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Trisha handed me my coffee and I took a sip of the bittersweet taste. It was energy in a cup and I reveled in it. I owed my measured sanity to coffee these last seven weeks. Even my trusted white hot chocolate had nothing on the caffeine.
"What do you want for breakfast?" Trisha asked, ruining the little pleasure I found in the moment.
"Nothing."
"Liv,"
"I'm not hungry, Trisha." I said flatly. I hoped she didn't press this. I didn't want to waste the energy. Today was a big day for me and I needed to save all the vigor I could.
"You're all bones, Liv." Trisha shivered. "Are you trying to kill yourself? Cause if you are I can give you a few less painful ways."
She was angry. I could hear it in her voice. But the thought of food made me physically ill and I didn't think I could eat just to appease her. "Please don't do this, Trisha." I said tiredly. "I'll eat lunch, all right?"
Her eyes narrowed. "You promise?"
The little shit would make me promise. "Promise."
"Fine." She pointed her finger threateningly. "But you will not get out of that promise later."
I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't have tried."
"Lair." She accused before nodding to the hall. "Go get dressed and we'll catch a ride to Liv Books Café together."
That was what I named my café bookstore. Liv Books Café. Actually, it was more Trisha who named it because I hadn't been able to get my mind into the game long enough to come up with a fitting name. But I liked it. It felt right. It felt good.
"I am dressed."
Trisha scowled. "No you aren't." She shook her head. "You're not wearing that on opening day."
I looked down at the brown pencil skirt and champagne shirt. What was wrong with this? "I'm not changing. I look fine."
"Yeah, you look fine." Trisha stated coolly. "But you should look extraordinary."
"It's a bookstore." I sighed, already feeling drained. Handling Trisha on top of not sleeping was becoming too much for me to bear. I would drop dead from exhaustion surely.
"It's an elegant café bookstore that you dreamt about since you were little. You're going to enjoy this day, Liv, even if I have to do something drastic."
I didn't know what she was talking about, but I didn't feel much like listening to her rambling either. I couldn't placate her with food, but I could at least change into something she thought was more fitting for the opening.
"Fine," I relented on a sigh. "I'll change."
***
Liv Books Café was beautiful and serene. It was everything I imagined it would be with tranquil green walls and elegant dark chocolate wood trim and crown molding. The floor was dark tile and the café was assembled with matching, curved wooden cupboards and stainless appliances. The dishes were all green to compliment the tranquility of the walls. It was beautiful. Calming.
I took a deep breath in and sighed on release as I stood in the entrance. At first, I was met with the decadent aroma of exotic coffee beans, sugars and pastries. Small circular tables were positioned over the floor by the door and soft cushioned chairs sat closer to the rows of bookshelves. The back of the space held more seating for patrons requiring a little more privacy. There was a small remote fireplace and the lighting was dim - almost romantic. In the far right corner, there was a double door entrance into my private office. The doors were assembled with the same wood as the trim. They looked heavy and elegant. Trey had captured every intricate detail I had ever wanted housed within these walls. He was truly exceptional.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Trey spoke beside me and I nodded.
"It is." If I were my normal self, I was certain I would have been tearing up. But I wasn't. My voice was nearly void of all emotion, but that wasn't a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it was good. It meant I was succeeding in shutting myself down to feeling. I needed that to continue walking within the world of the living. I need numbness. "Thank you." I added politely.
Trey bumped my shoulder with his and my stomach rolled at the heat emanating from his person. "You've got everything in order. You've got the staff trained, the signature lattes and the hottest books. Everything is done. This is your dream and you've worked hard in the last two months to make it a reality. Short of working my men to the bone," he chuckled. "You did good."
"I couldn't have done it without you." I said and I meant every word. I couldn't have done this without Trey. In only seven weeks, we completed the interior set up, ordered product and trained trusted employees. It was more than I could have asked from just any contractor. But in the short time I had known him, Trey had become a good friend.
