RHYLIE
Beep, Beep, Beep
I really have to start playing the lottery more. That way, I don’t have to get up at the ass crack of dawn just to open my shop: Naughty Beans Cafe. Not that I would ever give it up, but the thought has its appeal. Groaning, I roll out of bed, slip on my glasses, and almost trip over Duke and land on my face. Trust me, it wouldn't be the first time. He was my dad's K9 partner. When dad died, he refused to work with anyone else, so they retired him and he came home with me. He follows me wanting outside and when I'm home, he won't leave my side at all. Going straight for my coffee maker I put in a pod to brew. Willing the damn machine to hurry up, I’m in desperate need of a coffee from the shitty night‘s sleep I had been up baking. I’ve owned Naughty Beans Cafe for five years now and I just recently started adding a few baked goods to the menu, which people seem to love. This means if I don’t hire someone soon to be a part-time baker, I’m never sleeping again.
Once I’ve downed the first cup I start another so I can get ready for the day. As you can tell I don’t do shit all until I’ve at least had one cup. I can’t even have a conversation with people let alone function until I’ve had my coffee. I’m pretty sure by now that’s all that’s running through my veins. That's why I opened up my cafe. I wanted a place where people can go and relax and enjoy a great cup of coffee. I used to love just sitting in a coffee shop watching all the people coming and going. Sitting down for hours with their friends and getting lost in a great cup of coffee. So I went to school to get my business degree and shopped around till I found the perfect blend to brew. I picked the perfect decor: all teal walls with comfortable chairs, couches and my favorite part is all the coffee signs I had made. It's an atmosphere where people can come and decompress. I couldn’t be happier with how everything is going. I have my brother to thank for opening up my Naughty Beans Cafe. He told me to always follow my dreams and not to let fear hold me back from what I want in life. He's been my biggest supporter. I’ve always been on the shy side and he always knows the right things to say to give me confidence. Mason has been my rock since we lost our parents to a drunk driver two years ago and I don’t know what I would do without him. It’s been hard not having them here with us. We have always been such a close family doing everything together and I don't think that the pain of losing them will ever go away. It's like a piece of me died right along with them. The guy that killed them survived with hardly a scratch on him and now he’s behind bars where he belongs. What we didn't know till much later was dad had arrested the guy two weeks before which resulted in the guy losing his job. He spiraled out of control after that, resulting in him driving drunk and hitting mom and dad who were on their way to dinner. Mason thinks I'm crazy for feeling sorry for the man's wife and son but they also have to live with what he did walking around town while people whisper behind their backs, it's not their fault what he did. Mason followed in dad's footsteps and became a cop, which scares the shit out of me but he’s doing what he loves and I couldn’t be more proud of the man he has become. Now if only he would get his head out of his ass and finally ask my best friend Faith out because I know he’s in love with her. For some reason he’s holding back. Faith can hardly string two words together when he’s around which I find highly amusing since she gives me crap about a certain someone. I can’t wait for the day they get together.
Heading back into my bedroom, I now realize the time. I’ve spaced out staring at my coffee machine and now I’m late. I can already tell what kind of day I’m going to have. I rush to get ready quickly. Throwing my hair up in my signature messy bun, black leggings and my Naughty Beans Cafe shirt, that’s as good as it’s going to get. I’m way too tired to put much effort into how I look today. A little lip gloss, eyeliner, and some mascara and I’m good to go. Not that I have anyone to impress since my love life is severely lacking at the moment, the one date I did have in college didn't end well so I stopped trying and just focused on my career.
Hell, I'm a 25-year-old virgin. I’m going to end up a crazy cat lady and I don’t even like cats, don’t judge I have allergies. I’m just lonely at this point. I want someone who loves me for me, not someone who wants to change me. Okay sometimes I space out and trip over air, it’s why heels and I don’t work, but there has to be someone. I’ve always believed that there is someone for everyone, maybe mine got lost and didn’t ask for directions! Most guys don’t even give me a second glance. I’m curvy and while I own that now, it took me a while to love me for me and not how society says you should be. I no longer look in the mirror and see flaws. I see a beautiful successful woman who can do anything she sets her mind to. Most people see me and assume I’m an unhealthy woman and that couldn’t be further from the truth. One day it will happen and until that day comes, I refuse to settle for less. I just wish it was my brother's best friend Lucas Blackwood, who saw me. From the moment I saw him standing beside Mason and he grabbed my hand to shake, I knew, he’s who I wanted to spend my life with. He has the most piercing blue eyes and a killer smile, and don’t even get me started on his tattoos. I was in love with him with just one look and that’s all it took for me. I spent many sleepless nights after meeting him dreaming about what could be. Too bad he doesn’t feel the same way.
