Shattered

Chapter Eight

Two days came and went sending us into Friday, I spent my days on the set in the background watching the action take place. I passed out two more cards and gave Ruby the heads up. This evening I met Jess at the coffee shoppe and helped her with the night shift. She taught me how to make more of the combinations, how to work the machines, and explained the difference between a latte and a cappuccino. There's a difference, who knew?

We laughed and I thoroughly enjoyed myself as we cleaned, washed dishes, and put everything away in the back. I felt like I was learning my way around the place just in time for me to leave it.

"You know, you caught onto this entire thing pretty quick. It usually takes me at least a week to get the kids to memorize half of the menu and remember where everything goes back here." Jess complimented.

I laughed, "It helps that I'm not 16 years old and pay attention to you and not my phone."

"Ok, you got me there." She mused.

The bell rang. Checking the time, I noticed it was nearly closing time.

"I'll grab it, you finish up that paper work in the office, I'll yell if I need help." I grabbed the half apron and wrapped it around my waist, tying it as I pushed through the door. When I looked up to greet the customer Rhett was standing at the counter. I stopped in my tracks not knowing how to react.

"Rhett?"

He looked nervous, jittery. His eyes were sunken in, darkened as if he hadn't slept in days.

"Can we talk?" He asked wringing his hands together, a nervous tick he always had.

I glanced behind him, outside.

"I'm alone. She won't be bothering you anymore." He answered my question before I asked it, like he always used to.

Sighing, I removed the apron and walked around the counter. It was now a few minutes after closing time so I pulled the sign, turned the front dining lights off, and locked the door. I moved closer towards the back, near the kitchen in case I needed to yell for Jess if Beth showed up.

"So, are you working here now?" He asked as he slid into a booth. I slid in across from him and leaned my elbows on the table.

"No. Just helping out while I'm here. I'm leaving in a few days. What do you need, Rhett?"

He looked down, avoiding my eyes. "To talk."

"That's what we were doing before I was publicly accused of some absolute nonsense." I glared, crossing my arms. I forced myself to stay cold towards him. I had to remember that we can't be friends.

I knew what I was thinking was wrong. I knew what I wanted was wrong. I shouldn't be jealous of that woman, it's been four years, he's moved on. It's not his fault I was never able to look at another man romantically. It wasn't his fault that the one date I was set up on ended horribly with me breaking down in the guy's arms asking why I wasn't good enough for Rhett. He's engaged, I shouldn't be sitting here regretting that I walked away from him on the boardwalk. I shouldn't be wishing that he'd have realized just how much he missed me and still loved me and ended things with Beth right then and there.

I'm a horrible person. Does that make me a horrible person? Yes. Yes, it does. But, it's not my fault, right? It's not my fault that I was never able to get over him, that I still love him, and it's not my fault that if he were here to tell me he wanted me back, I would jump into his arms, engaged or not. So, yeah, ok, I am a horrible person.

"I know and I'm sorry about how she treated you. She was completely out of line."

I chewed the side of my lip, a habit I did when I was irritated.