Chapter 2 – Coffee Regular
Rolling over, I sat up from my hazed short sleep. My eyes burned with my contacts and my head buzzed from the amount of caffeine I have consumed in the past five nights.
"Someone must be in editing mode," the noise made me jump as my best friend, Kennedy, walked through the door. Coffee in hand I nodded as I slipped the coffee in my hands. "How did you guess?" I asked looking at her, "How would I not know?" she looked around my house as clothes, cups, and dishes were everywhere plus I hadn't even been out to surf in the past few days. I was knee deep in the editing world and once I was rolling I hated stopping.
"It's the hair," she said with a big laugh, I rolled my eyes before collapsing back onto the couch. "How is Kennedy," I asked poking her with my toe, she smiled, "Good, Kennedy is really good," she stuck her hand out in a stretch and I closed my hand around my coffee. "Damn it nerd! Look at it!" I opened my eyes to see a big fat ring on her finger.
I screamed and my coffee exploded over the couch, "NO WAY! Adam finally grew the balls?" I took her finger and I pulled it up to my eyes, "It's beautiful," I said in awh, she laughed and I didn't even notice that we were both sitting in wet coffee. "Yes, he was finally man enough to propose to me. It was so cute as he did it over a little boat and it was perfect." She gushed I hugged her. "Congrats! I am so excited!"
She smiled and then she took my hands and squeezed them, "Do you think you can handle my moodiness?" she asked with a half smile, "Because you will be my maid of honor," I grinned from ear to ear and I nodded, "Yes! I think I can deal with you!" I pulled her close to me and she smiled, "There is coffee over both of us,"
"I know," I said laughing back, "It's Wednesday,"
"Oh, that means you have to be at the coffee shop in a little bit or a missing person report might be filed," she winked at me, "Don't get married on Wednesday, I might have to miss your wedding," I joked, she shook her head, "You are a tad crazy." Grinning, I hugged her once more, "I love you,"
"I love you too and now that you know I am getting married we can plan on pinterest all day long,"
"In two weeks," I confirmed for her, "I have to finish this round of revisions before I can really begin to help and there is something you need to know…" she raised her eyebrows and I smiled as I gripped her hand, "My next set of books, it's a trilogy."
"WHAT?" Kennedy flew off the couch and coffee dripped everywhere. "When were you going to tell me?"
"After the first book came out and everybody knew,"
"WHAT?"
I giggled, "Ken, come on, you can't keep a secret to save your life, OH!" I paused and my eyes grew, "Amelia is having another baby!"
"No way!" I nodded, "I know! Our lives are just so exciting, we need to wedding plan, and maybe you should come to the coffee shop with me. I can do a little editing and you can start looking and then I can help. Can we have dinner tonight?" I began to rattle things off and Kennedy put her hand on my arm. "Calm yourself, yes, I can stay over for dinner as long as we don't do pizza…again."
I blushed, "I thought about just taking you out to dinner. Adam can come also too celebrate. Have you told Katie yet?"
"No, you are the third person I told,"
"Your parents came before me?" I asked shocked, a smile breaking over my face. "You can't be serious about anything!" she said laughing, I rolled my eyes and I sighed, "I guess I should change and shower."
"How about a girls night? I can tell Katie later,"
"No, do it personally, I don't want her getting mad at me again,"
"She will get mad at your for whatever you do…"
I laughed, "No joke, I love her though."
"Who doesn't?"
"How about I meet you at the coffee shop in a few hours?"
"Sounds fair," we hugged, "Congrats Ken, I am so excited for you."
"Thanks for being there for me."
"I will always be there for you," she squealed with excitement, "Yay! I am engaged!"
A giggle left my mouth as I watched her pick up her purse, "See you in a few hours!"
"See you!"
Sitting back down on the wet coffee, I frowned. My fingers ran through the blanket and I bit down on my lip. Katie got married two years ago and now Kennedy was getting married. My stomach twisted, as everybody seemed to be getting married but myself. The world was full of single men but I couldn't find any that made me want to jump off of my little boat that I had made for myself. I was content. I didn't want to ruin what I had for some stupid relationship.
