Legacy (Completed)

Chapter 16

I huffed out another sigh. Here I was, laying sprawled out on my couch with nothing better to do. The ceiling was losing my interest, reaching up to 200 pieces of spanish lace details.

It was a boring day. Once the director had set Lorenzo on suspension, I was also indirectly punished. If Lorenzo couldn't work, I had no partner to work with. Because of this, a specialist group had picked up our case to pick apart and try to find clues.

I heaved out another deep exhale, rolling my head to the side to look at my coffee table. There, a bag of chips rested next to my glasses. I reached for another chip, placing it in my mouth to chew. I closed my eyes for moment. If I can nap, the day will go by faster.

The universe seemed to have something else in store for me. It seemed as soon as my eyes closed my door bell rang. I groaned in annoyance, pushing myself up from the couch. I lumbered my way over to the door, peeking out the peephole to see...

Lorenzo.

I pulled the door open, an eyebrow raised as he grinned at me.

"Do I even want to know how you found my place?" I asked warily, fully meaning my statement. His smile widened as he shook his head.

"Probably not. Will you allow me the courteous-est of courtesies, and let me in?" Ren questioned, batting his eyelashes in a mock puppy look.

"No," I put bluntly, going to close the door. He stuck his foot in the door, causing me to pull back the door and glare. He danced his way into the room, twirling as he looked around.

"Wow, this place is so bright and clean," he mused, meandering his way around my house. "I don't like it."

"I don't like you," I grumbled back defensively, closing my front door which was rendered obsolete and turning around to face the intruder. Once he was done with his exploring expedition, he turned back to me. An odd look crossed his face, and my mind instinctively invaded his thoughts.

'Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.'

Well, that was enlightening.

"Hey," Ren started, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. I started forward, heading towards him. His eyes widened as he stumbled over his words that he was trying to get out, but I passed him, grabbing for my glasses. His mouth dropped as I put them on, cocking my head expectantly.

"I... I just wanted to, y'know... I just wanted to apologize for, the um, the situation I put you in," he stumbled out, looking away. I blinked blankly, trying to process what just happened. He stumbled over all of that just to say sorry?

"You're good," I answered back awkwardly. Silence followed. Did he come all this way to just say he was sorry? I nudged at his mind, peeking to see if it was true.

"Would you stop that?" Ren growled at me, offering me only a halfhearted glare. I snapped back in surprise, searching his face.

"How did you know I was doing anything?" I asked incredulously.

"You know the feeling of someone brushing a feather over your skin? That's what I get, but inside my head."

"No one told they could feel something," I mumbled, feeling embarrassed at the amount of people that probably felt me snooping in their lives.

"They probably don't notice. It's light, barely noticeable," he responded quietly, looking away to glance outside my window. It overlooked a road between two, towering buildings.

"But you noticed it," I pointed out, watching his reaction. He stiffened a bit, causing my eyes narrow at him.

"Of course, you're my partner. I'm around you enough to realize it," he brushed off. I hummed, accepting his reasoning for now. I didn't respond, moving away and busing myself in the kitchen.

"Are you busy today?" Ren questioned me, causing me to look up from the counter.

"No," I answered hesitantly. He grinned, making his way to the opposite side of the counter.

"Let's go out for coffee then."

"Coffee?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," he responded, his mouth squeezing into a thin line to hide a smile. I didn't know what he found so funny. It seemed like no matter what happened around Lorenzo, I was constantly apprehensive and judging him.

"Fine," I spoke shortly, watching as shock filled his face.

"Fine?" He questioned dumbly, causing my own smile to spread over my face.

"That is what I said."

It didn't take him long to usher us out to his car, talking about a certain cafe he frequents to. I was surprised at how passionately he spoke of the place, listening as he jabbered about it continuously until we were parked in front of the place.

It was a little building nestled in a shopping zone. It was unoriginally named "Café Coffee". A bell chimed as we entered the building. I was enveloped in a sense of warmth, the smell of coffee tickling my nose. It was sharp, but soothing enough for me to just melt on the spot. Freshly baked sweets sifted, intertwining with the coffee to create the most pleasing scent I had smelled in a while.

The room had a lit up display case, housing the desserts and pastries they were selling. Above the counter was a chalkboard with the drinks listed. Round tables were situated out in the open, ranging from two chairs to six. In the corner there was a seating area with four armchairs and a dining table.

"Renny!" called a girl from behind the counter. He grinned, waving at her.

"Hey, Lizzy!" he shouted back. He guided the two us to the front of the counter. I didn't know whether to start with the coffee or the food, my eyes darting between the two displays. "This is Jacqueline. It's her first time here." Lizzy's eyes seem to light up when I looked st her with a polite smile.

"Oh, so you're Jacqueline! Lorenzo comes in here all the time, and recently he just can't shut up about you," Lizzy revealed in a teasing voice. I looked over at Ren to see a light blush hearing his cheeks.

"Just get me the usual, Lizzy," he ordered her, avoiding the topic. She giggled, turning around and grabbing a medium sized cup and moving around the machines the back. I side-eyed the male next to me.

"Hey, Lizzy," I started, gaining her attention. She looked over her shoulder at me. "When you're done with his order I'll take a cinnamon roll and the caramel latte in a medium cup."

"You guys are made for each other," she swooned. She must have seen my confusion because she grinned. "That's his exact order that he always gets."

"Oh," I answered dumbly, not knowing how else to respond. I felt my own cheeks heating up at the news as I tried to appear busy by surveying the cafe again. Eventually she finished our order, Ren shooing me off as he paid for all of our items. I grabbed the cups, balancing the cinnamon rolls on top of the lids as I headed for a table for two. I set his order down, taking the chair that was facing the counter. I took a small bite out of the cinnamon roll as I looked out the window next to me. I moaned at the taste, sinking into my seat.

"It's good right?" My eyes flicked up to Ren who was messing around on his interface before shutting it down. I nodded in response, taking another bite. Satisfaction coursed through me.

"So you talk about me a lot, eh?" I asked, setting the roll down to sip at the latte. I watched Ren stiffen before chuckling awkwardly.

"She was over exaggerating. I mentioned you like once or twice," he played off coolly.

Clearly he had forgotten that I was a psychiatrist that knows the signs of lying.

"Hmm," I humored him with a vague response, slightly flattered that I gave him enough of an impression that he talked about me. He quickly changed the subject, bringing up a stories of his past time. I giggled along with him, bridging mine off of his when they related. We stayed in the cafe hours longer than we should have. I enjoyed myself more than expected, slightly disappointed when we eventually left, and Ren dropped me off at my building once we were finished.

It was an experience I wouldn't mind repeating again.