Just My Cup of Tea

thirteen

To say that I was relieved when I finally got to leave the wrecked building would be an understatement. I almost sprinted out of the room when I said goodbye to Eric, not caring about Mr Gavin's potential wrath and as soon as the cold air hit my face, I was able to breathe properly. 

I stood out there for a minute, my arms wrapped around myself, my lower lip trapped underneath my teeth and my petite frame shaking. It was as if all my thoughts were racing around and around my head in circles and every time I reached for one to sort it out, it would slip out of my grasp for me pushed through my fingers by another thought leaving me helplessly cold as the words continued with their dance around my mind. 

Before I could register what was happening, my legs gave in and I melted down on the curb, placing the flowers beside me as my head fell into my hands. It was all too much in that moment and it took a matter of seconds before I started sobbing helplessly into my hands. 

Every month, week, day, hour, minute and second that I had spent praying and begging for a chance to see him again. For a chance to put my arms around him and feel his lips against my skin. The things I told myself I would give away just for one phone call. One text. Anything that told me that he still cared. He still loved. But he never did send a text or leave a call, not even once. And now out of the blue, he appeared, his gorgeous lopsided smile and twinkling eyes. 

When my sobs had quietened down and I began to hiccup softly into the sleeve of my hoodie, my eyes caught the orange from beside me and my gaze shifted down to the flowers. I looked at the lilies for a moment before sighing and rubbing my eyes. 

I hardly had an hour to get ready and get to dinner on time and here I was wasting time on the sidewalk outside some supermarket. I picked up the flowers from beside me before allowing a small smile to spread across my face. 

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I shuffled for my keys inside my bag, cursing when I couldn't find them because I was already running late for dinner. Suddenly the door slammed open in front of me and there stood Allison with an annoyed look on her face. 

'You are so fucking late!' she practically screeched at me before pulling me into the apartment and slamming the door shut. She dragged me towards my room and shoved me inside before rushing past me to search the dressing drawer. 

Allison probably didn't know about Eric being back yet alone being the "wealthy man" to make deals with the place where we worked at and all of a sudden, I didn't exactly feel like telling her. I knew that it wasn't good of me to agree to that coffee meet up with him and if Allison found out she'd stop me from going at all costs.

And if I were smart, I'd tell her right away to make sure she did stop me at all costs. But I wasn't very smart. 

And as much as I hated to admit it, I really did want to go to that coffee hang out and pretending it had to do more with knowing what he'd been up to rather than simply wanting to see him again. 

Allison spun around holding a comb in one hand and a mascara wand in another. 'Lanna what are you doing just standing there? Put on that white dress and hurry the fuck up!' she practically screeched at me pointing to a beautiful white dress that was laid on the bed and had managed to pass my vision. 

'What-?' I blinked at her confused. Did she know about Alexander asking me to dinner tonight? She turned to groan at me before she caught sight of the flowers in my hand. 'It's really such a pretty bouquet..' she trailed off for a moment before her eyes snapped to mine again. 

'How did you-?' I started, blinking at her, my eyes knit in confusion. 

'Oh god do you really think he went to Gabby to send them to you?'