Going to get in my shower, I crawled in to it and sat on my bathtub for a moment as the water hit my skin. The hot stung and my eyes burned, I finally sucked it up before washing myself up, running my fingers through my hair, I made sure all of the soap was gone before shutting off my water. Standing there, the wind blew over my body and I wrapped a towel around me.
Thoughts filtered in my mind of why I couldn't even date. Why couldn't I do anything right? My head hurt as I closed my eyes, I was tired of trying to find somebody but I didn't want to work at it. I wanted them to come to me, I wanted the love I wrote in my books and I couldn't take the pressure. Writing about love was ruining my love life. I was looking for the perfect somebody who I wrote about constantly in my books. I will never find that is what I always told myself but I kept looking anyways.
Putting on a pair of athletic shorts and a t-shirt, I let my hair be pulled back in a pony tail and put in a headband. I slipped on flip-flops before taking my Mac and putting it in my bag with my charger. My fingers reached for the large bottle of water and a few ibuprofens before moving out of the door. Driving to the coffee shop only meant I was having a bad day and I didn't want to walk.
Pulling out of the driveway, I was at the coffee shop in five minutes. Upon entering the coffee shop, the manager took notice and he made my coffee extra large and added a snack without much extra money. "Are you alright Gabi?" he asked, his accent thick and full from his Puerto Rico decent. A smile crossed my face as I nodded slowly, "Yea, I am fine. I just have a lot on my little mind."
"Okay." He said with a sigh, he then walked back to grab my stuff. I paid a few extra for the stuff, when I turned around, my body sagged as a male was working in my spot. If you came here on Wednesday, you knew that was my spot, which was my spot. Frustration boiled under my skin because I just wanted one thing to be simple today. One thing.
Taking a breath, I walked over and the guy looked up. His blue eyes put him in the same spot from last week. I was taken back as he smiled, "About time you got here, I have to ask you a question…"
My ears seemed to be broken as I stumbled backwards, "May I help you?" I asked, he nodded, he stood up clumsy, the table pushed to the side, his balance wobbly. "I never heard from you, I was making sure you didn't need anything from me spilling my drink on you, I felt really bad." He said, his voice sorry. "I noticed you came here often and I just wanted to make another apology."
I felt shock as it spun through me. He came, noticed and came to visit me to make sure I was okay after he spilt his coffee on me. Words couldn't form and he turned his head, "Are you okay?" he asked me, I nodded, "Yea, I am just, a bit speechless." I murmured, "I was just having a bad morning and…wow." I took a breath and I looked at him, "Would you like to stay for coffee?"
The guy raised his eyebrows, "You want me to stay around after I spilled coffee on you last week?"
I swallowed hard, I then gave a nod, and I just needed to take a shot right? Thirty seconds of courage. "Sure, why not." I responded, "You were nice enough to come make sure I was really okay, I guess I can buy you a coffee."
"You don't have to buy me a coffee," he said laughing, he sat back down in the spot across from me. "I think just sitting here talking to you will be plenty," he announced, giving a soft smile I took a sip of my drink. "So before we get too much farther into this conversation, what's your name?" the blue eyes smiled as he smiled. A grin slipped over my face just looking at him, my stomach flew with butterflies. What was this even about? I have never in my life had butterflies over a boy. A real boy. I got butterflies from my characters many different times and goose bumps but this was an actually, breathing, (my characters do breathe but they don't really breathe), male. My eyes surveyed him for an extra second thinking about what his name could possibly be.
Ben? Brad? Kale? Kale, what the hell.
"Troy," he said causally, my attention was brought to his face because he looked like a Troy. "I wrote that when I gave you my number but I'm not sure you even looked at that…" a blushed crept on my cheeks, "No, I was pretty angry that day and then I found out some big news, I kind of forgot."
"Glad I could make your day," his lopsided grin made my eyes close before I took a breath. "And yours?" he asked, I blinked as he was asking my name, I had one of those, at least I think I did. "Gabi," I stuttered, my cheeks went even pinker. Taking another drink of my stuff, I let out a long breath, "I guess we should just play twenty questions," Troy decided, "Get this whole informal thing out of the way."
