New Life, New Sin | EDITING

Three - Awkward Encounter

The next month in Baton Rouge, Louisiana came quick but the days were painfully long. I saw Kiro only once after our somewhat flirty morning which was odd considering we were neighbors. But I didn't question it because I couldn't, for the life of me, stop thinking about Jace.

No matter what I did or didn't do, everything reminded me of my ex boyfriend. Like the hammock that was in the back porch of my apartment. We used to always lay on it together and smoke marijuana nighty under hundreds of the brightest stars.

Or when I scrolled through Netflix and came upon shows we used to watch together or were planning to watch. But despite how often he'd popped into my mind, we still remained contactless and I missed him, more than a lot. It didn't like the pain was going away at all.

My family tried their best to understand why we broke up but they weren't very open to my perspective. They didn't want to grasp that we fell out of love, or that there was only a slim chance for reunion. Only time could tell if we were really meant to be.

I kept busy when I could, spending a lot of time working to avoid the emptiness I felt when alone. Today, the restaurant I was employed at was buzzing, usual for a Saturday morning. Patrons filled up my section left to right, keeping me busy and on my toes without a pause. I loved when it got busy because it made time fly. At four p.m., the next crew was clocking in and I was clocking out, happy to finally have a full weekend off.

As I gathered my belongings, in came Cole, everyone's work crush. He had a million dollar smile and beautiful caramel skin.

"Awe, you're not working with me tonight?" He asked when he saw me. I laughed, feeling my cheeks turn rouge. I was flattered, happy to accept the attention.

"As much as I want to, I'm going to have fun tonight." I said, looking forward to a girl's night coming up later that evening. Downtown in Baton Rouge wasn't New Orleans but it was still fun with the right people.

"Oh, where are you and Jace going?" He had no idea of my newly found status.

"Oh nah, we broke up." I said simply. I didn't want it to seem like a big deal. But it was too late. Suddenly everyone and their mamas wanted to know why we broke up.

"What happened?"

"Did he cheat?"

"But you guys were so perfect together!"

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?"

"No! You guys can't break up!"

"Is it just a break?"

I felt overwhelmed by the stream of questions, just as I had the first time when I, apparently, 'broke' my family's heart. I offered the most minimalist details in response. It was no one else's business and yet everyone was in mine. But, I couldn't blame them. A break up was good gossip at work. When I said all I could, I turned to leave but Cole stood blocking my path.

"My Sinbear," he said and moved forward, pulling me into a hug. Before I'd keep our hugging scarce, wanting to respect my relationship but since I was no longer taken, I embraced him back, sinking into his piney scent. It was too intimate for work and I liked it. It tinged me with excitement just like it always had, but now I no longer felt guilty about it.

"So what, you trying to be my boo?" He asked, batting his lashes at me as we pulled away. I laughed. Cole was such a flirt so I knew better than to get involved.

"What? I thought you were my work bae!" Proving my point, our co-worker Wendy with her gorgeous mahogany locks and appealing heart shaped face, chimed in which caused us both to cackle.