Beauty in the Ashes

Heading behind the counter, I said, “Yeah, last night was pretty wicked. I don’t remember much.”

“Too bad,” he shrugged, smiling. “I was looking forward to hearing all the details.”

“You’ll have to come some time,” I pushed the swinging door open with my hip. Daphne would shit bricks if Emery showed up. I didn’t know why she didn’t make a move. She was gorgeous and nice—a winning combination. But she always turned insanely shy around Emery. I might have to resort to the very high school ploy of knocking into one of them so that they ‘happened’ to accidently bump into each other.

“Maybe,” he shrugged, wiping off the already spotless counter. “Parties aren’t really my thing.”

Ignoring him for the moment, I headed to the back and dropped off my stuff and tied the apron around my waist.

When I returned to the front, I asked, “What is your thing then?”

Tucking the rag into the back pocket of his jeans, he pondered. “I don’t know. I’m a simple guy. I like to sing…thought about making a career out of it, but…” He trailed off, his thought left unfinished.

“I’ve never heard you sing.”

Grinning, he chuckled. “You’re really missing out, Sunshine.” Again with that damn nickname. “You should come by tomorrow at five. I sing then.”

“I think I will,” I smiled. It would be nice to have an excuse to get out, and not feel like a pathetic human being for only having myself for company. And Brutus. But I couldn’t really take him shopping.

“We could get dinner afterwards,” he suggested. At my bug eyed appearance, he added with a laugh, “As friends. Nothing more.”

“Sounds good.” I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

The next few hours were highly uneventful until around one in the morning. That damn bell on the door chimed, jolting me awake where I had nodded off. Standing up straight and smoothing my hands down my shirt, I looked up to find myself face to face with Memphis.

My mouth fell open as all the memories of last night finally resurfaced with startling clarity.

A blush stained my cheeks and I didn’t know what to say or how to act. I’d basically mauled the poor guy last night.

“Can we talk?” He asked, clearing his throat and looking around awkwardly.

“Uh—”

“She can talk,” Emery said from behind me.

I turned sharply and gave Emery a scathing look for throwing me under the bus. I think he wanted Memphis and me together as much as I refused to let go of my hopes for Daphmery.

His shoulders raised in a small shrug as a shameless smile twisted his lips. “We’re not busy.”

He was right. The place was empty besides us, and one lone college student reading a book in the corner.

“I hate you,” I mouthed.

“No, you don’t,” he laughed, clearly enjoying my complete and utter mortification. Emery had no idea what I had done to Memphis last night. “Here, take these,” he quickly poured two black cups of coffee into mugs.

Grasping the mugs, I forced a smile and turned around once more to face Memphis. “Where do you want to sit?” I asked.

He nodded his head towards a table and I came around the counter to join him.

I sat down, feeling out of place and uncomfortable. Staring into the dark depths of the liquid, I avoided his scrutiny, but it didn’t stop me from feeling it.

“I wanted to apologize for last night—” He started, but was abruptly cut off when my head went flying up, a started sound escaping me.

“You want to apologize? You? If I recall, I was the one making a fool of myself, throwing myself at you like…like…” I was at a loss for words.

“But I wasn’t stopping you,” he cleared his throat, scooting the chair forward so that we were even closer.

“You tried to!”