"Hmm, I guess," I told him, "I did invite you to have a drink with me though and you aren't following rules." Troy nodded with a smirk, "Alright, I'll buy a coffee."
"No," I said stopping, "I am buying a coffee," he laughed as I stood up, I leaned across the counter before turning to look at him, "What would you like?" I asked he shook his head, "Surprise me."
Pursing my lips, I turned back to see Max. I grabbed a piece of paper and his pen, what's his favorite?
Max nodded before ringing it up. I turned to Troy as he was scrolling through his phone before putting it away in his pocket. Turning back to the counter, I was shocked that I was even doing this. What was I thinking of just starting a conversation with him? He could be some random guy, this was too risky, and I needed to stop. Stop it Gabi. Courage.
Once Max handed me his coffee, I took in note in my head before I returned to the table. "How did you know this is my favorite?" he asked taking a sip of it, I shrugged, "It's a good drink, I am a good guesser. Put two and two together."
He smiled taking another drink, "Alright, let's get the big question out of the way…age." I told him as I gave a look towards him, he gave a smile, "A women asking that, sounds pretty attractive." Rolling my eyes I stared into his baby blue eyes. "Just turned twenty seven a few days ago." He said with a tilt of his head, "You can't be more than twenty three," I snorted, "I'm twenty six,"
His eyes grew before they returned to normal size, "Alright oldie,"
"Oldie? Whom are you calling old Mr. twenty seven!" he chuckled, "Eh, fair enough,"
"How come you are in here every Wednesday?" he asked me next, "Like clockwork," he finished, "Spying on me?" I asked, "No," he mentioned with a circle of his coffee, "I just come in here a lot on Wednesdays,"
"Why do you?" I questioned back, "I think I asked you first,"
I sighed, "I am an author, a best selling author." He leaned forward as in almost in surprise. "Really? I would have never known…"
"I guess you don't read Young Adults…"
"No, I don't, hell, I barely read,"
"Brutally honest," I said, he gave a nod and he cleared his throat. "What lets you come here every Wednesday?"
"Not every," he said with a pointed finger, "But a few, every third Wednesday is my day off and I took today off as well, well I have this whole week off,"
"What do you do?" I pressed, he lowered his head and then he looked up, "I'm anesthesiologist, well im in residency for it but I'm almost there," my eyes shot up, "An anesthesiologist?" I questioned, he nodded shifting uncomfortably, "Does that shock you?"
"A little bit, what made you choose that?"
"I don't know, I didn't want to be a surgeon but I wanted to be in the medical field, I also wanted to do more than just visit and write prescriptions so I guided towards this, sort of fell in love with it."
"That's pretty cool…" I offered towards him, "That's what I think too, plus in one year when I am finally board certified, the pay won't be bad either."
"So you are going to be the one in surgery and be all cool doing a crossword puzzle," Troy snorted, "No, I think I am going to do an extra year to do pain management. Get to give all sorts of shots and work with different people and conditions, basically a doctor."
"That's awesome, I'm kind of jealous," I told him, "Hmm, I think you have a way cooler job,"
"Making up things isn't always fun,"
"Yea but you always get to start over. Always new." He murmured, he then looked down at his watch, he cringed, "Gabi, I had," he laughed, "I had a fantastic time today." He reached across for my phone and he played with it for a moment and then lay it back down, "What's your last name?"
"One too many Gabi's?" I joked, he sent me a look and I giggled, "Montez, Gabi Montez,"
"Well I had a fantastic time visiting and maybe in three weeks from now, I will see you around." He winked before he picked up his coffee, "Thanks for a great morning," I nodded, "Thank you,"
He smiled before turning out as Kennedy was walking in, she gave me a look and I shrugged. A giggle leaving my mouth, "Who was that sexy beast?" she asked sitting next to me, taking a drink of my coffee.
"Mmm…nobody." I murmured, "That was not a nobody. That was somebody you won't stop smiling! I thought you came here to edit not pick up men!" raising my eyebrow I looked at her, "I wasn't picking him up! We were just talking he was the one who spilt coffee on me last week," my eyes watched as he got into a car, a nice car, and drove away.
"You are so lying to me," she said laughing, "Mmm…maybe." I said, my eyes not turning to her. "Hello?" she waved her hands in front of my eyes and I blinked, "What?"
