Say you'll stay - Channing Tatum

P.25

My fingers are almost completely numb from the cold. I pull my coat tighter around me before I put my hands in the big pockets, hoping the fuzzy inside will help warm them up.

It wasn't long ago you could get away by wearing a sweater and the leaves were all still covering the trees. Now a jacket isn't enough and leaves are seen laying on the sidewalk. I don't complain though, I've never been much for summer anyway.

I silently watch the honking cars and the people crossing the road. A woman walking too fast for her small child, dragging her with her as they make it through the crowd of people.

Passing a dog tied to a chair I walk around the corner of the building. It kind of looked like Marley. A beagle we had when I was around five. I smile as I remember how much he loved his stuffed animal that looked exactly like himself. He used to drag it around our muddy backyard until you couldn't make out what it was.

My eyes fall on the old, scratched door with the sign in green written in a squiggly style, just like many times before. There hasn't been one single time I've come here and haven't read the four letters. It belongs, somehow.

I pull my hand from the now warm pocket to push the door open. The usual sound of the bell is heard and the familiar smell of coffee fills my nose.

"Brooke! Hi!" Amber greets me from behind the counter. She smiles widely, showing off her perfectly straight teeth.

"Hi!" I smile back. "How's it going?" I ask, looking out over the almost empty place. It doesn't seem like they're having an overly stressful day.

I feel my cheeks heating up at the sudden change in temperature.

"Good. It's pretty calm." She turns the faucet on, letting the warm water soak the yellow dishcloth she's holding. "You want anything? A coffee?"

I start to unbutton my coat as the warmth is starting to spread throughout my body. "Maybe one of those?" I ask and point towards a rather small box containing freshly made cupcakes.

Without a word, Amber places one of the cupcakes on a plate together with a fork and slides it over to my side of the counter.

"Thank you" I smile. It looks really good.

My eyes follow Ambers movements behind the counter as my hands move toward the cupcake in front of me. It smells wonderful and I start to peel the brown paper down.

Jasmine enters the room at the very second and I can see her rolling her eyes at me. "It's not the stone age B, we got forks you know."

"But it's doesn't taste even half as good when you use it." I smile and continue picking on the cupcake with my fingers.

Amber gives me a small smile before she continues wiping the counter. She notices one particular spot and rubs the dishcloth back and forth over it without it going away. "God damn it." She swears under her breath and rubs harder, making her fingers turn white.

Jasmine unties her apron before she takes it off and sits down beside me on one of the high chairs. I watch her as she takes a sip of her coffee and turn towards me. Her gaze on me lingers and I wait for her to blink.

"What?!" I ask, my mouth full of cupcake.

She makes a grimace and whips me on my thigh with her apron. "What do you mean 'what'"? She continues staring at me. "You know what we're all waiting on for you to tell us."