A Little Bit of Sugar

Chapter 17: Sunday - Hunter

As expected, Molly didn't show up for work.

The café was quiet in the morning without her moving around, getting things ready for the day. I drew back the blinds myself, washed the counters down, and baked all the desserts without a busy body circling around me.

My day felt empty without her presence like I was missing a vital piece.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts but it was no use. When I looked up from making coffee, I would see her across the room, chatting to the locals like she always did as she cleared up the tables. I blinked, and she would disappear, leaving me feeling emptier than before.

"Dark roast." I slid the cup to the customer and took the change.

It was only nine in the morning but it felt like I already suffered a fifteen hour work day. Every time the door opened, I would look up, hoping to see Molly. Disappointment weighed me down every time it was not her. I missed her so much, I had to grit my teeth together to keep myself from sobbing out loud.

The only thing good to ever happen to me and I pushed it away because I knew I didn't deserve it.

"I ordered a latte before him." This woman commented, annoyance lacing her words.

I shrugged, bringing another cup down from the shelf. "We're short on staff today so it's going to take some time."

"Well, it just doesn't seem fair that I have to wait fifteen minutes for my cup of coffee when the other guy had to only wait three minutes." She folded her arms across her chest, two pink splotches growing on her cheeks. She was flustered by my laid back attitude.

"There are people waiting years for transplants to save their lives so I think you can spare fifteen minutes out of your day to get an overpriced cup of coffee." I said bitterly, giving my best smile.

Her eyes grew wide, appalled that I would treat my customer with such a shitty attitude.

I didn't care, I realized. Nothing mattered anymore at this point knowing that I was a free man but only trapped in my own cage. I could have nice things but I didn't allow myself because I thought I didn't deserve it.

"Excuse me?" She asked incredulously, glaring at me like I was going to cower, and beg for her forgiveness.

"Yes?" I asked dumbly, untying my apron from my waist.

"Aren't you going to apologize?" She demanded now, gripping her designer purse tightly.

"Listen, sweetie." I took out five dollars and more than enough coins to cover her drink from the till, and leaned in onto the counter, fighting the urge to yell. "I'm not going to apologize. I am, however, going to give you back your money, and ask you to leave."

"How dare you!" She fumed, turning redder and redder now.

"You look like you have a nice job to get to and you don't want to be late. So stop making a scene, trash talk about me to your colleagues in the office, and just get out." I threw my apron down onto the counter, and cupped my hands around my mouth to make my voice louder. "I'm sorry everyone but my café's closed for today! I'm taking a personal sick day so if you would please follow this lady over here out the door it would be fantastic!"

I gave a wink to the woman as she stared back at me with her mouth hanging open.

**

When the café was empty, I locked the door, and flipped over the 'we're open!' sign to 'we're closed' when a familiar blonde pressed her face against the door, shocking the hell out of me. I yelped, leaping back as her eyes zeroed in on me like I killed her dog and she was looking for revenge.

Then I remembered she was Molly's friend.

"You!" She pointed at me, pressing her index finger on the glass, leaving a finger print.

"Me?" I asked, pointing at my chest.

What could she possible want?

"Let me in." Lily demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

Deciding it was better to not mess with a feisty thing like Lily, I opened the door for her, stepping back a few steps when she barged right in, and scanned my café up and down, taking in everything. Finally, she focused back on me.

"You hurt Molly." Lily stated simply, giving a quick shake of her head. "Why?"

I snarled, closing the door behind her. I didn't need Molly's sidekick barging into my business. If it's something I'm not going to share with Molly, what made it think I would be an open book for a five foot two blonde chick?

"It wasn't meant to be." I said, holding ground. Folding my arms across my chest, I gave my best stern look. "We're closed for today so if you have nothing else to say, I'm going to have to ask you to get out." Cocking my head to the direction of the door, I expected her drop her tough girl act but instead she too, stood her ground.

"Bullshit." Lily spat. "You were wrapped around her finger the last time I saw you with her. You couldn't even get enough of her with your don't fucking touch my girl attitude."

"People change." I clenched my jaw.

"You two had sex." She stated.

I reeled back, shocked that she knew.

"She told you?" My voice cracked.

"No." Lily looked down at her painted nails, studying them like I was boring her. "But I could tell. Everything changes when couples have sex for the first time especially when one of them was a virgin." She narrowed her baby blue eyes at me when she said the word virgin.

I froze with guilt, knowing I did the classic jock move. Pop someone's cherry and then break up with them the next day.

"It wasn't like that." I said defensively.

"I know." Lily shrugged. "You're not the type to do that. I could tell you are a good guy from how you take care of others like the way you made sure I was home safe even though you didn't know who I was."

I looked away, blinking fast. "It's not a big deal."

"And you also took care of Molly." She continued, stepping closer now. "Your normal bad boy persona drops as soon as she walks in the room. You want to be near her. You want to protect her. And you want her to feel safe when she's around you."

I didn't say anything because it was all true. Where was she going with this?

"But you're scared." Lily stepped closer. "You're scared of something and it's stopping you from your own happiness but you're too chicken to confront it. So you did what you did best. You ran away from your problems."

"I don't run." I flipped, hating how she was pinning me into my place. She was right. I was running.

"You do." She nodded her head, confirming her suspicions. "It's not too late."

"Have you ever considered that maybe I don't want to get back with Molly?" I asked, ignoring her inquisitive comments. "I can get any girl."

"But they're not Molly and you know it. Everyone else was just to fill time and fulfill a desire. Molly's the one that made you think about your future together with her." Lily smiled, confident and poised.

"I don't have time for this." I stepped away, stalking back to my kitchen. The one place that kept me sane. I was going to bake my favourite Dutch chocolate cake and not give a shit about the world outside of my kitchen doors.

"She's not in Toronto anymore, you know." Lily said sadly.

I stopped in my tracks right in front of the door.

"She's back in Kitchener. Our hometown." She further explained. "I don't think she's ever coming back."

The words sunk in one by one, lodging into my chest.

"Close the door when you leave."

It was all I could manage to say.