"Who was that?"
"A guy."
"No shit," she said with a laugh, "How about you give me more than that, how about we get a name or why he was sitting here?"
"Troy and having coffee." I opened my laptop and I began to type in my password. Kennedy watched me, processing her next question that she was going to blow at me. My eyes looked up to meet hers and she pressed her lips together.
"Did he invite himself?"
"No…I invited him."
Kennedy laughed, her head tilting backwards, her laugh grew, "You invited him, good one, good one," I looked at her and she stopped laughing, "Wait…you aren't kidding."
I shook my head, "No, not really." Kennedy gasped, "Girl! You are a genius! You couldn't have picked a better guy!"
"I didn't pick him. He came to make sure I was okay after he spilled coffee on me." I knowledge, "I thought it was sweet so I let him stay and I bought him a drink."
"Lovers."
Rolling my eyes, I pulled up the Word document on my laptop but was distracted the entire time. I couldn't get past a few sentences as the words confused me further. I finally looked at Kennedy and I began to help her. Wedding planning seemed like a lot better of an idea right now than editing a book that suddenly confused the hell out of me.
"Mom," I complained, "I don't have time," my mom sighed, "Gabi, please, just for a couple of hours."
"And a couple of hours are all day to the next day, I have to get my editing finished. I have things that need to be done, I am busy." I pronounced, my mom looked at me, her brown eyes just full of disappointment that only I could truly see. Every look a disapproving one, she sighed heavily, "Gabi, I ask one day from you,"
"No, you ask fifty two of me." I corrected, her smile faltered, "That's not fair, I want to keep my kids close."
"And if I moved to New York?"
"I guess I would only see you once a year,"
"Mom, you are being over dramatic here, I have a deadline I need to meet. If I don't, I get in trouble and I don't feel like getting in trouble right now. I feel like finishing my work and continuing on with my next book. I am in a really good spot right now."
"Of course right, you spend days holed up in this pig house and you can't give me a day!" her words were heated and I tried to compose myself.
Covering my face, I ran my fingers over my face and gave her a look. "What do you mean, you just don't like my job. Trust me mom, I know you don't like my job. You wish I was doing something more stable and okay because one day I could no longer have a job, alright fair, I know you hate it but would you stop?"
My mom looked grossed out, "Would you just listen to yourself?"
"Mom, if this was some papers you needed to grade or whatever, you wouldn't be standing here. I know you doubt me all the time because I am not a big shot lawyer like your perfect daughter who is married and has a kid or your son who is married and has a job but Christ, I know I don't have a very stable job, besides the best selling author on all of my books or the fact that I have plenty of money for myself. I'm sorry I can't find that perfect somebody for me but I'm sorry,"
My mom stood speechless, she closed her eyes and I turned away. Cursing underneath my mouth as I tilted my head back, "Mom, I'm sorry, I'm just," My mom and I had this fight more than once a year we had this fight constantly. I will never be good enough for her. I will never measure up to Amelia and I will never measure up to her one and only son. I was trying to be them and I didn't want to be them. I will never be that. I had different ideas and thoughts on life.
"I know, you are busy," she finally said, her eyes painful and I felt my chest hurt. This is where I would always give in. always.
"I'll do it."
"Good," my mom picked up her purse and then left, battling tears, I went out and I sat down on the edge of the sand from my patio. Tears streamed my eyes as I was supposed to be getting ready for my girls night, I was supposed to be smiling and laughing but my mom decided it would be fun to just drop by. It would be fun to insult me until she finally got what she wanted. Biting down on my lip, I wondered about Troy for a moment. "Gabi! Gabi!" Amelia's voice echoed through my house as I stood wiping away tears.
She walked out onto my deck as she looked at me, "What the hell?" she looked at me, her suit pressed, her heels high off my deck, perfect. This is what my mother wanted me to be. She still wishes I would be something more useful. "What?" I asked moving past her, "First, I get a call from Kennedy saying she is engaged and you met some guy? And then I get a call from mom, her screaming at me because you are irresponsible and don't value family."
