illicit affairs//mgg

one

I couldn't tell you how or when it exactly happened. I just remember the tall man with curly brown hair walking into the cafe I worked at. It was the first time I had seen him, but after that he frequented the shop coming almost everyday. I had his order memorized by his third time visiting.

"I'll have a-"

"Large black coffee with plenty of room for sugar?" I looked up at him from the monitor in front of me. A slight smirk on my face.

He flashed me a perfect smile, "Yes, for Matthew."

I tell him the amount he owes and he hands the total tripled, "Oh-"

He stops my hand from giving the extra cash back to him, "It's for you." He flashes me a wink with his brown eyes. His touch sends a shock through my body. I was mesmerized by him since the first day he came in.

I finish making his drink quickly considering it's so simple. I walk over to the end of the counter and hand it to him.

"Here you go, Matthew." I flash him a smile as he takes the drink.

"Thank you very much," He squints his eyes to read my name tag, "Lydia." A small smile crosses his face as my name leaves his lips.

I watch as he turns around to leave, but he stops and faces me again. "When does your shift end?"

I feel butterflies flutter in my stomach, "In about two hours."

"Would you maybe want to grab some lunch...?"

I'm shocked at his question, "Um yeah, of course."

"Alright, I'll pick you up in two hours then."

We got lunch regularly when my shifts ended after that. I quickly realized he was married when my eyes landed on the gold band. I somehow convinced myself that what we were doing wasn't wrong. It was normal for a forty year old married man to befriend a twenty one year old barista, right? I told myself that nothing more would happen between us, no matter how much I wanted our friendship to develop into something more. It wasn't until he asked me to join him on his work trip.

"What?" I ask him with wide eyes. He laughs at my reaction.

"Why not? I'll pay for your flight. We'll have to fly separately, but you can stay in my room." He casually takes a sip from his iced tea after he explains his plan. Matthew had to fly to Los Angeles for something important he didn't really go into details, but he'd have to stay for five nights.

I debate myself in my head. One side wants to go with him so badly, but the other side just calls myself a home wrecker.

"Okay." The words leave my mouth without me even realizing it.

"You'll come? Yes!" He exclaims excitedly. I feel flattered that he wants me to come so badly.

Matthew has mentioned how he feels trapped in his marriage. Him and his wife were high school sweethearts, and he felt as though marriage was the only outcome for them. I never saw that as a reasonable excuse for him to cheat on his wife, but it gave me hope. Maybe he would leave...for me.