Page 6

“Sure. Sure. Look, I doubt he’ll even know. In fact, I bet an enormous bottle of tequila on it. It was just a one off.” She chuckles.
Today is not the day for me to go back, but maybe tomorrow would be a good starting point. I just need tonight to work out my issues and try to calm myself. Also, I need to do a lot of praying. Praying that Officer “A” will not show up tomorrow.
The next morning, I go through my “Pre-Officer A” routine. I gather up my laptop and bookbag that has all my cords and chargers, then I head out to OneShot Coffee.
I can do this.
At least, I think I can. Maybe I should just stay home. I can’t do this.
No, I can definitely do this.
There’s no guarantee that he will be there, anyway. He came there one time, and I’ve been going there for over a year. So, what are the chances he would even be back? Chances are slim. It had to be a fluke. Okay, I can do this.
I get in my car and drive down to OneShot Coffee. My heart is beating fast, and I feel nervous as I pull in. My palms are sweaty, and I need to count to twenty to help calm me. This is my safe spot. I go here to get away from the world. Well, technically where I can be part of the world but left alone.
But nope. Cute as fuck Officer “A” just had to come in and get a caffeine pick-me-up.
As I walk in, I promptly scan the place. He isn’t here. Awesome. Smiling, I walk up to the counter and order my latte. Then, I find myself a little corner to hole up in.
My body finally relaxes, so I take out my laptop and wait for my drink. As I open my laptop, I pull up the book I started writing months ago but never finished. My book was about a girl being bullied. While I don’t come right out and say it, it’s based on my life experiences.
There was a time where I wanted to be a writer, and I sort of still do. I’m just not sure if I want my work out there. There’s too much second guessing with my work, so much doubt in my mind. You know when you’re in school and you have to turn in a paper or do a presentation, but you’re not sure if it’s good? I mean you spent weeks and weeks on it, did all your research, and made sure everything was perfect so you could turn in perfection. Until you turn it in, then people tear you down, make fun of you, call your work stupid, and red line the shit out of it. Yeah, that’s why I haven’t finished my book. People are cruel, and I know all too well what it means to be on the wrong side of their bitterness.
That’s why I enjoy editing other people’s work. It’s someone else’s story, and I’m just showing them what to fix. Helping them with the story progression and character building.
“Kat! Drink’s ready!” the barista calls from the counter.
I put my laptop down and walk over to pick up the drink and thank her. When I turn back around, I run into a solid wall of muscles. I look up and meet the beautiful blue eyes I’ve been hiding from. The ones I hoped wouldn’t show up today. No such luck.
Shit.
“Hello, there. Kat, is it?” Officer “A” is in full uniform, standing in front of me, looking sexy as hell.
My eyes just blink over and over. I stand there in front of him, dumbfounded. Finally, I look past him to my spot, wondering how I can get there. My spot would shield and cloak me from him, right? I should make a run for it. No. Don’t do that. Just go sit. Yes, I’m going to go sit.
I side-step him, not looking at him anymore, and sit back down at my table. I place my coffee down and try to ignore him.
“Um. Hi, Officer.” Okay, so I can’t ignore him. Hard to do when he’s standing right next to me. My eyes don’t meet his. I just can’t bring myself to look at him.
“Officer Bryce Hawthorne, but you can just call me Bryce. And you are … Kat? I’m just guessing here since that is what they called you.” He turns to point towards the counter.
“Um, Katrina, actually. But my friends call me Kat. So, yeah. I guess it’s Kat.” I nod as I ramble. Seriously, it is really hard to look at him and talk. Because of that, I just keep my eyes down.
“Do you mind if I sit?” Bryce pulls out the chair and does just that, not waiting for me to even answer him. The air is growing thick around us with sexual tension. My body’s clearly betraying me as I can feel the pulsing between my legs. I rub my hands on my pants, trying to keep them from getting sweaty. It’s not working.
My eyes go wide at the swift invasion of this man at my table. Why is he here, sitting next to me? Can he not see that I’m miserable with him being around? Okay, miserable is probably not true. I just don’t like how I feel with him near me. I’ve never felt this way before.
I can feel my skin get hot, my cheeks feel like they are on fire and are probably all red. He’s really close to me. My entire body feels like it’s going to combust, and I’m not sure if it’s from his sexiness or my embarrassment. Well, maybe a bit of both.
“So, Kat, this will sound like a pickup line, but do you come here often?” He rests his elbows on his legs as his mouth turns into a beautiful smile that could weaken any woman. It sure weakens me.
I don’t answer right away; I don’t know what to say.Yeah, I come here all the time, fancy meeting you here. Or,No, I just come here on days that end in “y.”What the hell am I supposed to say? Ugh, my throat is tightening. I can’t breathe. No, I am breathing, I just feel like I can’t.
“Yeah.” That’s it. That’s all I say. A one-word answer. Remember when I said I was awkward? Well, here is the proof.
“Okay …” He looks at me. Studies me. I’m sure since he’s a cop, it’s deep-seated need for him to investigate people. He’s going to have his hands full trying to read me. Perhaps he can pick up on how I would like him to leave. “So, do you come here to work, or do you just really like their coffee?”
“Both,” I don’t think I’ve blinked since talking to him. My answers are robotic. Though, I’m surprised that I’m even answering him.