Pulling my lower lip in, I shook my head, "I guess I am just the unwanted child. Mom doesn't like me and doesn't understand me so I guess I should just move to fucking New York and just be done with it. I guess spending every god damn Saturday night with my family isn't enough to value family."
"Did you and mom fight again?" Amelia asked with a long sigh, she moved closer to me and I tried not to burst into tears.
"And if we did? You know she hates what I do. You know she hates that I am not married or pregnant. You know she can't stand any of it and that I am doing fine on my own and it makes her angry when I tell her I have things to do on her stupid garage sale day." Tears fell down my cheeks again and she grabbed me in a hug, "Hey, okay, maybe mom doesn't like it, maybe mom shouldn't care but she is just looking out for you. Mom wants the best for you and she sometimes doesn't know what the best is for people."
"I'm sick of her just pushing me around and when she does you guys call me a push over." Amelia sighed, "Oh lord, you and mom have fought it out all twenty six years and you know that she loves you but you have to realize, you and mom are so alike, nothing is going to change her mind and nothing is going to change yours about the garage sale. Now, the marriage part, I think she was just ready since Tanner is married. She just wants to see you happy."
"Well why can't she just leave me alone? She acts like I don't ever see her and this one day, she just uses me that one day."
"Yea," Amelia pulled her hands through my hair, "Mom always knew you were going to be different. I barely remember, but I do, that she told me when she was pregnant that you were going to be feisty and were stubborn. She was right and she always had fun with you. She pegged you to be a doctor or something brilliant. She thought you were going to be a teacher but when you told her you were publishing a book, I couldn't believe how she reacted. She was mad. She didn't want that life for you but you became so big so quick. Then now that you do it as a job, she just wants you to be good for a long time, she wants insurance to your way of life."
"I guess she would love the guy I met." Changing the subject, "You really met a guy?" she asked with a laugh, I nodded, "Yea, I mean we just talked for like thirty minutes but we talked. He is pretty cool." And pretty hot.
"What does he do? How old is he?"
"Fourth year resident to be an anesthesiologist and twenty seven," Amelia smiled, "Now that is some serious insurance." Rolling my eyes, "Don't get too excited. He was the one who spilt coffee on me. He might have just been playing nice." Amelia cracked a smile, probably imaging me walking into Bella's the other day. Coffee stain and all.
"Yea and you could have never talked to him again,"
"That was a strong possibility still, it was one cup of coffee plus he works basically everyday." A sigh rippled through my throat as I glanced over at Amelia, "I have to get ready, I am going out with Kennedy and Katie tonight."
"Call your boy toy,"
"He is not my boy toy, we barely got past first names and what were did."
"He is really becoming an anesthesiologist?" she asked, her eyes looking deep into mine as if she was looking for a lie. "Yea, I am serious. Unless he was kidding with me then well I am kidding too but I can't say for sure. He acted like it."
"Do you understand that, that is the highest paid job right now?"
I shrugged, "I don't know, I don't care about his money or his looks or any of that, I just want love. I want something real." Amelia gave me a look; "I just want somebody to hold my hand on bad days, back me up when it came to mom, and to just be there for me. Real."
Amelia snorted, "Honey, real is money,"
"Not for me Amelia, you don't read my thoughts everyday for me to say that."
"Of course not, Gabi, you have to realize you are not going to ever find that perfect somebody that you always write about. They are going to have flaws,"
"My people have flaws," I protested, "They do," she agreed reluctantly, "But they have this love nobody can describe and I am here to tell you as your big sister, you will find love but you won't find magically love like you describe, that's why we have books. So that we can have what we are looking for, you need to climb down from your author mind and look for something more real because you aren't going to find what you are looking for."
She squeezed my knee; she then stood before walking out of my house. My head turned to watch her walk out, the door snapping close behind her. Chewing on my lip, I gave a glance towards the clock as I still had time to make it a girl's night in if I wanted to. I then took a glance of my 'pig pen' as it's apparently called and thought of how I would have to clean.
Mumbling a curse word, I went back into my room to begin to get ready. A sparkly dress, a nice pair of heels, and make up later, I was ready to meet my best friends. Fumbling in my heels, my phone rang, I picked it up without a glance as I pressed it too my ear. "Hello?" I muttered, "Gabi?"
