Page 21 of Home Brewed (The Perfect Cup #1)

“I think you’re making the incorrect assumption that Justin is a rational person,” I mutter, the feelings that have been overwhelming me now suddenly so far away, detached. Numb. I should have known I wouldn’t be able to catch a break.

I should have known better.

“Has he ever acted or talked to you this way before? Jesus, has he been talking to you like this the entire time?”

“This isn’t that bad,” I’m trying to talk past the lump in my throat, “He has a bit of a temper, it’s not surprising.” He’s probably pissed that he has to live with his mom or crash on a friend’s couch.

“Jesus… well, I’m going to try to get him to collect his shit from the back when you’re not here. This needs to happen ASAP.” Beck’s face darkens, clearly furious. I feel a strange twinge in my heart. When was that last time someone was this protective over me?

“It’s fine, he’s going to have a meltdown either way, whether it’s in front of me or not, it doesn’t matter.

” I’m too tired to care anymore. I want this behind me.

It takes up no room in my brain these days, but the second I hear from him it consumes me, and all my old insecurities rise up to rear their ugly heads.

Beck’s face has fallen when I look back up at him.

“I’m serious, Hazel, you don’t have to deal with him. I’ll tell him he has to pick it up by the end of the week or I’m throwing it out.” I barely register his hands on my shoulders, trying to comfort me.

“Beck, you know if you do that, he’s going to turn this crap on you, right?

” I can’t bear the thought of making Justin’s bullshit Beck’s problem.

All I can think of is Justin continuing to make himself a nuisance, Beck realizing that I’m not worth the hassle, me ending up alone and without a job. Again.

“Hazel, I’m not doing this for some saviour complex.

” His voice is tight and frustrated. “I’m doing this because you deserve peace, you’ve put up with enough lately and I want to make the burden lighter.

Can you please let me do that? I won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with, but please consider letting someone else take care of you. ”

“I hear you, I swear. I don’t want my problems to be your problems, though, you know?” I’m pleading now. I don’t know how to tell him I had taken care of my mom, practically raised myself, I did everything for Justin… I don’t know how to let anyone take care of me.

“Okay, pretty girl, why don’t we take a break, and I’ll go bully Stella into making you a new sandwich and then we’ll figure it out?”

“What do you mean? This is great.” I’m a shit liar.

“Sugar, your entire face twitched when you saw yours,” he laughs as I try not to blush.

“I see what you’re trying to do here, mister…” I jokingly glare at him, pursing my lips. He’s trying to trick me into letting him take care of me. This I can do at least. Letting people feed me is easy enough to accept. It’s the rest that’s a struggle..

“Hmmm… no idea what you’re talking about. I’ll be right back.” He pops a kiss on the top of my head before walking back out to the café.

Work the next day is agony .

My phone is taunting me. Ever since that text from Justin yesterday, I’ve been staring at it, willing it all to be a bad dream. I told Beck I wouldn’t respond, that I would let him deal with it. I watched him send a follow up text to Justin, but I know that he never got a reply.

Holding back has been hard. I’ve always dealt with all of my problems myself, and really, letting Beck deal with this isn’t fair to him.

He doesn’t know how Justin can get, especially when people aren’t doing what he wants.

Honestly, it’s probably why I gave up so much when we were together.

It was easier than the fight it would take to change his mind.

Sitting across from Beck as we work, my hands itch to grab my phone where it sits at the edge of the desk.

“I’m beat,” Beck announces, stretching his arms over his head, his muscles flexing as I try not to drool.

“Yeah,” I agree, very conspicuously, although Beck doesn’t notice, “I could really go for a snack. I wonder if Stella has my new sugar high out of the oven yet.” I get up to move before Beck stops me.

“Nope, you’ve got work to do and I’m slacking. Let me get my sugar some sugar.” He throws me a saucy wink as he steps out of the office, closing the door behind him.

I wait a moment before grabbing my phone. No matter what Beck says, I can’t let him deal with Justin. That isn’t fair to him, and I need to be the bigger person about this. I quickly type out a response and hit send before I can chicken out.

Hazel

I understand you are upset, but please accept that we are over. Your things are being held at the coffee shop so that the transition is easier for the both of us.

My hands tremble as I stare at the screen, waiting for a response while crossing all of my fingers and toes that one doesn’t come.

Luck is not on my side today.

Justin the Jackass

fuk that! we r over when i say were over! who do u think u are? fuking stuck up bitch.

Hazel

Please stop being so aggressive and come get your things. I’m here at the shop for another few hours. I can make sure you get everything, but please pick them up and stop pretending we’re going to get back together.

Justin the Jackass

com on baby, you kno I didn’t mean any of it, of course we were always goin to get back 2gether.

but u have 2 stop being such a biotch. kicking me out of my own house?

and now u wont even give me my shit. this is why no one likes u ur such a pain in my ass.

and u wonder why i had to cheat? its cuz u make me crazy baby

Hazel

Your belongings have been waiting for you here. I’m not holding them hostage.

Justin the Jackass

fine, im coming to the shop now and u better fuking be there when i do.

Shudders wrack down my spine at his last message, and I can feel panic creeping in at the edges.

