A Tall Glass of You

Chapter 6 : Sometimes you just want to slap your ex in the face and that's okay

What was he doing here? What in the absolute hell was he doing here??
That was all she could think as the man sat directly in front of her at the bar. He looked so out of place in the small vintage diner, with his slicked back black hair and his gray two-piece... In the past she would have liked that about him.
Now it was just grating.

"Well well, isn't that a surprise. Small world, isn't it?" He practically cooed at her, his sleazy smile already making her want to pour the boiling hot pot of coffee all over his head. Instead she simply kept her best customer-service smile and avoided looking him in the eyes.
"Yes, it is. What are you ordering?" She plainly asked, only to be met with a chuckle from the man. The corners of her mouth twitched.
"Oh, come on Curly. Don't be so cold. Aren't you happy to see me?" The man asked, resting an elbow on the counter. Cassie frowned, her smile faltering.
"Not particularly, no. And don't call me that." She demanded, turning away to clean up the coffee machine, desperate for something else to focus on. Even with her back turned she could feel his eyes slobbering all over her...
"You loved that nickname."
"Yeah. Loved. Past tense." She remarked curtly. "So would you kindly never use it again? Thank you."

Another laugh and she turned back to face him, disgust now very visible on her usually gentle features. "Look, I don't know why or how you're here and I don't really care, but if you're not going to order anything you can buzz off."
"I'll have a black coffee then." He smirked, and for a second she thought of pouring dish soap into his cup. That would probably cause more trouble than it was worth. "And just so you know, I'm on a business trip. This is pure coincidence. Not that I'm complaining about it."
The woman groaned and placed the cup in front of him, hoping he'd at least burn his tongue on the drink. She couldn't even pretend to be busy, as the dinner was basically empty at this time, just after rush hour.
"You look as pretty as the last time we saw each other." He added before taking a sip. Cassandra wondered if this was some kind of veiled insult, considering the last time they'd interacted she was a sobbing mess, her mascara running and her big curls flattened by the rain. "The uniform suits you well. How much does this job pay y-"
She lifted one hand to stop him from speaking further.
"Nope. I'm stopping you right there. Drink your coffee and leave, Adam. I'm not doing this."

The black haired man shrugged, that insufferable smirk still stretching his thin lips. God she hated that smile. To think it used to make her melt...
"I'm just saying. You can still change your mind. I just got promoted, you know... Got a penthouse back in New-York that-"
"I said I'm not doing this. I literally do not care."
His smile actually faltered then. He wasn't used to not getting his way, and especially not when it came to women, she knew that.
"You could at least hear me out. Jeez, you've always been so petty..."
Cassandra slapped her palms onto the counter, gritting her teeth.
"Petty?" She repeated, half dumbfounded despite what she knew about her ex. "Adam, you cheated on me. In our bed. I think I have the right to be a little "petty"."
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "And I apologized. You always overreact... It wasn't that big of a deal."
He sounded like he was talking to a child or an idiot. Cassie thought back to the many times he'd employed that tone with her, and she wondered how she hadn't left him much earlier. She wondered why she wasn't slapping him right now. Instead, she shoved her hands in her apron pocket. The last thing she needed was getting fired for hitting a customer.
"Do you need it written out? You're dead to me. So just drink your fucking coffee and lea-"

The jingle of the door interrupted her. A wave of relief washed over her at the idea of an excuse to wave off this absolute weasel of a man.
She leaned to the side to see past him and her face lit up. She was too happy to wave to the newcomer as if Adam wasn't even present.
"Shake! Hi! How's it going?" She enthusiastically exclaimed. Maybe a bit too enthusiastically considering the curious look she received in response. She met him at the opposite end of the bar, and he leaned over the counter as he sat down, looking at her face for a second.
"...Are you okay?" He asked, surprisingly softly. "Your eyes are kinda re-"
Cassie quickly placed a finger over her lips in a shushing motion. A loud sigh was heard from where Adam was sitting.
"Is that where your standards have dropped?" He sneered. "Wow."
Without giving either of them time to respond, he gathered his things and got up, giving one last look to Cassie after making his way to the exit. His cup was still half-full.
"Just think about my offer, okay?"

And just like that he was gone. Hopefully it would stay that way.

There was a moment of silence only filled with the muffled sound of 60's greatest hits pouring through the speaker in a corner.
"So... What's with Patrick Bateman back there?" Shake finally asked, turning to face Cassie who was now practically slumped over the counter. That was a pretty apt comparison, she thought.
"My ex." She sighed, audibly exhausted.
"Oh."
"Yup."
Shake felt a little uneasy. He'd never seen Cassie that gloomy before, and he had no idea what to do about it. What had that guy done to her that got her in such a state anyway?
"Welp, you just saved me from getting charged with assault, so thanks I guess." She stated, straightening herself and taking a deep breath, her soft smile returning. That was definitely the expression he preferred to see on her.
"Does that mean I get a free muffin?" He teased. The woman laughed gently, and when she leaned towards him a little he felt his face heat up.
"Are you trying to get me in trouble?" She questioned, placing a finger under his chin and lifting it slightly. He seriously could have fainted. It's a miracle he didn't.
"Haha... Yeah... I-I mean no! But it's always worth a try, right?" The blonde stuttered. Cassie removed her hand, the subtle gliding of her finger under his chin actually making him shiver.
"Anyway!!" He exclaimed, trying to un-melt himself. "I was wondering if we were still on for the club tonight?"
"Sure. I need to take my mind off of...some things. Be there at 8?"
"That works." Shake acquiesced, getting out of his seat, and seemed to pause for an instant. "And uh... If you wanna talk, or something... You know..."
Cassandra's expression softened and her cheeks dusted with red.
"I know. Thank you, Shake."