Adore

Chapter 3

After our journey to the park was over we reached our house and I unlocked the door. The heating inside welcomed us home.

The rest of the day was filled with more unpacking and sorting out the contents of my life. I arranged and then rearranged room after room till I felt everything was in the perfect place.

Archie was snoozing away on his bed as I headed upstairs to work on my closest. The tower of boxes stacked in the corner of my room seemed overwhelming when I looked at them but I was determined to get this finished so my home was complete.

•••

I laced up my chunky boots and double checked that my phone, keys and purse were tucked in my backpack. I had on some black stockings and black high waisted shorts that were pressed like trousers but were made from thick material.

I fixed my off the shoulder crop top and painted my lips a dark berry colour that matched the flowers on my top. I picked up a layered necklace from my makeup table and clasped it around my neck.

I checked my outfit over once in the mirror and smiled at myself, thinking I looked pretty good today.

I made my way downstairs my chunky boots thudding along the dark wood floors. I had gotten ready to head out to this great little coffee shop I had found a few days ago while out walking Archie.

"Be a good boy, I'll be back soon" I called out to the pup, pulling my coat around my shoulders.

A gust of chilly air picked up my long red hair and I patted it back down hoping it wouldn't get stuck to my lipstick. I readjusted my hat and set off on my journey.

The coffee shop I had found a few days ago was a quaint little shop run by a young, recently married couple who were passionate in the art of coffee making and environmentally sustainable practices. We had got to chatting the few times I had visited and were slowly becoming friends. The cafe decorated with mis-matched furniture and and dark timber beams were exposed from the roof.

I walked the familiar journey towards the coffee shop, my headphones playing music in my ears and I began to think about my life back home.

I had quite a complicated relationship with my family. It felt like we were always so opposite and that they never really understood the way I worked. I know that sounds very angst-y but I always felt as though they were too caught up in their own lives to invest time in knowing me.

I'm sure it was different when I was younger, I just had a hard time remembering that. We had faced some pretty bad financial crises and that took a toll on my parents marriage, and our family dynamic as a whole.

My older sister was perfect in my parents eyes and I was the troubled younger sibling that they couldn't control. Not that I did anything that outrageous when I was younger.. just the regular teenage bullshit.

I missed my sister a lot though, even though we were really different we still have a close relationship which I was grateful for.

I had reached the cafe sooner than expected being lost in thought seemed to make the journey take no time at all.

I entered the shop and a small bell jingled above my head to signal there was another customer. I peeled off my coat as the heating inside was toasty warm. Taking my backpack off I fished out my wallet and went to the counter to order.

"Hi Jace, can I please get a.." I began to say

"A caramel latte and blueberry muffin?" Jace, one of the owners asked before I finished my sentence.

"Am I really that predictable?" I asked with a small laugh.

"Wont be long" He said to me in his rich accent. After paying I took my regular seat over by the large window that faced the road.

There were two big burgundy coloured leather arm chairs, their age showing by the cracks in the leather and worn out legs. The whole cafe had this charming vintage feel, which was one of the reasons I visited so often.

It felt so homely here. The smell of coffee pouring floated through the air and every so often the scent of freshly baked muffins coming from the kitchen. The chit chat between Jace and his wife Lucy and conversations with other customers could be heard softly through out the cafe.

Lucy had brought over my coffee and muffin and we chatted for a little while before a small group of guys strolled past the window, paused at the front door and entered the coffee shop.

The first young man I saw had brilliant greeny blue eyes and light brown hair which was styled messily but definitely took effort to achieve.

The two younger boys behind him had very similar facial features. As my eyes dashed between them quickly, I wondered if they were twins.

The youngest of the group had to be related to the twins as he had the same mop of sort of curly and shaggy looking hair and freckles across his face.

The final person of the group closed the door softly behind him. His eyes were hidden behind dark aviator sunglasses and a cap pulled down low on his forehead.

Most of his face was concealed but his strong jawline was clearly visible. The nosey side of my personality wondered if he was purposefully keeping himself hidden.

He was dressed in an all black outfit. Unzipping his leather jacket and shrugging out of it, he hooked in on the coat rack. The guy ran a hand through is wavy hair.

And arm stretched up and removed his cap and shades, and as he turned around I recognised him as the young man I met in the park the other day.

Tom, that was his name.

I knew I had been looking at him for too long and just as I was about to avert my gaze, his eyes fell on me and a brilliant smile lit up his face.

"Rhylee?" Tom said walking towards my spot by the window.

A/N I tried to upload photos of the outfits but they keep failing..