My head snapped up, "Troy?" he laughed, "Yea, I know this is kind of short notice but I was wondering if you would care to meet me at the coffee house for a while," cursing under my breath, I glanced up at the clock to see I had twenty minutes until I was supposed to meet them. "Uhm," I stalled as I battled in my head. "I only have fifteen minutes,"
"Oh that's fine," he finished quickly, "I guess you are busy doing author things," I could hear the disappointment behind his voice; I chewed on my lip because I wanted to join him. I did. What? Why did I want to join this guy I barely knew after only one thirty-minute talking session.
"No, my friend got engaged last night and I was going out to celebrate with her." I paused as I thought, "You said you took the whole week off, care to join me tomorrow morning?" I asked him. I opened up my car door, "Uhm, I might be able too. What time? I don't like getting out of bed any earlier than I have too…"
I giggled, "Not too early, I am going to party remember?" he chuckled, "Touché, how about eleven thirty tomorrow?" he questioned, I smiled, "Sounds good."
"Good, I'll see you tomorrow Troy,"
"I'll see you tomorrow Gabi,"
A blush creped my cheeks as I ended the call, he called me. He wanted to go out with me. Was this just talking? I hadn't dated somebody ever and this was slightly freaking me out. Okay, that was a lie. I told myself, I had dated just nothing serious. Starting my car, I drove to Kennedy's house as she came running out the door in a tight black dress. She squealed as she landed safely in my car. "GO!" she hollered I was taken back as I threw the car into reverse. Adam poked his head out of the door, his hair messed up and his shirt untucked.
I turned to her as we made it safely on off the driveway. "Were you teasing him?" I asked her, she laughed, nodding her head, "Kennedy, you can't do that to boys," I joked, she laughed "Just wait,"
"Wait till what?"
"Wait until you finally have that guy and when you tease him like that, you can't wait to get home to finish what you started."
"So you are ready to ditch me?"
"Hell no. I am ready to party!" she cheered loudly; I shook my head as I pulled into Katie's driveway. She walked out of her apartment, locking it up before sliding into the back of the car.
"Hola," she said, she was in a pink dress as we had decided on a nice dinner downtown followed by going to our favorite hangout. "Ready?" I asked checking over everything, "Sure,"
Rolling my drink in my hand, I wondered where my two best friends had gone off too as I grew tired. I wasn't much of a drinker but when I did I was a sad drunk, at least according to my friends. So I didn't that often. Katie came rolling by as she laughed; she loved having a night out after getting married at twenty-four. They were trying to have a baby but weren't succeeding right now.
Toby was a good guy but I never saw the two fit but then again, I didn't know any better. I had no clue on what 'real' love is. It's horrible apparently; paired up with somebody you had no interest in what so ever. I rolled my eyes before finishing off my drink.
I had only two over the course of the night, nothing more as I was driving home. I rounded up the two girls as they both were giggling, talking fast and quick. Pointing at guys, "Gabi, I think we are going to stay a while longer, you can go though."
I squinted, "How are you going to get home then?" I questioned looking at the two, "I don't know, I will call Adam," the drunk words rolled off of Kennedy's tongue, a guy came up from behind me as he wrapped his arm around me. "Get off," I stood, he was taken back probably by the fact that I wasn't drunk. He released me, "I just want to dance."
"I don't want too so how about you back the fuck off,"
He did and he stumbled back, "God Gabi, no need to get all pissy." Katie said, "You need to relax and try to fall in love." I turned on my heel, "Have fun finding a ride home. Don't call me."
Turning around, a guy dropped his beer all over me as tears pushed into my eyes, I held it together as I sucked it up. I wish I had chosen the coffee shop over this. I wish I could have been smart about my choices because this night sucked once they started drinking.
Storming out of the club, I found my keys and I unlocked my car. It was gaining closer to two in the morning as I drove around for a while before I stopped at Amelia's house. I pulled in the driveway and I sat there for a moment before I decided to go see Tanner. Coming to his apartment complex, I knocked on the door softly as I didn't have a key to his apartment.
