The Difference

Chapter 7

I wake up happy and then reality hits me. Today is the first day I have to go back to work with Eric. I feel a little guilty for avoiding him since we make it a point to always communicate how we're feeling but I know that if I continue to wait for him, there's not even a guarantee he will feel half as much as what I feel for him, and that is why I need to let him go. I get out of bed earlier than normal for work and decide to make coffee. I wake up and see Brad and Ava passed out on the couch together sharing a blanket. I let out a smile before I make my way to the kitchen and start brewing the coffee. Suddenly, Brad is sitting at the counter waiting for me to acknowledge him.

"Jesus, you scared me," I say, putting my hand on my chest.

"Sorry. I'm a light sleeper," he explains himself.

"It's fine. Coffee?" I offer.

"Please. How'd you sleep?"

"Good, how about you? Enjoy the couch?" I ask, turning my back to him to grab mugs.

"You guys have a very nice couch, I must admit," he says, letting out a laugh.

"Thanks, we really take pride in it," I say sarcastically.

"So, can I ask you a question?"

I fill both our cups and grab creamer and sugar, setting everything in front of him. I walk around the counter and sit two seats over. "What's up?"

"Did Troy do something to offend you?"

"What?"

"I don't know, you guys looked like you were having fun and all of a sudden you just left. What happened?"

"It's really complicated and considering I probably won't ever see Troy again, I'd rather not get into it," I say, distracting myself by preparing my coffee.

"Well, that's not true since you're going to be helping me with the ball for the next few weeks," Ava says, startling me as she joins the kitchen as well.

"Good morning gorgeous," Brad calls over to her as he motions for her to sit down next to him. He gets up and reaches for a coffee mug from the same cabinet I pulled ours from and pours her a cup of the freshly brewed pot.

"Well, good morning and thank you," Ava says, beaming.

"But seriously Rosemary, I mean, Ava and I talked about it last night but she didn't want to tell a story that wasn't hers to tell. But I got the gist. There's a guy who really hurt you and you're scared now," he says, seriously.

"My god is this an intervention? It's not even 7:30 yet," I say, looking at the microwave clock for the time.

"I'm just saying, Troy is a good guy," Brad adds.

"I need to go to work," I say, scooping up my coffee mug and walking across the room. "And let's make this the last time we discuss Troy, me, and attending the ball in the same sentence. Got it?" I ask, a little annoyed.

"Mhm," Ava says as Brad let's out a, "yes ma'am."

With the whole mess between Eric and I, I have no motivation to try to look nice for work. I'm hoping to spend most of the day avoiding him and since Austin isn't the manager on shift today, I can probably hide in the back most of the day. I put on mascara and fill in my dark eyebrows. My hair seems a little lighter today as opposed to the natural near-black color it possess. As I put mascara on, I decide against using some gold eyeshadow to make my green eyes pop. Today, I want to blend in.

"I'm leaving!" I yell to Ava and Brad after I catch a glimpse of them snuggled up on the couch again.

"Where do you work?" Brad asks nonchalantly.