Beyond Denver

Chapter 11

The place is dead now. Only Jeff and I are behind the counter. Maroney was still sitting in the corner, his eyes on the laptop screen. I have five minutes left until the end of my shift. Jeff turns off the radio as Rhianna's song starts playing.

"So, camping trip next weekend, huh?"

"I guess so. Do I have a choice?" "I didn't know you were part of Danika's group."

"I'm not. I'm not part of any group."

"Danika can be snobbish. Meggie is a little too cuckoo. Amaya and Luna are one of the coolest people I know. Denver is awesome. And you have nothing to lose. Sugar River is fun." Jeff says as he gets another cup of coffee to give him an extra boost for the day. 

"Yeah. That sounds like an adventure," 

I place my apron on the hanger and grab my purse.

"That's why are you here, right?" Jeff continues to ask me in a soft voice. He sits on the stool now. "You aren't here only for college, but to find your purpose; live your life without regrets."

 Maybe Jeff is right. I should give this place a chance. "So, you're friends with Denver, too?" I ask more out of curiosity than interest. 

"Who doesn't know Denver in this city? He is one of the most fabulous guys I've ever met. He is down to earth and sometimes stubborn, especially when he wants something wrong. You know, he broke up with a girl last year, and he's doing better than he can admit to himself. 

"Was that serious? Their relationship? Why did they break up?" The conversation started to pick my interest. 

"Wow. Slow down, " Jeff sighs. "Well, as far as I know, they were together for about two years, but then they suddenly broke up and never saw each other again."

"Wow. That seems intense."

Jeff laughs, "His mother got very upset when they broke up."

"I'm sure she did. And the girl? I bet she was devastated."

"I'm not so sure about that. She found another boyfriend a month or two after they split up." Jeff looks downright for a second before standing up from the stool and changing the radio station. Nirvana plays this time. 

"Now. Listen. If you're considering dating Denver, that's what I can tell about the guy. He helped me when I needed someone the most. You know, we were classmates in high school. I got into a deep depression following my mother's death, and my best friends turned back on me. Denver was the only one for me. He came to my place with books and assignments every day. I wouldn't graduate if it weren't for him. And we were not close friends or anything before that. I try not to be emotional, except regarding this." 

"I'm sorry about your mother," I tell him. 

"This was a great lesson. Everyone loses someone one day or another. Life is too short. Do yourself a favor and go camping with Danika's group. It might not be as bad as you think," he winks. "Also, everything is better than taking another shift with Scarlet," he laughs.

"I get it, but for your information, I'm not considering dating Denver." I chuckle, but that only lasts a minute. I'd lost some time talking to Jeff and needed to return home. I don't even notice Maroney standing before me. Up close, he's hot. "Sorry, would you like another cup of coffee, sir?"

"I'm not a sir," he answers thoughtfully. Ouch. I fix my throat again out of nervousness. The guy is right. He is probably twenty or twenty-one.

"I can take care of that," offers Jeff politely. 

"I don't need another coffee," Maroney says with a severe expression.   Instead, this guy, Maroney, points to the restroom. "I'm afraid that man is still there..."