Coffee Shop

Chapter 1

The wind was strong outside and the only reprieve was the warmth of woodsy coffee shop. I'm quick to grab my warm drink, savouring the taste for a moment. Nothing can ruin this day, absolutely nothing.

"Hey Jess"

Spoke too soon. I know it's him, I heard that voice on repeat for the last two years.

"Adam" I manage a tight smile. The one day I decided to treat myself to getting a coffee, I coincidentally see my ex-boyfriend. His arm around another girl, no surprise there.

I turn to leave, the coffee tastes bitter today. Just as I make way for the door -blizzard be damned- he catches my wrist. Here we go. It's been a month and I'm not even close to being over him, I could never truly shake him out of my system.

"Wait-" he calls out. I turn to face him, his eyes pleading. "How've you been? You've been ignoring my texts"

"Yeah, I've been super busy and all that, so..." I grit out, rocking back on my heels.

He still looks the same, brown wavy soft hair that has been tampered down by his beanie, honey golden eyes and his dimple smile. He was the type that would take more than a few tissue boxes to get over. His broad shoulders were the type you could lean on and that's exactly what this girl was doing. I couldn't hate her even if I tried. I'd had seen her a few times in the hallways but I had never spoken to her.

His eyes read, why are you lying? But his smile says you're still a mystery to me, but I don't want to be your Fred to your Daphne. The coffee still hot in my hands, I stood in silence, unable to move my mouth.

"Well, This is Katie" He grins. She gives a small wave with her mitten hand, gold curls and bright cheeks. Slightly shorter than me and god that smile was the cherry on top. It makes complete sense. She's perfect. She's the fucking birth of Venus.

I give a small wave, the tension stifling my limbs. I turned quickly, my eyes stinging. Old habits die hard. To my luck the corner seat is available, perfect to hideaway behind my laptop.

"Hey wait up, I still wanted to talk" He grabs my arm but doesn't spin me around. I furiously blink away the tears.

"Yeah, what's up?" I give a small smile. He frowns, my eyes look watery, I just know. It's the way he looks at me, helpless. The room feels like it's just us two again, us against the world, like there was no feat too great.

"I, uh, I wanted to check up on you, I wanted this" he gestures his hand between us "To be mutual, to remain friends, or you know, acquaintances?" He sounds to damn hopeful, it's almost hard to not want the same.

"We are, or were. I-" I look around, but words fail me "I just I don't know, maybe in the future, just-" I breath in and close my eyes, trying to regain a semblance of composure. "Adam" I graze his hand with mine.

There's a flood of memories and carefully bottled up feelings that wash over me. I look at him, drinking him up, his warm eyes, his long lashes, and his soft lips. I breath out. The lights turn back on and I step out of his world and into mine.

There is a tug on his arm as he turns around, he looks as if he had just remembered Katie.

"Bye Adam" He walks back, his head down.

I turn around, seeking out a dark space. The booth is my favourite spot, away from the majority of the people but still bright enough from the wall to ceiling length windows. But today, like most, the booth was occupied and none other than to a handy couple. I shook my head to myself, her on his lap, hands in his hair, him with her hand on her back and bum pulling her closer. The only remaining space is the couples corner table, also hidden but not half as cosy.