Chasing Stars ✔️

14.

"Do the stars fight the darkness of night?" - Johd Singh

She

"It really is ok, Jake. Relax."

"Are you sure? I mean you could come with me at the end of your session."

"Yeah, but then you would make your uncle wait longer for the part he needs. Didn't you say it's urgent?"

Jack was stressing out about not being able to wait for me during my session with Dr. B. They were restoring a vintage car in the garage, and Jake was super excited about it.

He explained to me how sometimes it was difficult to keep the original aesthetic of the cars, older pieces being hard to find. It was the case of the car they were working at. Jake found what they were looking for, but he had to collect it in another town. The plan was to drop me at the clinic and drive there. What he wasn't thrilled about was the fact that he wouldn't be making in time for the end of my appointment and was being stubborn about letting me catch the bus or even an Uber. We decided on a compromise: I would wait for him to come back.

"I need some new t-shirts, anyway. There is this cute shop near the clinic. It's perfect. When I am done, I can go grab a snack and the pastry in the corner. Annie's do you know it?"

He nodded.

"See... No big deal. I'll be fine."

"So, shopping and bakery to snack... Such a normal people program, Alexa...." He had a smirk on his lips and his tone of voice was teasing.

"Very funny. Just go," I said, closing the door of the car behind me, walking towards Dr. B's without a second glance.

—

I had a pink blouse with lace details in my hands, holding it in front of my face. It was so cute, but would I wear it?

I continued to stare at it for a few more seconds, before putting it down with a sigh. It was cute, but I would never wear it. Satisfied with my self-control, I paid for the two pieces of clothing that I knew, for a fact, that I would use, and walked out of the store.

Jake should be already on his way back to Westport, and I didn't want to miss the chance to eat one of Annie's chocolate croissants.

The smell of freshly ground coffee beans and melted butter put a smile on my face. I headed to the counter, knowing by heart what I wanted to order when a tall male figure drew my attention. It took me a second to be sure it was him, but his voice gave me the confirmation I needed. Out of instinct, I approached and pulled a bill out of my purse, sliding it next to the cashier "I'll pay for the gentleman's order, plus a chocolate croissant and a lemon verbena iced tea, please."

He turned around fast. His smile was brighter than the shy one he had offered me in the hospital. His dirty blond hair was stilled in a much more casual way.

"Alexa! I... you don't have to do that."

"Already done", I smiled at detective's Matt astonished face.

"Well, thank you. Should we sit then?"

I nodded. We waited by the counter in silence for our order, before sitting on a small table near the window.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here, Alexa. You look well."

"Yeah, I was just passing time, waiting for my ride. And you?"

"It's my day off, actually. I went to the hospital to visit my sister and stopped for a coffee."

So that explained the casual look.