“Take the stick out of your ass, friend.We have plenty of time for our meeting, and I’ve just acquired a new business.”
He stares in shock.“You bought the coffee shop?”
“More like a silent partner.My woman works here; it deserves our business and protection, don’t you agree?”
The only correct answer is yes, and he’s smart to give it to me.
Arriving minutes before our meeting begins, I spent the drive over emailing my attorney with the details, and he’s happy to start the paperwork.
CHAPTER7
Coco
The good news is, the heat is back on.The bad news is that the electricity went out along the entire block sometime in the afternoon while I was napping.Luckily, my fridge is pretty much empty, so nothing will spoil at least.And now that my mind has cleared of the heavy drug fog I was under in the hospital, I have the added bonus of stressing about paying their bill.
I’ll be out of work for weeks, then I’m supposed to start physiotherapy, but I can’t afford it, so it won’t happen.Oh, plus, I’ll likely have to find somewhere else to live at the end of the month.
Everything is closing in, and there’s no way out.All because I wanted to be friendly and cute to some strange man who wouldn’t have noticed my existence if I’d just kept to myself.
“Stupid, Coco, so freaking stupid.”
Some days, I wonder why my parents ever had me.There’s no life’s purpose for me except to struggle.It was easy in the foster system to dream of a grand future, with an amazing career, a husband who loves me, and the sweetest kids.Reality, however, has been a cold, hard truth, nowhere near what I imagined for myself.
“Stop wallowing.”A ringing phone interrupts my grumbling.Thankfully, it had been charged before the power went out.“Hello?”It’s a private number.
“Coco?”My entire body perks up at the sound of Lucca’s husky voice.
“Yes.”What else do I say?
“It’s Lucca.”Boy, does my body already know that.“How are you feeling?”
Awkward.But I don’t say that.“I’m resting, a little sore, but I’ll survive.”For now.
“That’s good.Can I bring you anything?”Staring around my dinky, little one-bedroom apartment, I stifle a laugh.Would the winning lottery ticket be too much to ask for?
“No, I’ve got everything I need.”I expect him to hang up.
“How about dinner?I’ll be there around six.I just need you to give me your address.”
“Dinner?”I nearly choke on the word while staring at the sleeve of crackers I was munching on, planning to save the rest for later because there’s not much else to eat.
“Yes, I was thinking Thai?Or perhaps you’d prefer soup?I know a great Italian place that makes the best focaccia bread.”
Panic creeps back in.He can’t see this place, see me.I’m a mess.Everything is a mess.
“I’m sorry, I-I-I just…I can’t.”
Hitting the red “end call” button, fresh tears spring to my eyes, and regret coils in my stomach like a snake.I’ve never had so much animosity towards myself or my life before, and now I hate everything.
The phone rings again, then again, until I finally shut the stupid thing off.Lucca is posh and elegant; I’m barely holding on.There’s no way he’d come if I gave him my address.As soon as he saw where I lived, he’d turn right back around.I know this because I want to do the same thing every time I come home.
Leaning back in my chair, I stare wide-eyed at the aging ceiling discolored by old water stains and decorated with cobwebs in the corners as I contemplate what the hell to do with my life.
I love working at Love & Lattes.The amount of time I spend with Sabrina and Janet is what keeps me going because with them, I know I’m loved and wanted.It’s everything outside of that where I feel invisible and alone.
Sure, I could give things with Lucca a chance, but I’ll forever be insecure about our differences, and eventually, he’ll grow tired of it.Don’t men always?They want a woman silent and compliant, right?I wouldn’t know, never having had a boyfriend, and I hold much regret about that now.Maybe if I had some experience, this wouldn’t be an issue.
It is what it is, I suppose.There’s no changing the past either way.
