My Ex-Bestfriend

The Enlightening Coffee Run

When you grow up in a small town there are certain charms that you don't even realize you've missed until you re-experience them. One obvious one currently is being able to park along the street for free with zero fear of being stolen too.  I could leave the key in the ignition and I would come back to a fully intact care with zero missing items, not that I will test that theory today. 

I take the quiet stroll to Bonnie's Brew, the only decent cafe shop for 50 miles. I love the predictability of a small town. The hardware store will have in their window display a turkey made of mismatched appliance parts. It is just as quirky as the owner. Maya's boutique will have full length Christmas sequence dresses glistening in storefront now.  Maya always broke the rule that any Christmas related items had to be displayed AFTER Thanksgiving. She was going to do whatever she wanted and it  showed in her unique dresses that covered every teen for homecoming or prom. Of course every shop is closed up tight because it's a holiday and that correlates to family time. 

Bonnie's is only open to appease the breakfast crowd before closing early for Thanksgiving Dinner. After last night I need a giant cup of coffee so my neurons can fire out a solution to solve the predicament I am in with Michael. 

Do I give in but with strict boundaries and rules? 

Keep things as they are and pursue Rodrigo?

 I shake that off immediately because I can't deny the chemistry I have with Michael. It's more than just lust it's his ability to put me completely at ease. My brain wants to distrust him but it's not in communication with my body that unconsciously gives in to him. 

Do we tell Walt? 

Do we hide it for a bit to see if we can date and see if it works? 

How does this affect our co parenting situation? 

If it crashes and burns in secret there will be no hope lost for Walt. Ok maybe my brain would benefit from decaf but I'm not a crazy person so I'll stick to half caf.

The door chimes above me announcing another guest  again one of those small town charms I didn't realize I missed. The street was misleading as it was empty and deserted but here it is packed with a line wrapping around the tables. I take my place praying for a miracle that there is enough pie still to be bought but more importantly delicious hot coffee that can cure this Michael hangover.

I pull my phone out of my purse to check the time. I have a message from Michael.

Michael: It doesn't take you that long to get dressed and walk across the yard. Quit hiding out and get over here.

I can't help but smile. He clearly isn't sick of me yet.

Me: Coffee run! Want one?

Michael: My mom is already pissed that I wasn't here first thing this morning. If I pass on her coffee and take Bonnie's she might cook me instead of the turkey. Hurry up though.

I can't help but eye roll. Of course Mrs. James was offended he stayed with me. I never wanted to be that person who despised her Monster-in-law but I don't feel like there is any hope of a reconciliation. The years might have put distance between us but it only allowed her resentment towards me to fester and it's mutual I assure you. I chuck my phone in my purse when a patron behind me causes me to bump into the blonde ahead of me.

"Sorry." I exclaim as the blonde whips her head around scowling at the accidental intrusion.

Forget what I said. I hate small towns. Small towns mean running into people you don't want to see. I know that scowl of disgust anywhere.