Coffee Mess

Confrontation

"That was easy, you don't know anyone else"

"I should realize that something happened with him again. Erin asked me to transfer her in another spot..."

"She did? Wow, I didn't know their breakup hit her like that"

"You knew about it?"

"I was getting a weird vibe, but Logan confirmed it yesterday"

"Do you know why they broke up?"

"I do, but I'm not gonna tell you"

"I think I can understand, though...if he made you feel nice, I bet he told you how wrong I am and how he would treat you so much better, right?"

"Something like that. But, Ian, Logan talking to me isn't the problem, ok? I gave up my freedom to try with you and, honestly, it doesn't feel worth it"

"You regret doing that?"

"I don't regret it, but I thought that I was making the right choice. You're smart, handsome, you have your shit together, when it comes to work at least, and we already had a connection, so I said why not?"

"Is that enough for you, though?"

"I don't know...all I know is that I feel nice when we're together"

"I feel nice too, but if this isn't what you want, if you feel like you're pushing yourself to do something you don't want or like, I don't want to hold you back..."

"Truth is, I don't feel as limited as I thought I would. I don't feel like I can't do things because I'm in a relationship"

"I'm glad to hear that"

"How do you feel?"

"Honestly? I feel kinda weird..."

"Good weird or bad weird?"

"I don't know..."

"Are we really that detached from our feelings that we don't even know what we feel?"

"Maybe...but you're too young for that, Sandra. You have to fall in love and have your heart broken and all that stuff. You can't just avoid it and go straight to the good stuff"

"I'm scared to let my guard down. There's so much pain in the world and I don't want to feel that. I want to be happy and hopeful"

"Are you, though?"

"Not really..."

"Trust me, keeping your guard up isn't gonna get you far. There's so much you're missing"

"You're the one to talk..." I say scoffing

"Sweetie, I wasn't always like that. I had to become, in order to keep my mind clear until I'm done building my empire"

"And when do you think you'll be done with that?"

"I am done"

"You are?"

"Yep"

"And now what? You will just drop your guard?"

"Well, I'm gonna need some help, but that's the plan, yeah"

"U mean my help?"

"If you're ready to drop your guard too, then yeah, yours. I didn't ask you to be my girlfriend just to do it. I knew it was time to be myself again and you seem to be worth the wait..." he says and I smile

"What if it doesn't work?"

"Then we'll take our separate ways and wish each other the best"

"You're willing to take that risk? You're not afraid u're gonna get hurt?"

"Getting hurt is part the game, Sandra. You can't avoid it, so you might as well live a little before it comes"

"You're so old and wise" I say, teasing him, and he frowns playfully

"Old? I'll show you who's old" he says and rolls me to my back, getting on top of me, while I giggle

~~~

Ian's P.O.V.

The next day, around morning, I go to the police station to find Logan.

"Good morning officers, is Logan here?" I ask when I walk in

"I'm here" I hear him saying from behind me and I turn around

"Great, can we talk for a moment?"

"I have nothing to talk about with you" he says in a deep voice, probably to sound intimidating, with his back straight and his hands on his belt

"That's funny" I chuckles "because, apparently, you had plenty to talk about with my girlfriend" I say ironically

"That's what this is about... I see"

"Yeah, that. Can we go outside now?"

"Fine, let's go" he says and we get out

"So, I'll be quick. I don't know what you said to Sandra, but from the conversation we had, I understood you told her about all the ways you're better for her and how I'm the bad guy who doesn't treat her right... "

"I didn't tell her anything that wasn't true"

"What's true and what isn't, let me worry about, ok? I don't appreciate you talking to my girlfriend and dissing me, while I'm away. My relationship with Sandra is none of your goddamn business"

"Look, dude, I really don't want to get in the middle, ok? I just saw how upset she was, went to talk to her, happened to hear the message she was leaving to you and just tried to make her feel better..."

"By telling her how you wouldn't be able to not hear her voice for even half a day, right?"

"That's one of the things I told her, yeah. And, again, it was true. I don't know how you could pass the day without talking to her"

"Again, none of your business. You don't know me and how I choose to express my feelings, so keep your fucking distance, ok? I'm trying so hard to make it work and I can't have you ruining it"

"Oh, please, is that how you try? By having her beg for your attention?"

"Are you deaf? I said I'm trying! I know I'm not doing great, but that doesn't give you the right to diss me. You might be better at it because you have it in you and because you never chose to shut your feelings off for a while, but that doesn't give you the right to flex it. Congratulations on being a great boyfriend, but don't forget who she chose..." I say, looking at him in the eyes, and then I turn around to leave

"She didn't choose you" I hear him saying from behind me and I go back again

"What?"

"She didn't choose you... you just happened to be around when she decided to get in a relationship"

"Looks like you have your facts wrong, dude..."

"Do I?"

"Yes, because we didn't start a relationship just like that. I asked her to be exclusive in terms of sex and we just did that for a while, until we went to a wedding together and we decided that we're so emotionally unavailable that we're just great for each other" I explain and he falls silent

"You see, apparently, she just realized how compatible we are. But, maybe you're right. I happened to be around, so, in a way, I should be thankful for you letting her go" I say smiling, with the intent to hurt his feelings

"I don't want your gratitude, you can shove it up your ass. I just want her to be happy, so, please, if you really want to thank me, just keep her happy" he replies and gets back in the building