All of the usuals were here today, plus plenty of new faces. A grad student writing her thesis, a lawyer who liked his macchiato extra frothy, some guy reading Kafka like it was his entire personality. The only thing I could truly notice was that Halo wasn’t sitting at the corner table. Again.
Jay had been kicking ass today: running orders, mixing drinks, small talking with the customers. He was bright andenergetic and in such a great mood. He had noticed early in the day that something was off with me, and I’d tried to reassure him, but I could see the way he looked at me as the day went on. He had also expressed concern for my healing road rash. I told him I was riding a mountain bike and took a spill. It’s worth mentioning that I can’t even ride a bike, but he didn’t know that.
I spent a lot of weekends trapped alone in my apartment by choice, but there was something especially oppressive about knowing Icouldn’tleave that had made this weekend particularly difficult. I couldn’t wait to get back to work just so I could breathe again.
The crowd thinned out in the afternoon, and I moved to wipe down the table tops in the silence. My eyes moved to the blueberry muffin sitting in a plastic container on the counter and I sighed.
Jay came up behind me with a rag in his hands too. Instead of helping, he stood there and squeezed it between his hands.
“Are you sure everything is okay?” he finally asked.
I turned to smile at him. “Yeah, just an off day. You know?”
“Yeah, I get that… and I don’t mean to push it. I’ve just never seen you sit behind the counter like that. It just isn’t your vibe. Is there anything I can do to help?”
This kid was gold, absolute solid gold.
“Actually, I do have something I need help with. Do you know anyone who pet sits?”
“Like a dog? Or like Regret?”
“Regret,” I confirmed. “You know, I mentioned I’d be going out of town for a little bit. I don’t know who I can trust him with. Could I pay you to come to my apartment and feed him and just… I don’t know. Let him know he’s not been abandoned?”
“Of course, I can do that. You know you don’t have to pay me.”
“You’re a lifesaver.”
“Is there anything else?”
“No, thank you, though. Really. I don’t think you understand what this means to me.”
The bell above the door tinkled, and I turned with a reflexive smile, but it quickly faltered.
The cop that had come to my apartment was standing in the doorway. He looked smug. Smiling like we shared a secret. Like he owned something he could use against me. He sauntered in with the relaxed confidence of someone who thought the badge on his chest made him bulletproof.
“Smells great in here.”
Jay retreated behind the counter, clearly distrustful of the man based on the uniform alone.
“Oh, hello, Officer. Can we get you something?” I asked evenly.
He smiled, strolling over to the counter and leaning heavily on it as I rounded the corner and stood behind the register.
“Thought I’d stop in and follow up with you about that report you made. Also—” He tapped the counter twice. “I’ll take an Americano.”
“You want a donut with it?” Jay deadpanned, not missing a beat.
I would’ve laughed any other time, but Jay didn’t understand how dangerous this situation was. I swallowed back an anxious fear and refused to let it show on my face as I responded.
“No problem, that’ll be four twenty-five.”
“So… about the report.”
“I’ve moved on,” I interjected flatly. “You were right, I didn’t see anything. It was a stressful day, and I wanted to get home that night. I was on edge. Delirious.”
“Smart woman.”
He counted exact change on the counter: four dollar bills, two dimes, and a nickel. I reached for them, and he grabbed my arm with lightning reflexes. I almost made a surprised sound butmanaged to catch it before it was born. I fixed him with my own venomous glare.
