Page 19 of Sorry, We're Closed

Damn you, Avory Bright. Just hearing my name coming out of those pastel pink lips with the slightest pout to them sounds beautiful. I have always hated my name, I’m sure being bullied in school with the nickname ‘Sawyer Sauce’ has something to do with my loathing towards it. Awful word play.

Silence rings loud between us as the machines whirl and ping, both cups sitting on the counter and waiting.

“So, how long have you been in Tetherton, Sawyer?”

Is he trying to find any reason to talk to me? Why does he want to talk to me? Of course, I open my mouth and use far too many words to answer a straightforward question.

“My whole life. I was born and raised here, and now I’m running the family café here.”

“Huh, Sombre’s café. Well Sawyer Sombre has a very nice ring to it, if I may say.”

No, you may not say because the more you say, the more I want to know, but I cannot and will not know more about you, Avory Bright, because you cannot be in my life. You are a roadblock on the road that has been paved for me. If I even think about taking a pitstop at station Avory Bright, then the rest of that road will be destroyed and how else will my mother drive on? How will she ever drive on if I destroy the last road she has to ride?

“Thank you, Avory.”

As I begin to put through his order on the till, I can feel his eyes on me. I can feel that aquamarine gaze of his landing all over me, a warmth growing wherever he looks. If my entire body could blush, it would be the brightest shade of scarlet right now. Is he possibly, maybe, ever so slightly checking me out? I hope not, this’ll make everything so much more complicated.

He taps his phone for payment, grabs his drinks after asking if it’s possible to have a drinks holder, and turns to me once more before leaving.

“Since you know Tetherton so well, care to be my guide around the town?”

My lips part as I try to say anything, any string of words that can get across that I can’t do this.

“Where’s the first place you’d suggest I go? Other than here, obviously.” He laughs to himself, his face falling to the floor before meeting my eyes again, and those eyes cause my mouth to begin to ramble without my mind understanding why.

“Well, obviously there’s the coast which is gorgeous early in the mornings, or there’s The Sweet Bakery just off the high street who serve the most delicious pastries, or—”

As I mindlessly wipe the counters, my eyes following the cloth’s creases sway and bend with the flicks of my wrist, Avory leans against the counter and his seasoned cologne tingles my nose. I turn myself away, quietly cursing to myself for allowing myself to ramble.

“Hey, are you okay?” Avory’s head cocks to the side, his waves of jet hair laying over the top of his shoulder. I stumble over my words, avoiding Avory’s being as much as possible.

“Yes, I’m fine really, I just can’t get myself to shut up it seems, I mean you’re a customer, you come in here to grab your drinks and go and—”

Avory is no longer leaning on the counter as a sudden warmth develops on the back of my hand. His hand, Avory’s hand is resting on top of mine as he speaks, and my heart sticks in my throat.

“It’s nice talking to you, Sawyer. I’d happily listen to you talk.”

Avory’s hand pulls away from mine, his warmth lingering on the back of my palm, my hand pinning the cloth to the bench. I can’t bring a sound past my lips as Avory walks towards the door, yet he turns back once more.

“Thanks again, Sawyer! My uncle has fallen for your coffee so looks like you’ve got to put up with me.” He flicks the hair out of his face in one smooth motion before winking and turning away.

The warmth he imprinted on me turns into heat, heat which someone is pouring more and more fuel onto. It is growing and growing and at this point, I can’t figure out a way to turn it down.

The anxiety bubbles to the surface again, but this pot is so close to boiling over that I have to call her. My hands fumble over the screen as I select her name and bring the phone to my ear.

“Hey, it’s me. Are you free to pop over to the café? I could really do with a chat… Yeah, she’s not here today.”

The café is a ghost town for most of the day, so after making us a round of drinks, we sit in the window seat and people watch as we talk. I keep my knees tucked up under my chest and sip slowly.

“So, you like this boy… Avory?”

“Yes, no, maybe. I want to, but I can’t. Gwen, I’ve met him twice! I don’t even know if he’s—”

“Gay?”

I lift my head from stirring the foam around in my mug and look towards Gwen. She turned up in a pale blue crop top, trousers which are rolled to above her ankles, and a knitted cardigan rests over her shoulders.

“Yes, gay, or bi, or anything, but you know that I can’t do anything with this—”

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