Page 56 of Broken Warrior
A few people pass me on the sidewalk, give me a wide birth since I look really fucking out of place at this hipster, new age coffee shop. I’m pretty used to that though; my size is intimidating, the way I dress not much of a help. But I just smile at them and fidget with my three month coin in my pocket. The ones I got for one and two months are on my key ring but I haven’t added this one yet because I want to show Tate, give her a small physical token of my sobriety she can see and touch, proof that I’m doing better and following everything I’m supposed to.
I check my phone and frown at the time.
It’s only been five minutes.
Tate is a pretty punctual person so I know she won’t be late, but I probably shouldn’t have gotten here early because waiting for her to show is going to wreak havoc on my frayed nerves.
At one point last night I had myself convinced she wasn’t going to show up today. It’s stupid, I know that, but I can’t help it because I’m dying to see her and still feel like her agreeing to what she called adateis too good to be true.
“Fin! Hi!”
I look up from the cracks in the sidewalk and suck in a sharp breath.
Tate.
Fuck, she is more beautiful than I could ever describe and she’s ten minutes early, which makes me want to believe she was just as eager to meet as I was.
She waves and smiles, almost seems to be trying to stop herself from running toward me and when I push off the brick wall and face her, I can’t help but smile in return.
Plum-colored curls pulled into a loose, low bun at the nape of her neck. A very light golden color to her ivory skin, a sun-kissed goddess bare of makeup and wearing...fuck, she’s wearing a flowy bohemian style maxi dress, thin straps over her shoulders and a light shawl draped around her arms.
Tate looks incredible, and the closer she gets the more I realize jerking off once this morning might not have been enough.
“Hi.” She smiles up at me as she stops with maybe a foot of space between us. “Have you been waiting long?”
Only a lifetime. “No. I just got here.”
“Great.” Another breathtaking smile. “You look amazing.” She sighs as a blush creeps up her neck, those dark eyes raking over me in a way I can practically feel.
“You look incredible, Tate.” I want to hug her, want to hold her, but I can’t, not yet. I have to stick to the plan or else I’ll muddy the lines and I don’t want to do that, don’t want to risk screwing this up by confusing my previous feelings for her for the potential new ones. Not that I really think there’s a difference, not for me, but there could be for her so I need to let things happen organically. “Do you want to go in or...”
Tate starts rummaging through her gigantic purse. “I promised James I’d give this to you the second I saw you.” A few more seconds of digging before she pulls out a folded piece of paper. “He begged me all morning to come with but I told him we were doing boring adult things so he thought playing with uncle Zak was a better idea.” She giggles as she holds out her hand. “But we aren’t totally off the hook. James made me promise to give this to you, as well as talk to you about when he can meet you for coffee, too.”
I grin and take the construction paper, our fingers brushing just enough to send goosebumps skittering across my skin. “He a coffee drinker now?”
“No.” Another giggle. “But he was willing to do it if it meant hanging out with you.”
“I’m flattered.” Which is a fucking understatement, especially when I unfold the yellow paper.
It’s a drawing, a pretty fucking good one too, the people in the picture clear without need for the labels he added in his exceptional four-year-old hand writing.
Mommy, My Fin, and Theo James.
James drew me a picture of me and him and Tate, the three of us hand in hand while we’re walking through a toy store that apparently only sells Legos, all of us smiling and happy.
I’m gigantic, looking pretty fucking buff and tough in the middle, Tate on my right wearing a dress similar to the one she is now, James on my left wearing his very own leather jacket. There are shelves on either side of the page packed with Lego sets, and on the top he wrote,I miss you, my Fin. I’m glad you feels better,with a bunch of hearts and stars.
It chokes me up to be honest, and I use the few seconds it takes to fold the paper carefully and put it in my wallet to school my emotions.
“Thanks.” My voice is strained. “Tell James I love it. I’m gonna keep it with me all the time.”
Tate’s smile is like a punch straight to my heart. “That will make him so happy.”
I clear my throat. “Should we...”
“Yes, absolutely.” Tate looks through the window, her brows lifting. “Wow. I didn’t think they’d be so busy.”
“It’s fine.” My hand finds the small of her back as we start walking, my dumbass barely able to fight the urge to touch her. “I’m sure we can find a—“
