Incubus

Chapter 24

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud 

was more painful than the risk it took to blossom

~Anais Nin

I held my hand underneath the sink to cease the pain emanating from the burn. My hair fell out of its braid as I looked down at the scorched skin to see if it was serious or not.

"You all right, Corin?" Connor asked as he placed his hands on my shoulders to peer at my hand. His hot breath beat against my neck, and I had to force myself to not squirm out from underneath him.

"Fine," I quickly replied and tried to keep the bite out of my voice. My one-worded answer was a deliberate attempt to be left alone; I didn't need his help.

"You sure?" he asked and raised his eyebrow.

"Yes, Connor." I shut off the water and moved around him to get back to the machine. "I just need to finish this order." My teeth clenched as I turned it back on to attend to the impatient customer. She tapped her heels at a quick tempo which escalated as she sighed dramatically, flipping her long hair over one shoulder. The fake platinum blonde streaked hair and business suit informed me that I had to hold my tongue and be respectful.

"I can do that for you," Connor offered as he tried to take the cup out of my hands, almost causing the coffee to spill all over the floor.

"Connor, I know you're trying to help, but can you please just," I sighed in frustration. "I've got it under control. Maybe Olivia needs your help," I said and hoped he would take the bait.

He eyed me skeptically but finally walked off, his crooked posture causing me to wince. He would probably slouch for the rest of his life if he didn't correct it soon. Overly aware of my own posture, I stood up straight. 

"Excuse me?" the woman on whom I currently waited called out over the giant machine. "I have a meeting I have to make it to, and I'm quite late already. Is there any way this could go a little faster?" Her annoyance at my service, or lack thereof, was patent.

"I'm sorry, I just burned myself, but it'll be right out," I responded. Before I could turn in time, I caught her rolling her eyes as she pulled out her cell phone. I clenched my teeth in annoyance again, a habit I really had to stop.

I slapped a cover on the coffee and handed it to the woman. She yanked it out of my hands as she barked orders into the phone and stalked out of the coffee shop. I smiled sweetly after her, secretly wishing that she choked on her drink.

"You seem a little irksome today," Olivia commented while she positioned herself behind the cash register. "Everything all right?"

"Did Connor send you to talk to me?" I asked as I pushed more flyaways out of my face.

She shook her head. "No, but I can tell. He was only trying to help," she added quietly.