Life of Leslie

4

It had been three days since everything happened. Since Travis took the freedom to destroy my body and confidence. Since he destroyed everything I had tried to build up the last couple of years. But also it had been three days since I met Harry. The man with the mesmerizing green eyes, who saved me. I caught myself spacing out too much as I overfilled the coffee mug I was pouring.

"Leslie." Patricia said as she noticed. "Are you okay? You've been off all day, something you want to talk about?"

"I'm sorry. Actually, a lot of things has happened. It would be quite nice to talk about it I guess but I don't want to bother you with all my..."

I was interrupted by the door bell and I saw those beautiful dark curls I had seen the other day. Harry. He came. I guess he never went to his friend saying I was a crazy woman.

I handed the cup of coffee to the woman who ordered it after I cleaned it up a bit.

"Thank you, dear Leslie." She said. It was one of our regulars, Wendy. An old woman who used to go here with her husband Robert. Sadly he passed away a while back. We try to talk as much as we can to her, specially when there's no customers who need service.

"You're welcome, Wendy. If you want anything else just tell me." I said, giving her a big smile.

"Well hello, Leslie." Harry approached the counter. Damn, he looked even better today. I really need to stop thinking that, he's probably just checking up on me after I got raped. Someone like him could never like someone like me more than that. As he said my name, I saw both Patricias and Matthews gazes shoot towards us with their jaws falling to the floor. Even Wendy looked surprised.

"Hello Harry. I thought you'd never want to see me after the other day." I said jokingly.

"I couldn't wait to see you. I just didn't want to be to forward, I mean after everything that happened."

"Thank you. That was very kind of you. So what would you like to get?" as the words came out of my mouth I realised he would probably say 'you'. You know like in all movies and every cheesy pick-up line.

"I'd like a latte, please. And also your company if you have a free couple of minutes." He smiled. That was the best answer I could have gotten. He made my cheeks heat up so badly I thought they would literally explode.

"I'd love to do so." I joined him in a booth after telling Patricia to come get me if they needed me and I made his drink.

"Mmm, you weren't lying the other day when you told me you made great coffee. So how are you today?"

"Never" I smirked. "I'm good, thank you. How are you?"

"I've never been better." He smiled.

We sat and talked for about 1-2 hours, basically just getting to know each other more. Then the rush started and I had to go back to work.

"It was really nice to see you, Leslie. This was probably not my last visit here, if that's not what you want..?"

"Absolutely not. I'd love for you to come back. I've got your number, so I'll text you when I get off. If that's okay?"

"Perfect! I'll hear from you then. Bye!" his face lit up, and not in the fake kind of way. No he genuinely smiled from ear to ear. This man looked so pretty and innocent.

As he looked over to Matthew and Patricia they smiled and awkwardly waved. As I looked over to Wendy who was still sitting in the same spot with her book, she did the same. I laughed a bit and I saw Harry did the same.

As he went out they all started to ask questions;

"Who was he?"

"When did you meet?"

"Is he your boyfriend?"

I didn't even know what to answer. So I simply said;

"That's Harry."

*****

As I got off work and closed the shop, I did as promised. Texted Harry. But texting can be so hard. Should you use smiley faces? Do you write 'hello', 'hey' or 'heeyy'? I'm so bad at these things. I just wrote what I found right to the situation.

"Hey Harry. It's Leslie :)."

Within 5 minutes I got an answer.

H: "Heyy! Did you get off now? x"

L: "Yeah, I'm cleaning up and then I'll just lock up and go home. What are you up to?"

H: "I can come meet you. Follow you home, it's dark outside."

He really cared about me, very sweet of him.

L: "Are you sure YOU should walk alone in the dark then? ;) but really, you don't have to do that"

H: "Touché, but I'd risk that for you ;). I'm on my way."

How sweet could he possibly be? I don't want to be in lack of judgment. I don't want the same thing that happened with Travis to happen with Harry. But then, Travis was creepy from the beginning while Harry helped me from the mess Travis put me in.

I got done cleaning and decided to head out and wait for Harry. As I turned the key in the door with my back towards the street, I felt two hands slam on either side of my head at the door.

"Hello, gorgeous. Ready for round two?" I recognized the voice and I could tell he even was smirking as he said it.

Travis.