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1
QUINN
The bell jingles softly above the coffee shop door signaling our entrance. Me and my best friend Lily step toward the counter more than ready for a hot cup of coffee to start our day.
The barista with hair like autumn leaves and eyes as deep and brown as the coffee she brews meets my gaze. In that instant, there's a flicker of recognition in her eyes. It's as if she's read a chapter of my life that I never voiced out loud. She gives me a look of pity and offers a sympathetic smile. She offers a silent nod to the absence of my former fiancé, Leo, who once stood by my side in this very line.
I gulp down the lump forming in my throat, mustering a smile as I place my order. "A caramel frappuccino, please." The barista nods as she taps my order into the register.
Stepping back to make room for Lily, my gaze drifts across the coffee shop and lands on the corner table by the window. To anyone else, it might be just another part of the café but for me, it's where Leo and I used to sit lost in our own little world.
I drift away, the noises of the coffee shop turning into a faint background noise as I'm hit with memories.
The sunlight shines on his blonde hair through the window and his brown eyes light up as we joke about the seating arrangement for our wedding that's only six months away.
"Okay, so your Uncle Joe definitely can't sit next to my Cousin Mark," I say, trying to suppress a giggle. "Remember last Christmas?"
He laughs out. "Oh, I remember and let's not forget your Aunt Clara. She needs to be as far away from the dance floor as possible. Her tango is a safety hazard!" I can't hold the burst of laughter that explodes from me. He's spot on about that. Then, Leo reaches across the table and takes my hand. "How lucky am I to get to spend the rest of my life with you?" he says softly, lifting my hand to his lips for a gentle kiss.
"Quinn? Quinn? You good love?" Lily's voice pulls me back to reality. Her eyebrows are knit with worry.
I shake my head slightly. "Oh, I'm sorry... I just zoned out there." Both she and the barista give me a look that's full of understanding. "Your coffee," the barista says, handing me my caramel frappuccino.
"Thank you," I reply with a small smile, accepting the cup.
As Lily leads the way to find a seat, she heads towardsourold table. I panic and my heart starts to race I never want to sit there again. Not withouthim. "Not there," I blurt out, quicker than I intended.
Lily's eyes widen as she realizes why. "You know what? It's beautiful outside. Let's sit out there," she suggests, pointing to the outdoor seating visible through the window.
"Perfect," I agree.
I glance back atourold table one last time before leaving the coffee shop. My mind races with thoughts - why didn't I trust him? He left that night, driving off in the rain, because of a fightwe had. His accident... I can't shake the feeling that it was all my fault.
"So, how's work, Ms. Workaholic? You practically live there," Lily asks as we settle outside. I laugh, despite the heaviness in my heart. She's not wrong.
"Well, I need to keep going. Work helps me feel like things are normal," I tell her.
She grins, nodding. "We need a fun night out, Quinn. You need to let loose a little. Get yourself back out there." I appreciate her concern, but it's too soon. It's only been a year since the accident, and I'm nowhere near ready for that. Besides, the guilt I carry has led me to swear off relationships and men entirely. I've resigned myself to a solitary life, like a modern nun, minus the church and outfit.
I take a deep breath. "Lily, I still wear Leo's T-shirts to bed sometimes. I can't even think about being with anyone else."
Her eyes grow wide, showing she's worried. "I understand, Quinn, but are you going to bury yourself in work forever? You're going to get cobwebs down there," she jokes.
I press my lips together, feeling like I need to escape, and glance at my watch. "Speaking of work, I need to get going," I say, standing up quickly.
"Sorry if I-" she begins, but I cut her off.
"It's okay, Lily. I know you're just trying to help." She smiles and hugs me. "And don't forget, I'm your sister from another mister," she adds. She's right about that. We've been like sisters since middle school, and I can't imagine anything breaking our bond.
The drive to the office is quick. Riding the elevator up to my floor, I think about everything I need to do today. I'm alone in the elevator, so I take a moment to check my appearance. I run my fingers through my long blonde hair and search my purse for my favorite red lipstick. Red lipstick means business.
The elevator dings and the doors slide open. My assistant Ruby stands up, walks over with her tablet, and gets ready to go through my schedule. "Good morning Ms. Russo," she greets me and I smile at her while stepping into my office. "What do we have today, Ruby?" I ask her.
Ruby waste no time diving into the schedule. "First, you have a 9 AM meeting with the design department to finalize the project specs," she begins, scrolling through her tablet. "Then at 11, there's a conference call with the new client from Denver."
I nod, mentally noting each appointment. "Anything after lunch?" I ask, taking off my jacket.
"Yes," Ruby continues, "At 1:30 PM, you're reviewing the proposals with the new hires, Olivia and Austin. And don't forget, you promised to drop by the marketing team today to discuss their latest campaign ideas."