It opened slowly as Casey made herself own before she sighed, "I'm sorry," my voice buckled, "I just,"
"Are you okay Gabi?" she took me in as I shook my head, "Is Tanner home?"
"Of course, he is in the back," she moved aside to let me in as she called Tanners name. He came out in a pair of shorts as his glasses sat on his face. "Gabs, hey," my lip trembled as he brought me in his arms. "What's wrong?" he asked me, he mumbled something to Casey as he took me over to the couch. I curled up in his lap as he held me. "I just had a terrible night."
"You smell like beer," he commented, I nodded as I took a breath. "Katie and Kennedy kept planning her wedding over dinner like I wasn't even there and when I was they kept saying I had no idea because I wasn't married, then I got to hear about Katie's problems, once we got to the club they flew off to do whatever the hell they did and I sat there like a loser because I was driver for the night. They didn't even try to include me, when I told them I was ready to leave they told me that I could go and that they would find another way home." I took a breath as the tears spilled down my cheeks, "Then a guy tried to kiss me and dance with me, I got mad and then Katie said I was being pissy."
"After that, the beer?" he questioned, I nodded as he sighed, "Are you alright Gabs?"
"What do you mean? I am crying in my brothers lap."
He chuckled, "I mean you seem down lately, I heard about your fight with mom earlier today too." I squeezed my eyes shut trying to completely block that fight out. I didn't want to remember that. I just wanted to fall asleep; I just wanted everything to be okay.
"It's been a bad day," I dropped as I lay with him, "Tanner, am I ever going to find that guy?" I asked him, I could see as he judged his answer before he spoke. "I don't know, maybe," he sighed, "It's not black and white Gabs, it's just so complicated these days and you are picky and I want you to be. I want you to be that way, find somebody who cares for you, who truly cares for you."
"What if I don't Tanner?"
"That's the thing, you will." His words echoed through his apartment complex, he rubbed the back of my shoulder. After a while longer, he nudged my shoulder, "Hey," I blinked, as I must have fallen asleep. "I'm going to go to my bed, feel free to sleep here though." He suggested I sat up to let him move, my eyes looked into his as he kissed my forehead. "You'll be fine,"
"I know," I mumbled exhausted, I glanced at my phone to see plenty of messages from Katie and Kennedy. "I guess I'll go home to my house."
"You don't have too," he said, I shook my head standing up. "I'll be okay,"
"Alright," Tanner pulled me into a tight hug, "Thanks," I said softly, "I just needed somebody to talk to me."
"I get it El, I do, just make sure you open your door for me next time." He joked, I smiled and nodded, "Will do and tell Casey I'm sorry."
"She'll be fine," he waved it off, "Night El's,"
"Night," stepping out into the cool night, I drove to my house as I crawled into my bed; I slipped off my dress and pulled the covers around me.
Rolling onto my back, I moaned as a headache was forming in my skull. Coffee.
A gasp ran through my system as I turned around to see it was noon. Oh my god. Digging around for my phone, I finally found it buried under my pillow to see Troy called twice. My heart raced as I put the phone up to my ear, it rang a couple of times and then he answered. "Gabi?"
"Troy, oh my god, I am so sorry." I busted out, "I got home late and it was a terrible night and I stood you up, oh my god," I took a deep breath as I was close to tears. Troy chuckled, "Well it sounds like an honest mistake. I'll forget about it if you meet me for lunch in forty five minutes."
A smile creped over my cheeks, "Really, I figured you would be kind of pissed at me."
"You went out and partied, I have done it to plenty of girls too. I was the one studying though last night."
"Well thank you for the do over." I knowledge, "Where would you like to eat?"
"How about Beach Front?"
"Alright, sounds fair enough."
"See you in forty five minutes."
We hung up, I hurried around as I showered, got ready, and pulled my hair together. Picking up my purse, the door flung open and Kennedy walked in. Her face pissed and angry, "Where the hell did you go last night?"
"I left." I stated towards her, I gathered up my laptop as I would probably find somewhere on the beach to work for a few hours. "You aren't supposed to leave!" she yelled I turned towards her, "Well you didn't include me in any other plans yesterday so I didn't think I needed to stick around."
