Evening Promises

fifteen.

Leaning back, stretching out the pang I've been bearing for at least ten minutes now while I overindulge in the book I have held between the length of my fingers. I let out an exaggerated, yet quiet yawn as I relieve myself from the ache so I can get back to the new novel I can't seem to keep my eyes off of. This woman, Mary, fights to let go of the reck her husband caused within their marriage so instead of starting over; she spends the next fifteen years in hell as she raises two children she can't admit to wanting.

It's a gruesome story but the unbearing pain the woman has encountered over the years only fueled my sympathy for her. Her children purposely misunderstood the discomfort she was enduring just so they can grow up in the house of both parents. She wasn't shocked that her children were a splitting image of their father but she often wished she was alone, although she loved her children; she can't help but to wish all ties that connect her to her husband were cut loose.

I straighten out my body and lean back into the booth while I slide my index off the slit of the page and admire the next set of paragraphs, I smooth it out into the group of pages I had previously met. Just as the first few sentences slip into my consciousness my phone vibrates on the table in front of me and a smile crawls its way to my lips as I click the answer button.

"Fulton" I breathe into the phone as my teeth cling to my lip.

I can hear the soft chuckle through the phone as Sebastian takes a second to reply, "Phoenix. I want to see you, where are you?" He asks me over the phone and my eyes shoot open before I close the book with the bookmark secured in its place for my reunion. I feel the pounding in my heart as my mind wanders off to the fear of being judged for spending my off days here.

"I'm at home" I lie standing to my feet with the book lodged in my hands. I pull it close to my chest and begin making my way to the door just before the call ends and I pull it from my ear confused.

The bell of the shop pings as the doors open and Sebastian come waltzing through with a disappointing shake to his head, "Someone's lying" He sighs making his way to me.

"How did you-" He shuts me up by pulling my figure into a warm hug before pulling away, "it's not hard to find you anymore."

"Why are you at work on your off day?" He asks, grabbing the novel from my grip and sitting in the booth I was in previously. I sit across from him and swallow the growing lump in my throat.

He inspects the cover and reads the inscription while I muster out the truth, "I like to come here on my off days and read peacefully and I didn't want you thinking I was boring," I admit, my cheeks burning as I shuffle in my seat. What I didn't want Sebastian to know is the lack of friendship I have in my life. Sebastian makes eye contact with me and knits his brows together.

"Boring?" He laughs shaking his head, "what's boring about you Avery? You need to give yourself more credit" He admires me for a second then snaps back with all his admiration faded as he waves the book in my view.

"It's good" I argue, fighting his judgment on my idea of peace.

"I lack friends these days" I sigh placing my palm on the side of my face.

"Isn't your coworker your friend?" he asks pointing to Holly as she laughs away her time with customers.

I shrug my shoulders leaning back, "she's too busy flirting with Damien"

"The guy who saved you from an uncomfortable situation?" He clicks his teeth and I point at him nodding my head and letting out a breath of air. looking behind Sebastian, I stare into the distance of the heavy streets, how cars seemed to almost come out of nowhere and soar past the shop as newcomers enter.