The Mistletoe Game

Chapter 2

I woke up the next morning, and the other girls were still asleep.  I sighed, it was tradition that the first one up always went to go get breakfast.  I grabbed the list of orders, the money off the counter, and my coat before heading to Berkley's Breakfast.  It was one of the best joints in town.  When I arrived at the restaurant, I placed the order.  It would take about thirty minutes until it was ready, so I headed for the coffee shop across the road.  I ordered a hot, white chocolate, peppermint mocha and sat down at a table.  I had brought a book with me, and I read and sipped until I heard an old voice.

"Uh, yes...I will just have a medium dark roast coffee, and one of those ham and cheese croissants."  I went sick, knowing exactly who that was, that was what he always ordered when he came here for breakfast.  I continued to stay quiet, hoping he wouldn't notice me.  After a minute, I figured that he already left, so I relaxed and continued to read.  That is, until I heard the chair across from me pull out, and then the familiar figure spoke.

"Well, I didn't expect to see you here," I looked up at him.  Okay, I think it's finally time I told you who HE is.

He is Charlie London.  Twenty-five years old, and still as gorgeous as always.  Dark curly hair and facial hair with light blue eyes.  He even wore the same cologne still...ugh.  He owned a restaurant business in NYC.  No, scratch that, he owned one of the most successful five star restaurants in NYC.  He left me for NYC when the opportunity came along, and he hardly ever came down.  I was very surprised to see him here.  I peeked at him from my book, went back down and answered him.

"I didn't expect to see you here either," I muttered, wondering why he was even talking to me.

"You still working for the paper here?" He asked it so casually, to him it was like we were never even a thing. 

"Yeah, you still doing the restaurant thing?" I asked him back and he chuckled back, "Yeah, I am still doing the restaurant thing." He looked back at me, well the book anyways.  My face was still covered.  He pulled down the book from my face and continued. "Still the same old Alexa, reading your books."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I said a little more harshly than I could have. He looked slightly surprised by my answer, but continued anyway.

"Oh nothing," he looked away, but looked back at me mockingly, "Just that you are still the classic bookworm.  Really, you have probably read that book five times already."

I actually smiled and laughed a little. "I have only read this two times thank you!" He smiled and laughed back.  "I see that you still like your scarves." I said referring to the maroon one around his neck.  I would always tease about his obsession with them.  He actually paid good money for his wardrobe, but I was never one for the latest fashions...him however...  He said he always wanted to be sure to impress the lady by looking and smelling good.

"Hey!  I have to be professional, and all of the men in NYC wear these!" I laughed at him even more while he got slightly flustered.

"You act like a girl when you talk about your dreams to be an Abercrombie model!" I laughed more, almost to the point of tears.

"I could definitely be a model," I rolled my eyes, "But I do NOT act like a girl! I am wayyyyy too manly for that," He crossed his arms, "I go to a gym, play golf and video games all the time!" He huffed before laughing and looking up at me.

"Wow, that's so manly!" I teased sipping some more of my coffee.  We finally calmed down from our fit of laughter and there was a brief moment of silence.  I stood up to leave and he looked up and spoke again.

"It's so good to see you Alexa," he said in such a way that any other other woman would melt at.  My stomach sickened when he talked like that.  I was not going to reply, but I managed to get one out before I left the shop.