delicate ~ L.W

Chapter 21: Simplicity and Contentedness

I slowly start to wake up to my phone ringing on Leah's bedside table. I grab my phone, seeing it's just gone 6am, wondering who's calling me this early in the morning. I answer the phone and speak professionally, "Ellie Jones speaking, who's calling?"

A soft voice crackles through my phone, "hello, dear. This is Clover, sorry about calling you so early in the morning, I bet you and your girlfriend wanna sleep in."

I blush softly, glancing down at Leah still sleeping soundly, her blonde hair a tangled mess as she sleeps with her head on my chest and an arm wrapped around my waist, her leg hooked over mine. I shake my head even though I know Clover can't see. I speak quietly into my phone, "she's not my girlfriend, Clover."

I can almost hear Clover's smirk through the phone as she speaks teasingly, "you sure about that, dear? You two have seemed awful close when you've been at the cafe."

I roll my eyes and speak into the phone softly, "I can already tell you're not gonna drop this. Why'd you call me?"

I can hear Clover's soft sigh through the phone as she speaks softly, her voice crackling through the phone, "I've had a bit of a tumble-"

"What? Are you okay?" I cut her off, concerned.

Clover laughs softly and I can picture her soft smile pulling at her aged cheeks despite only being able to hear her voice, "I'm fine. But, I'll have to close the cafe for a few days."

I speak into the phone, concerned, "you'll lose money if you do that. Don't worry, I can cover the cafe today if you need me to. It's not a problem."

Clover's troubled sigh crackles through the phone, "dear, that's very generous. But, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that. It's a lot of work and I wouldn't be able to pay you."

I roll my eyes at her stubbornness and speak softly into the phone, "Clover, you didn't ask, I offered. I don't need any money, maybe just a free coffee."

Clover's voice crackles through the phone, "are you sure? And you can have as much coffee as you want if you cover me."

I smile softly and speak delicately into the phone, "I'm sure, I promise. I used to work in a cafe a couple years back, I know what I'm doing."

Clover hesitates for a few moments before agreeing, "as long as you're sure. If you need help with anything, I live above the cafe. So, just pop up if you're unsure about anything. You can bring your girlfriend along if you want."

I huff into the phone, "she's not my girlfriend."

"Then why are you speaking so quietly, dear? I know she's sleeping next to you."

"That doesn't mean I'm her girlfriend. We're just friends, Clover"

Clover hums into the phone, "what's that thing you kids say? Denial is a river in Egypt?"

I laugh softly, "goodbye, Clover. I'll see you in an hour or two so you can open the cafe for me."

I hang up the phone and place my phone back onto Leah's bedside table as she starts to stir on my chest. I gently run my fingers through her hair as she makes subtle sounds of content, slowly opening her eyes, revealing her blue iris'.

I speak softly, gazing down at her, "mornin' "

Leah grumbles and I laugh softly, "don't be so grumpy."

Leah glares up at me and pouts, I feel myself melt slightly at the sight. She mumbles, "it's so early. Were you talking to yourself?"

I roll my eyes affectionately, "no, I wasn't talking to myself. Clover rang me. She had a bit of a tumble, so I agreed to run the cafe today."