Page 17 of Sorry, We're Closed

Yes, Sombre’s Café’s coffee, Sawyer Sombre’s coffee, is delectable. I have never understood how people can taste these layers of flavour in coffee, instant or ground, it all tastes the same to me until this iced coffee in particular.

“Well, you will be going there more, I need this caffeinated goodness in my life.”

Marcus finishes the last drop from his cup and begins to rise from the sofa, it was like watching a baby deer take its first steps. This baby deer does not let the blanket with sweater wearing dogs go, which I assume he found left in the wardrobe when we moved in, otherwise he’s explaining when and where he bought this. He wraps it around his shoulders and plods his way into the kitchen.

“That is more than fine by me. Now, do you want me to cover the shop for the day and you can sit up here wallowing?”

I fix my gaze towards my cup, and suddenly I can feel Sawyer’s delicate, freckled skin under my guitarist fingertips again. The idea of having to go to Sombre’s Café for the foreseeable future, for however long we are in Tetherton, causes an unfamiliar warmth to build deep inside me.

How has a pretty boy done this to me? This is whatIdo to pretty boys, but no one has ever sparked this feeling for me before.

“You seem pleased at the idea of having to go and get coffee for me every day. So, you are just going to go to this café every day, for me, and get me coffee?”

Marcus pulls the blanket tighter around his shoulders as I see him jitter slightly, and I can tell he’s snickering to himself as he plans to dig further into this. He knows all too well that I wouldn’t be willing to be his little servant since we are a team, he helps me and I help him, however I am not telling him about some boy crush.

He may be completely aware of the people I’ve been with in previous towns and cities, and we may have this unspoken word about us both “staying active” wherever we go, but one thing we have never spoken about is actual attraction.

Marcus is one of, if not the most, understanding person I have ever met, but I don’t think I want to know what the man who has never had a serious relationship and has never even discussed the idea of ever settling down thinks of his nephew genuinely, possibly, maybe, having a chance at falling for someone.

Why am I even worrying about this? I saw a pretty boy one time. I wouldn’t mind seeing him again, though.

“Yes, it’s fine, Marc. Now, I’m heading downstairs for the day.”

I throw myself over the back of the sofa with one arm holding me up on the back of it, grab the remainder of my coffee, and make my attempt to leave for the day, but even when hungover, his voice still has that deep punch to it,

“Well, we all know that’s bullshit, A, but I’ll let it slide, for now.” He winks at me, grabs me by both shoulders and pulls me in, wrapping me in this velvety burrito he has created. “Thanks for everything kiddo, no more drinking for me!”

We both know that’s a lie. I snicker to myself before he slams his hand in between my shoulder blades and laughs. “Oh, you’ll never learn, Avory!”

“Neither will you, clearly!”

I signal to all of Marcus before leaping for the front door and heading to the shop below. Marcus’ voice booms from the other side of the door as I hear him shout after me which eventually dulls down into laughter.

I spin the shop keys around my finger, going around and unlocking every door and shutter before turning on every light and display we have. Rows upon rows of incredible guitars light up as they carefully hang on the wall, a few others – which we didn’t mind people using – standing tall on a rack, and tables pepper themselves around with smaller items such as picks and packs of strings on them, Bright Lights flyers littered all over.

I dig around the desk we found hidden downstairs and discover a duster and spray, ironically both of which need cleaning. I do a round with the cleaner and duster on the guitars; tables, displays, window ledges, and the desk, until all that fills my lungs is the overpowering taste of the beeswax spray, dust and a desperate need to cough it all up.

Setting up the shop is always a walk in the park, and it’s always my perfect excuse to rehearse once everything is done. I drag over a black and gold amp and lift it onto the desk, then I carry over one of my favourite pieces. I’ll be devastated in the best possible way when this one finds a home – a black and white electric guitar with the most common design, yet a sound no one would know about by just looking at it.

Even after every journey it has been on, this guitar has always created the cleanest and most crisp sound which vibrates throughout my body. Every note echoes within me and the desire to hear note after note grows, always leading me to creating some sort of riff or chorus for a future song.

The rest of my day is drowned away with this guitar and amp.

Nine

Sawyer

I can’t get that man out of my head as I bury myself in the duvet, creating a personal cave hidden from the world. Avory Bright, who ironically is dimming every other thought of mine as he stands front and centre in my brain, turns up for five whole minutes and yet takes over my every thought.

Is he attractive? Hell yes.

Is he a genuine person? You never know with someone after only five minutes but something about those piercing blue eyes tells me he is.

Do I hope that he comes back in so I can see him again? Yes. No. I want him to. He can’t. Even if there is anything there, which I’m pretty sure there isn’t because I don’t even know if he likes men the same way I unfortunately do, we cannot be anything.

I cannot be with a man, I need to force him out and far, far away from my mind because I will not be the reason that my mother – who’s currently faking everything in the next room for some unlucky guy’s amusement – doesn’t get the dream she wants.

My identity already ruined our perfect family and its dream. My decisions propelled my father to leave and practically threw my mother into the arms of any man around, so how could I ever approach her with a man as my partner? Someone who would forever rub in her face what I am and that this is what caused everything around us?

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