WIP: Right Girl Wrong Time

Chapter 8: (Baxter) How do you brew?

Finding her was easier than I thought it would be. I'm not going to lie, I also had River's help. It only took me a few days, and it would have been shorter if I hadn't gotten called away to do another job. I found her first through Kitty's social media. It looked like she had deactivated a lot of her accounts when she was gone for the year. She was staying at her dad's house, and it seemed like she had a coffee addiction to match my own. I know I should have just asked Katherine for her information, but I one didn't want to cause any more issues. And two I wanted to catch Andi off guard. It would be easier to get her to talk to me if I did.

So, I may have been watching her run errands all day. I was waiting for the perfect time to stage a run in, and I just found my in. She had just walked into the coffee place where I had met Katherine. I knew she couldn't be meeting Katherine; she had told me earlier that she was working all day. I would be able to speak with Andi without any interruptions.

I observed her for a while. She was...beautiful. There was something that had drew me to her the first time I saw her, the connection that I felt was still there and that same thing was drawing me to her now. How could I have let my doubts sway my feelings? I shake my head breaking me out of my thoughts and get back to my task. I watch her for another five minutes before I decide to make my move. When I walk through the door a familiar barista greets me asking me if I'd like my regular. I nod and tell her yes while I walk up to the counter to pay and leave a tip. I then make my way over to where Andi is sitting on the couch. It's more of a sectional that can fit several people. It's currently empty except for her, but I take a seat in reaching distance of her. She's so engrossed in the book that she's reading that she doesn't notice me sit down.

I want to break the ice, but the moment I open my mouth, I know I've said the wrong thing, "Well, hello there. How do you brew?" I'm trying to be funny, but I can immediately tell that's the last thing she thinks. She looks at me, at first, I see shock, disgust, anger, sadness, and then indifference.

"Hi Baxter." She greets me with the coldness that I deserve. I want her to call me Jake. Not what everyone else calls me.

"Hi Andi, I was hoping I could talk to you." I go to put my hand over her hand like it's the most natural thing in the world and she snatches her back not wanting me to touch her.

"Oh, you did, did you? Well, I'm all ears. I mean what else could you have to say that Katherine didn't already say for you?" I wince at her words. I knew I should have insisted I speak with Andi before Katherine spoke with her.

"I wanted to talk to you myself. Explain." I plead with her holding my hands out in front of me.

"No need. I think you not showing up to meet me spoke volumes don't you think? Everything else I think Katherine made clear for you" I think I see her eyes water, but she doesn't break eye contact; but in a blink it's gone. She closes her eyes and looks at the ceiling, takes a deep breath and exhales. Then her eyes are back on mine.

"Look Baxter I'm not that girl." She tries to explain, but I'm not positive what she's trying to tell me. I just remain quiet as she prepared her next words. I at least owe her that.

"I'm not going to lie, all I thought about was you. For twelve months I dreamed about what our relationship would be like. After twelve months I thought about how you would look at me when you first saw me after so long? The things we would do; the things we would experience together." She's looking me right in the eyes communicating her feelings. She pauses for a second and then she looks down at her book for a second and back up to my eyes, "I thought about how I would get to meet your mom and your sisters, and I could introduce you to my family. I would get to know your friends while you met mine" She whispers the last part. I can tell the last part hurt her to say. I want to tell her those are all things I thought about in the past year too, but I need to let her get the rest out. If she doesn't want me to explain, I need to at least let her get this off of her chest.

"But I'm not the girl that pines after a man who doesn't show up for her. Who decides I'm not worth the wait, because I know my worth. I'm definitely worth it." She laughs like something's funny, but I know it's not. I want to hug her and comfort her. The ache in my heart is splitting open. "I'm definitely not the girl who sits around pining for some guy who chooses her best friend." I wince, I want to tell her I didn't know that Katherine was her best friend, but it really doesn't matter. She keeps going, "I know you chose Katherine. You don't have to worry about me causing any problems and I will be respectful of your relationship. If you are here because you're worried, I'll cause issues, I won't. If you are here because you feel guilty, please don't. Obviously, you weren't the guy for me and what I thought we had was all made up in my mind." She just shrugs it off, but I want to scream and tell her it wasn't all in her head. Being around her is like a live wire, but she's right. She does deserve someone who is willing to wait for her and show up for her. Someone who doesn't doubt his feelings. I had no business suggesting for us to wait twelve months. Maybe we would have spoken we wouldn't be where we are right now or maybe it could have fizzled out, but at least we would have known.

"I just wish you were man enough to show up yourself to tell me. You're definitely not the guy I thought you were, I really hope you treat my best friend better than you did me." She looks down at her fidgeting hands. I see her visibly shaking. I know I should leave her here, but I came here to talk to her. I'm not sure if I'll get the chance again, where it's just her and I.

"Andi." At first, I don't think she's going to meet my eyes, but when she finally does, I'm almost knocked back. She's right. She's a hell of a catch that any guy would be lucky to have. I fucked up my chance, I feel this intense pull to keep her in my life. I'm not sure how I will do that.

I have her full attention, "Everything you just said, you are absolutely correct. You are right you are worth it, and I hate I was the guy who hurt you and caused you to possibly doubt your worth. Please know that was never my intention. Me not showing up is a me thing, I won't make excuses, but life got in the way and the next thing I knew I was going down another path." I don't want to go into the details. They really don't matter. Not now. The simple fact was I made her a promise and I broke it. It doesn't matter what the reasons. The reasons would never be a good enough explanation and I can't go back and make another decision. I want to reach out and hold her hand and feel the connection, but I know she won't allow that.

"When I made that promise to you, I had every intention of keeping that promise. Please know that me not showing up was never about you." I plead.

"Oh, I know that. I know I'm a catch." She says before I can go on and explain. It breaks up the seriousness of the conversation. It's cute how confident she is, but I know that's a defense mechanism, but she's right she is a catch. She exhales again. "Look I don't want to hate you. We have a very short history and if you think about it, it's really silly. You are dating my best friend so we will be in one another's lives. I appreciate you coming here and talking to me directly, but it really wasn't necessary."

I nod in agreement because I know she's ending the conversation, but I don't want to leave, but I also know I can't stay, so I get up to leave.

She stops me before I get too far away, "You might want to tell Kitty...or Katherine that we ran into one another today." She gives me a small smile, but I know it's forced.

"I will. Thanks for hearing me out today." And then I leave, leaving a little part of me behind.

Thanks for reading Andi and Baxter's story. I appreciate you taking the time to read it. Before you leave don't forget to vote or comment.