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“Okay. Spit it out then.” I shrug.
“I want you back. I know what I did was stupid and I’ve beat myself up over it every damn day. But we can’t just be over.” He’s begging again, something I’ve come to learn I hate him doing.
“I don’t want to be with you anymore, not after how you treated me.” I clench my jaw. It isn’t worth trying to explain that to him if he doesn’t get it.
“You’re being unreasonable! I make one fucking mistake and I lose everything because of it?” he spits. It’s like a light has flipped in his eyes and now I’m the enemy.
“I think you need to go.” I hold open the front door and he grabs my arm, digging his hands in my wrist.
“Ow!” I pull back, and he lets go.
“Lainey, please.” He’s all soft and sweet again. I can’t keep up with these constant mood swings.
“You need to go. NOW.” I raise my voice for the first time at him.
“No, I’m not leaving until you consider to get back together.”
“No, you need to leave before I call the cops,” I threaten, holding up my red wrist. That is all the proof I need to have them believe me this time.
“You wouldn’t.” His eyes darken and he steps closer.
“T-take one more fucking step and I will,” I growl. It is like fighting with a bear, you just have to seem stronger and tougher than the bear.
“Whatever.” He rolls his eyes and laughs. “I’ll be back, Lainey,” he says in a tone that sounds equally threatening and equally like a promise.
As soon as he leaves, I shut the door behind him and brace myself. Taking three large deep breaths, I try to make myself feel better, but all I feel is anxiety. I close my eyes, holding my wrist and taking more deep breaths. It takes a few minutes but I finally calm down, and I can’t believe I let him hurt me again. I can’t believe I let him get to me like that, once again. I sigh, grabbing some ice from the back and putting it on my wrist. It’s then that I make a promise to myself to make sure Steve never puts his hands on me again.
CHAPTER4
CARTER
After meeting Lainey,I swear it is what most would call love at first sight. Only, I don’t believe in love at first sight and I barely know this woman. I can’t possibly be falling for someone after one encounter. But then again, it is clear that after the third time I get coffee from her, there is some kind of a spark. I can’t quite explain it, but it is almost like a buzz of electricity between us.
I’ve made it part of my morning routine to grab coffee and a cinnamon roll at Cinnamon Roll Saviors. Sometimes I’ll bring in coffee for the whole staff, but not every day. I used to be more of a tea drinker but lately I am drinking coffee by the gallon full, to have an excuse to see Lainey. And on the days she isn’t there, it is more disappointing than I care to admit. Although the kid behind the counter is cheerful and helpful, they aren’t Lainey.
“Carter, right?” Lainey says today, with a smile on her face. I waited on the line for my time to talk to her and order something, just like everyone else, but I can’t help but wonder if she thinks of me like I think of her. Probably not.
“Yup.” I wonder if she really knows everyone in town’s name. I probably am not special or anything, yet it made my heart flutter when she knew my name. What the hell is going on with me? I’m not the gushy, romantic, butterflies in my stomach type. I am the grumpy, you can come to me and maybe I’ll admit I like you type. Something about Lainey makes me fall out of all my norms, and I don’t know how to feel about it.
“Can I get you anything special today?”
“Yeah, I want to switch it up. Can I try the pumpkin latte?” I have a feeling everything on the menu is going to be good, but I don’t want her thinking I am someone who has a ‘regular’ drink choice.
“Ooo, those are delicious! You should try it with our pumpkin muffin if you’re interested.” She smiles happily. She is like a ray of sunshine with how perky she is. Which is normally something that would piss me off, but with Lainey, I find it to be endearing.
“Sounds perfect.” I nod, looking at them through the glass case. They are topped with cream cheese icing, my favorite.
“Coming right up, are you getting this to go today?” she asks, looking at the clock. I am here later than normal because it is my day off and I had gotten to sleep in for once. Something I hadn’t expected her to notice.
“Actually, I’m going to stay here. I have off today.” Is it bad that I am still getting out of bed for a Lainey and coffee fix on my day off? Probably. But I don’t want to admit how I am crushing on someone who might not even be into women. Let alone someone who might be this perky and cheerful with all her customers.
“Perfect, why don’t you have a seat and I’ll bring everything to you?” She smiles, her red lipstick bold and bright.
“Okay.” I pay and look around for a table to sit at. There’s one in the back corner by the window that has a booth, a table, and an extra chair. I make my way over, sling my bag over the chair so no one tries sitting with me and then take a spot in the booth. I pull out my iPad from my bag and wait for Lainey to bring over my stuff.
I try not to watch her, but she is sort of mesmerizing. Sure, she is smiling and cheerful with the rest of the customers that had been behind me, but I still want to believe it is different with me. Lainey and I have this sort of connection that goes beyond customer and employee. At least, that’s what it feels like to me. Sometimes it is hard to read Lainey, as if she has this guarded wall up between us. I wonder if that is something everyone can feel.
“Here you go.” Lainey smiles, bringing over my coffee and muffin. The coffee has a heart design with the milk, and the muffin is on a small plate.
