched my hand away quickly and stood.

"I'm sorry. I should... I should get back in and help, Jess."

Rhett reached out and grabbed my wrist turning to face him, he was staring up at me with such sad eyes, it broke my heart. I never wanted to see him sad, not when he left me, not like this, not ever.

"Have lunch with me? I'd really like to catch up with you."

My brows furrowed as I stare down into his eyes. "Is that allowed? I mean, is that ok? You won't being doing something wrong?"

He chuckled, the same chuckle I always loved. The corner of his eyes creased, his lips curved up just enough to show his teeth, and his nose crinkled.

"Yes, Cassie, I'm allowed to have lunch with an old friend."

"Give me a minute." I walked into the now empty shop and was met with Jess staring at me.

"Well? Tell me everything." She gleamed.

"He wants to go to lunch, is that ok? Should I even entertain the idea? Is that wrong of me?"

Jess laughed as she shook her head. She waved me off once more.

"It's just two old friends catching up from lost time, right?"