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Storming into the bakery, I practically yanked the door off its hinges. There was Christy, busy arranging the cookies and muffins that we baked late at night yesterday. "Whoa, feisty much? What's got you all riled up?" she asked playfully.
I mustered a forced laugh, trying to play it cool. "Oh, you know, just a terrible night's sleep." She squinted at me, her lie detector working overtime.
Even though we hadn't known each other long, it was like she had this sixth sense for detecting my bull. Deciding I wasn't in the mood to spill, she just nodded and muttered, "Coffee?"
"Absolutely," I groaned, snagging her spot behind the counter while she whipped up a much-needed cup for both of us.
I made my way to switch the sign from closed to open, sipping on the coffee Christy had prepared. In that moment, the same woman who had given me the creeps at the bar walked in, as if she had been waiting for us to open for a while.
My insides churned, but she scrutinized me with those critical eyes. I froze as she stepped inside. Christy, sensing something off, approached with furrowed brows. "You don't look so good. Are you alright?" she asked, patting my arm.
Squaring my shoulders, I refused to run any longer. "Yeah, I'm good. Don't worry about me." I said.
Behind the counter, I took her order in a clear voice, proud it didn't waver. "Black coffee and a blueberry muffin, please," she told me. I retrieved her muffin from the display, then turned to brew her coffee. Why did the machine suddenly feel slower than usual?
"It's a nice place you got here," the lady mumbled. "Thanks," I responded curtly, uninterested in a conversation. "May I ask a question, Luna, I mean, Alissa?"
My breath caught, I turned towards her, anger overpowering any fear I felt. I moved from behind the counter, thankful Christy was in the back. "What do you want?" I growled in her face.
She stood her ground. "Did you really think you could take his heart and just escape? Did you really think he would just let you go?" My hand pushed her away hard on their own accord. She was taller, stronger, but I didn't care. I'd fight tooth and nail. "Out!" I screamed, pointing to the door.
The lady's fist clenched, her eyes briefly shifting away before fixing a piercing gaze on me. Christy rushed out from the back, positioning herself slightly in front of me with her hand raised defensively. "Leave, or we'll call the cops," Christy ordered.
The woman held my gaze for a few more tense seconds. "Don't run anymore. Just hear him out," she said before turning and exiting.
Christy turned to me, an incredulous look on her face. "What the hell is she talking about?" she demanded. I steadied myself against the counter, replying, "I have no idea. She must be some crazy person."
Christy's eyes scrutinized my face, clearly itching to argue, but the arrival of customers diverted our attention, and we got back to work.
The entire day unfolded as a series of screw-ups—spilled coffee, dropped pastries, and I even managed to burn a cake we were baking. By the end, I was cleaning up at double speed, attempting to rectify the messes Christy had to fix.
I felt Christy’s hand on my shoulder, and I turned to look at her. She knocked the broom from my hands, giving me a solid hug. I fought back the tears, I needed to be strong. Christy pulled back, holding my face in her hands, locking eyes with me. "What is going on with you?" she asked.
I hesitated, not because I didn't trust her, but this wasn't something I could share with anyone. "She scared me. Came in, talking all sorts of weird crap, and refused to leave. It stressed me out the whole day." "That's it?" she asked, and I nodded. Christy seemed satisfied, hugging me again like a security blanket.
She smacked a kiss on my cheek and bluntly stated, "Don't stress over her; I'll handle it if she shows up again." I mumbled a quick thanks, trying to shake off the earlier tension.
A loud shout pierced through the closed glass door, "Am I interrupting something?"
We both jumped at the unexpected intrusion. Simon appeared, juggling takeout boxes from our go-to Chinese joint. After a bout of laughter, we finally pulled ourselves together enough to let him in. Simon breezed in, hauling a nearby table into place.
The scent of the food was irresistible. Grabbing chopsticks, he snatched a dumpling and stuffed it playfully into my mouth. "Christy tipped me off that you had a rough day. Figured I'd swing by and lift your spirits," he explained.
As I bit into the dumpling, the burst of flavors made me close my eyes, relishing the taste. "You did the trick, Simon. Thanks."
My phone pinged in my pocket, but the delicious aroma of the food was much more important. We pulled up chairs and gathered around the table, eagerly diving into the feast. Simon, every now and then, would feed me something he thought I'd enjoy. Each time, Christy wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, managing to turn both Simon and me beet red.
Simon's attention seemed fixated on my lips, creating a slightly uncomfortable atmosphere. He reached out and wiped the corner of my lips with his finger, claiming there was something there. I nodded, feeling an odd shiver run down my spine. His touch felt off, but I brushed it aside and resumed devouring my food.
My phone erupted with a barrage of texts, and I fished it out of my pocket to scroll through the notifications, curious to see who was blowing up my phone. I nearly choked when I glimpsed my husband's familiar number, coughing uncontrollably.
Simon patted my back, and Christy handed me a cup of water. "I'm okay, guys, just bit off more than I can chew," I managed, though internally, I thought the situation was quite literal. I knew he was back.
Excusing myself to the bathroom, I felt their concerned stares following me, but I ignored them, wanting to read the texts in private. I locked the bathroom door, leaning against the sink as I skimmed through the texts. I didn't even want to know how he got my new number. Fear for Simon gripped me as I read the messages.
-Do not make me hurt him, Luna.
-Why is your friend acting like that? Is there something going on between you and him?
