Just like that.His eyes are cold and unreadable.
Like he shut a door on me.Or built a wall in a single breath, what was there is no more.
I swallow hard.“Morning.”
“Hey.”His voice is low, rough, familiar enough that something traitorous inside me softens.
Ally shoots me a quick glance, the kind that saysdon’t start, don’t cry, don’t flip the bakery display case.Because honestly, I could do all of those things.I pretend not to see it.
“What brings you here?”I ask, walking behind the counter, keeping my tone casual.
He shrugs one shoulder.“Needed coffee.”He looks annoyed before explaining, “Chux brought Ally some shoes she forgot at home.”
He’s lying.Riot hates expensive coffee.He hates bakery coffee because he swears the sugar dust is in the air and falls into the cups.He says it tastes like sweetened dirt.He only ever orders coffee when he wants to see me.
Or… when he used to want to see me.
“Sure.”I grab a cup.“You want?—?”
“Black.”
Short.Abrupt.
He’s been like this for days before I called it quits.
Honestly?Maybe weeks.
I just didn’t want to see it.
I pour his coffee, set it down, but before I can step away, his hand closes around the cup—and his fingers brush mine.
Every cell in my body lights up.
Riot goes still, jaw tightening, eyes locked on my hand like he didn’t mean to touch me.Or like he meant to but regrets it.
And suddenly I can’t breathe.The elephant sitting on my chest feels heavier than ever before.
“Kelly…” he starts.
Nope.No.Absolutely not.
“Save it,” I state quietly, pulling my hand back.“We’re not doing that thing where you try to talk casually and I pretend it’s fine.This dance we’ve been doing was fun while it lasted.We agreed.No need to act some kind of way.”
His brows pull together.“I’m not?—”
I cut him off throwing my hand up.“You are.”I force a brittle smile.“But don’t worry.I get it.”
He stares at me, unreadable.The kind of look that used to make me blush and laugh and roll my eyes.Now it just makes my stomach twist.
Ally calls my name walking back in, probably sensing tension thick enough to cut with a knife even from where she was outside.
“I need a minute,” I tell her not looking at Riot.“Cover the counter?”
She nods walking directly to the pastry counter giving Chux a nod.
I look at Ledger, “a single second of your time?”I ask hoping this will give me the closure I so desperately need.
Riot doesn’t move as I step around the counter, motioning him toward the hallway.
