Page 24 of Sorry, We're Closed

I lose interest immediately when I see the reason that I’m standing in this shop. He relaxes back in his chair, his legs crossed and propped up on the desk as he twirls what I assume is a pick between his fingers. I can’t stop staring at his fingers bending and twisting it around, and clearly, he can’t stop staring at me.

I force my eyes up from his hands in the hopes that this festering heat in my cheeks will simmer away, however this is an even worse idea because this means my eyes locking onto his.

A moment stands between us where time doesn’t exist, where all my anxieties flit away and my reality is imaginary all because a smile begins to grow on Avory’s face. A smile which radiates kindness and something sickeningly sweet.

“A part of me thought you wouldn’t show up.”

I glance at myself in the mirror panels behind some of the guitars dangling high. Brown jeans which are slightly too fitting for my liking; a tucked in white button up on with the outline of leaves patterned all over, and a hunter green cardigan dangling over my shoulders. My trusty messenger bag hangs over my body.

“I thought our texting all night would’ve given it away.”

It’s true. We chatted about everything and anything and I already feel like I’m beginning to understand who Avory Bright is. I hardly slept last night because this gorgeous being, who is currently in front of me chuckling to himself and rising from his chair, had my emotions throwing themselves from wall to wall in my bedroom as I eventually convinced myself that this is okay, seeing him is okay because we are just friends.

FRIENDS.

It’s okay if I find a friend attractive. It’s okay if my mind wanders to places that are most definitely more than friendly because they will never happen, those thoughts stay with me, and act as my glimpse at the life I will never experience. I have to put my everything into the café because I won’t ruin that, too.I’ve got this under control.

“I’m glad you’re here, it arrived today and it. Is. Gorgeous.”

So are you. Sawyer, stop it.

He beckons me to follow him behind the desk where a door leads to a small set of stairs leading downwards.

“You know, I was always taught not to follow strange men into vans, and attractive strangers into basements.”

“Attractive, huh?” He stops at the bottom of the steps as he turns back and winks at me.

Crap, my bottom lip is now between my teeth, attempting to hold back a grin I can feel growing. This is going to be so much harder than I thought since Avory slips me some sort of truth serum which causes any buried thoughts to rise to the top and be spurted out without thinking.

That’s how we got here in the first place.

As I reach the bottom step, Avory pulls across a large amp and pats the top twice. I take the hint and perch myself on the edge as I take in the room.

It’s a small room with a mint carpet and a foam padded ceiling which creates a vast range of small, grey mountains plastered across the walls.

Piles of equipment lay around the room which Avory digs through, pulling together a nicer, newer looking amp than the one I’m sitting on, an armful of cables and a black, leather case which replicates the appearance of snakeskin.

I observe him as he slowly gets lost in it all, and watching his mind work is bewitching. I have already figured out that Avory is a beautifully hot, oh so very hot man to look at, but his mind is also so beautifully intriguing – I need to learn that I can’t just stare all the time.

“So, do you think music is your calling? The something you were meant to do?”

Avory unzips his case and reveals a gleaming and pristine mint green guitar. He begins to peel it out of the case and removes all of the cardboard and air bags which surround the delicate parts.

“Of course. Funnily enough, when I was young, I wanted to be a builder.” He stifles a small laugh as he gazes up at me for a moment. “But when Marcus got me to hold a guitar for the first time, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s like I knew. I then started trying out different instruments and different styles, but all that work was guitar and drums, so they stuck. What about you? Do the coffee beans call to you?”

I straighten my back and suck in a breath at the thought of working at the café my whole life, but I have no choice because of what I caused.

“Hey, you don’t have to answer if it’s a tricky situation, I understand.”

Damn you, Avory Bright.

His hand finds its way to my knee again but this time it lingers longer. The warmth of his hand begins to seep through my trousers and onto my bare skin. Anytime I find myself secretly hoping for him to become some asshole or someone who just wants some quick action just so I can find it easier when this eventually ends, he does this.

He shows me that he is a genuine, caring man whose heart is clearly too big for his chest. Even just his hand brings a sense of comfort to the anxiety that has started growing.

“It’s just… my father left when I was thirteen and ever since then, my mother and I have had a rocky relationship. So, the idea of being there my whole life is ever so slightly terrifying.”

That’s sugarcoating it. That’s sugarcoating the ass out of it. It isn’t that I don’t trust Avory, but I haven’t said the entire situation out loud to anyone other than my mother, Gwen and Xander. I don’t know how those words will sound or feel anymore, I barely even understand the whirlwind of thoughts that are forever planted in my mind.

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