This was a mistake. This was a huge mistake.

I have to get out of here. He’s never been violent with me before.

He’s shouted some horrible things during arguments, but he’s never acted so viciously.

For the first time, I’m truly afraid of him.

Oh my god, I’m so pathetic. I am actually afraid of a man who has no job, none of his possessions, lives with his mom, and is probably drunk in the middle of the day.

Besides, he wouldn’t ever actually do anything.

He hasn’t done anything before, so surely, he wouldn’t start being an abusive dick bag after the relationship was already over.

By the time Beck comes back with some cookies and cupcakes for us, I am well beyond hyperventilating. Despite the fact that I can’t lie my way out of a paper bag, I try my best to cover it up.

“Lucky for us, Stella already finished icing the cupcakes and the cookies are fresh from the oven; timing is everything!” His brows crease in the middle when he sees me.

“What happened?” Beck takes three short strides across the small room, placing his hands on my arms, which are bundled up to my chest, clutching my phone.

“Justin’s finally coming to get his stuff.” I can feel my throat tightening as I struggle to control my emotions and keep my lunch down, clenching my eyes shut.

“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?”

“He’s coming now.” My embarrassed whisper hangs between us.

“Now? Why the fuck is he coming now? What did he say?” Beck takes the phone from my hands, and I don’t fight him.

I watch as his brows hit his hairline, and then, as he keeps reading, his face darkens.

“I’m not going to pretend that I love that you told him to come by now.

” I tuck my chin to my neck, wishing I could run and hide away, but Beck simply puts the phone down and brings me in close.

“Hazel, it still doesn’t give him the right to treat you this way.

I know you want to handle this yourself,” he says, putting some space between us.

“I’m begging you, let me deal with him when he comes.

” He watches, waiting for me to agree. I know he won’t do anything that I’m not okay with.

Sighing, I nod. As much as I want to be independent and not make him do this for me, what Justin’s been sending scares me. He can sometimes be unpredictable, even this is a step farther than I’ve ever seen.

“Thank you, sugar,” he whispers, pressing his lip into my hair.

He sits in his desk chair and pulls me into his lap as we eat our treats in silence.

I peruse the documents scattered on the desk, mentally listing the things I’ll have to get done this afternoon.

No matter how hard I try, my mind keeps slipping to the time.

How long has it been since he said he’d show up?

It doesn’t take long before I hear a commotion in the hall.

I stiffen and Beck sits up straighter as we try to hear what’s going on.

Stella is trying to prevent someone from coming back here, and once he realizes it, Beck stands up, placing me back in the chair, and quickly exits the room, closing the door behind him.

I can hear his low voice talking to someone, trying to redirect them down the hall to the storage area.

“No! She’s the one who got rid of my shit, she’s the one who’s going to give it back, now move the fuck out of my way so I can go talk to my fucking woman!” The familiar sound of Justin’s voice booms from directly outside the door.

“She didn’t get rid of it, and she’s not your woman, so back the fuck up,” comes Beck’s reply.

“Oh, I see, she’s got you pussy-whipped already?

Fuck, she moves fast. Were you trying to get with her all along?

Is that why you fucking fired me? Such a fucking hypocrite.

” The insults don’t even make sense. I hadn’t even met Beck before our breakup, and yet anxiety and guilt gurgles inside me.

How does he still have the power to make me feel so small?

“Take your shit and go, Justin. If not, I will physically remove you, throw your shit in the dumpster, and call the cops.” Beck's voice is stonier than I’ve ever heard it before. Still, it doesn’t scare me the way Justin’s does. Instead, it calms me, giving me a sense of security, protection.

“You must feel like a big man around here, huh? Pushing people around? God, I’m so glad I quit.

You don’t deserve to have me work for you!

” Justin sounds belligerent. I wonder if he’s drunk, because I can’t make heads or tails of this personality switch.

I’m suddenly glad that Beck insisted on handling him.

If he’s acting this erratic with Beck, I can’t imagine how he would have reacted to me.

My hands tremble as I try to drink my water.

There’s a bit more back and forth. From the sounds of it, Beck finally moves out the boxes and makes him leave, but not without a lot of swearing and yelling. I only relax when Beck comes back into the room. I have my knees tucked to my chest with my arms wrapped around them.

“He’s gone,” Beck confirms, still looking peeved as hell.

“Thank you,” I say faintly, “I’m sorry I put you in that position.” I can barely look at him.

“I chose to step in, you didn’t put me anywhere, pretty girl,” he says, walking up and crouching down in front of me. “You heard what he said out there?” I nod. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. Why don’t we call it quits for the day?”

I wilt a little at being dismissed. I don’t want to go, I feel safe tucked away here in the office, surrounded by things that reminded me of Beck. He doesn’t miss a thing.

“Or there’s a band playing here tonight. What if you go home, rest a little, and I can pick you up at seven?” He looks at me ruefully.

“Pick me up?” I bite my lip.

“For a date, pretty girl.” I shiver and his pupils widen as he takes in my reaction. “You get going, I’ll clean up here, and I’ll see you soon, okay?”

Although I’m in no hurry to leave his presence, I race home at the thought of going on an official date with Philip Beckett.