Coffee Mess

What Are We?

Indeed, by the end of the week I was officially head barista/assistant manager. At first, I felt like an imposter around Mike and Erin, the new girl, but little by little, I started adapting to that too.

At around mid-March, Ian got invited to a wedding of a famous person and, of course, wanted to take me with him. I didn't say no, because God knows I love weddings, and since it's someone's famous, I bet it's gonna be great and the party after will be even greater.

When he told me, I immediately took Mike and went shopping for a dress. I also had my best friend on FaceTime for additional help. All 3 of us made an excellent team and soon found the perfect dress.

On the day of the wedding, Ian came and picked me up, making sure to overstate how great I look.

When we got to the place where the ceremony would take place, we saw a bunch of photographers taking pictures of the people that were coming.

"So, are you gonna let anyone take pictures of you this time?"

"Do I need to?"

"Well, I don't know, but don't you think it'll be better for your image if you have pictures on the internet?"

"Well, I don't like having the spotlight on me, because once they have photos of me, they will start searching everything about me, they will constantly be around, taking pictures while I go to the gym, while I walk to my car...they'll invade my personal life and I don't want that"

"You're being dramatic. You're just a successful businessman, not an actor or a singer. Ok, sure, they might make a profile and, of course, there's gonna be a fuzz at first, because for so many years no one knows who you are, only your name, but eventually, they won't care that much. Except if u get involved with someone else that's very famous"

"You want to have your picture taken, huh?"

"Actually no, but I think it'll help your business. Ok, sure, not knowing the face behind all that is intriguing and makes people curious and creates a certain vibe, but it'll get old someday and you'll have to show your face. And what's a better occasion to do that, if not here? I can stay away if you don't want us to be seen together, I don't mind"

"You have a point and as an assistant manager, you have a right to be concerned for the business, so I'll take your advice. But you're coming with me. If I'm gonna be seen, so will you"

"If that's something you want, sure, no problem. I look stunning anyway" I say cockily

"Yeah u do!" he says proudly and we go close to the aisle where the guests walk at, towards the sitting area. The photographers go crazy, wondering who he is, so he says his name and his profession and then he introduces me too, as only his assistant manager. I immediately feel kinda bad, because I thought that he wanted me to take pictures with him as his girlfriend, but apparently not. Ok, sure we haven't talked about what we are exactly, because it's only been 2 months since we decided to start being exclusive and see how it'll go, but it'd be nice to be introduced as something more.

With these thoughts, we go sit somewhere in the middle of the right row of chairs. Not long after we sit, he sees a few people he knows so he gets up to go talk to them and I stay at my seat, texting my best friend. When he comes back the ceremony starts, so we don't talk.

~~~

Ian's P.O.V

On the way to the venue where the party will take place, I see that Sandra awfully quiet, making me worry.

"Are you ok?" I ask her

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" she replies, looking out the window

"It's not like you to be that quiet. Everything ok?"

"I don't know, you tell me" she says seriously and I immediately pull over

"What is it, Sandra?"

"Are you really that ignorant?"

"Will you quit the riddles and tell me what bothers you? I'm not a mind reader"

"What are we, Ian?" she asks abruptly, turning her head to look at me

"What do you mean?"

"Are we a couple? Are we just fucking only with each other? Are we friends with benefits? What are we?"

"Where is this coming from?"

"Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously"

"You introduced me as your assistant manager. Is that all I am to you? Because if that's the case, I think u're abusing your power over me"

"You know you're not just that"

"Then why did you say that before?"

"Because I don't want them to have access to my love life"

"And you seriously think that they bought it? People don't bring their assistants to weddings, Ian. They bring their partners. Worst case scenario, they bring their sibling if they don't have someone else. Of course they didn't believe we're only work partners"

"Well, I panicked, ok? I didn't know what else to call you, we haven't made what we are clear"

"Ok, let's make it clear now then"

"Do you think it's the right time?"

"Well, I'm not gonna go to a party and not dance. And either we'll dance together or I'll dance alone until someone comes and dances with me. Depends on your answer..."

"Look, Sandra, I'm not a relationship guy, ok? I'm not good at relationships. I tend to neglect the other person, because I'm not used to consider the other person's feelings if they don't tell me how they feel. And since you women don't talk much when it matters, I just do my thing and after a while, they leave me. So, I don't know what we are"

"Then what are we doing at a wedding?"

"I wanted to bring you"

"Why?"

"I don't know!" I say frustrated "I didn't even check the plus one box when I got the invite, I just called the groom a month ago and begged him to add you"

"Why, Ian? Why did you beg him to squeeze me in?"

"I don't know, I just did. I didn't think about it"

"Ok, then we'll talk when you do..." she says and after taking her seatbelt off, she opens the door, getting out