After the Heartbreak

Chapter 7 of Part II: The Meeting

I arrived at the coffee shop a few minutes early, the purse tucked neatly inside a paper bag I had grabbed from home. I figured it would be less awkward than handing over her belongings in broad daylight, especially since this wasn't exactly a typical situation.

The coffee shop was a small, quiet place near the station where I worked. It wasn't fancy or trendy like some of the places downtown, but it had good coffee and was far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city to feel comfortable. I came here often enough that the barista knew my order by heart.

I took a seat by the window, glancing outside as I waited. It was a nice day-sunny, with just enough breeze to keep things cool. A part of me was grateful that the weather was good, if only because it helped ease the tension I felt about this meeting.

I was still thinking about how to approach the conversation when the bell above the door chimed. I looked up and saw Megan walk in, looking slightly flustered but still composed. Her eyes scanned the room for a moment before they landed on me, and she smiled nervously as she made her way over.

"Hey," she said, her voice soft but cheerful as she approached. "Sorry if I'm a little late. Traffic was worse than I expected."

"No worries," I said, standing up and offering a small smile of my own. "I just got here a few minutes ago."

Megan sat down across from me, setting down a small tray with two coffee cups on it. She looked a little different from the night before-more put together, her eyes clearer, and her expression less strained. But there was still a hint of embarrassment in her posture, and I could tell she wasn't entirely comfortable.

"I, um, brought you coffee," she said, pushing one of the cups toward me. "It's the least I could do after everything."

I blinked, surprised by the gesture. "You didn't have to do that."

"I know," Megan said, smiling shyly. "But I wanted to. After all, you took me home when I was... well, not exactly in the best shape. I just wanted to say thanks."

I chuckled softly, taking the cup from her. "Honestly, it wasn't a big deal. I've seen worse. But I appreciate the coffee."

Megan's face flushed slightly, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, thanks anyway. I was so embarrassed this morning. I didn't even get a chance to thank you properly. I was just... you know, trying to get out of there before making things more awkward."

I smiled, shaking my head. "You didn't make things awkward. It happens to everyone. I was just glad you were okay."

"Still," Megan said, her tone more serious now, "I feel like I owe you an apology. I'm not usually like that. I don't know what got into me."

I shrugged, leaning back in my chair. "You don't need to apologize. It wasn't your fault. If anything, you can thank Mark for dragging you to that club in the first place."

Megan laughed softly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, that definitely didn't help."

There was a brief moment of silence as she sipped her coffee, her eyes glancing down at the paper bag I had placed on the table.

"Is that... my purse?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded, sliding the bag toward her. "Yep. Found it in my car this morning. I figured you'd want it back."

Megan sighed in relief, pulling the purse from the bag and checking its contents. "Thank God. I thought I'd lost it for good."

"Well, you've got it now," I said, watching as she rifled through her belongings. "So, no harm done."

She smiled, closing the purse and setting it on her lap. "Thanks again, Gerald. Really. I appreciate everything you did."

I nodded, taking another sip of my coffee. "Anytime."