"What are you even talking about?" she asked, her voice was high and dirty with anger. I looked at the clock and I had ten minutes to get to the café. My eyes turned around towards her, "Every time I had an idea for your wedding you and Katie told me that I didn't know how to plan a wedding when I have planned two already for my siblings, you ran off as soon as we got into the club with each other and I could never find you, then when I had enough, I said I was going and you two said you would get a ride from somebody else. So I left after Katie told me I was being pissy because I didn't want some drunk all over me!" I yelled the clock ticked further as I tried to push beyond her.
"That's not fair! If we say we have a ride home and are drunk,"
"I didn't think you two needed my help. I'm sorry." I conceded in a sarcastic tone. "I thought you were perfectly content with life and how everything was going. I wasn't needed."
Kennedy looked at me and I then shook my head, "I have to go."
"What to work?"
"Yea, I guess, since that's the only people that care."
Slamming my own door behind me, I took ten seconds to gather myself. Getting in the car, I speed the entire way to the café; it was only three minutes past my time limit when I got out of my car. Locking it behind me and I grabbed my purse.
When I stepped in, Troy was sitting down looking at a menu. I smiled as I joined up; he glanced up and stood, "Hi," his eyes danced nervously at the clock before he looked at my face. "Are you alright?" I gave a short nod, "Yea, I am just…I'm fine." I finished making eye contact. His blue eyes knew that wasn't the whole story but he smiled, "Good,"
He pulled out my chair and I blushed, "Thanks," I muttered, "You're welcome," he sat down across from me as I peered at the menu. Already knowing what I want. "So," I started as I glanced towards him, "Do you like this place?"
"Yea, I wouldn't invite you here if I didn't like it," he said, a crooked smile coming across his face. "Yea, I love this place. I come here almost as often as I do the coffee shop,"
"Is this Thursday spots?" he threw out, I laughed, "Nah, Thursdays are house days."
"Hmm, what do you do besides write?" Troy asked shoving his menu aside. "Family and surfing."
"Surfer huh?" I gave a nod, "Yea, it's my workouts. I lose my head out there and it's just relaxing."
"My relaxing spots on the basketball court,"
"Really?" I asked looking at him, he nodded, "Yea, I played at Duke while I took pre-med," I gave him an up and down, "You were that good?" I asked looking at him, he laughed, "I mean I wasn't the best but I was a starter."
"And you didn't go into the NBA?"
"No, I was there to play solid four years of basketball before moving on to Med-School. It was my way of relaxing."
"How did you do it?" I asked, "I don't know, I just did. That was a long time ago obviously but I did it,"
"A long time ago, what six years?"
"Something like that, I actually only played at Duke for three years, I had a year and half of college done before I was finished with high school," I smiled, "So did I,"
"It paid off,"
"My college education was just furthering my education. I wrote my first book at twenty,"
"Damn," Troy shook his head, "I find that hard to believe some days but then I ask my niece about you,"
"You have a niece?" I questioned, he nodded, "Three," he began, "My older brother has two and my younger brother has one."
"Middle child," I said with a smirk, he laughed, "Yea, middle child yet I came out the best. My older brother is selling insurance and my younger brother is still in college, so he is really screwed up right now."
"Can you believe we acted like that once?"
"Eh, I can't say we probably acted like him but we were all pretty crazy. Between basketball and pre-med though, shit, I was worn out."
"I bet," I swirled my drink around and our food came as we ordered earlier. Taking a bite of my salad, my stomach still rolling from last night apparently. "Tell me about your brothers," I said too him, he shrugged, "Noah, my older brother is a good guy, family man, coaches his daughters volleyball team and his other daughters softball team, good to his wife, they are getting ready to have another baby in November so that's pretty cool," he paused as he collected his thoughts on his other brother.
"Will," he laughed, "Will is funny. He can make anybody laugh and is a good guy, he has a pretty serious girlfriend but you never know, he does have a kid out of high school which is a drawback to some but he has taken care of it, she is four and funny as hell too."
I smiled softly as he talked about his family; he went on to talk about his parents who were both still working. Mom was a teacher in South Miami while his dad was a teacher and the high school basketball coach. His mom taught elementary kids while his dad did high school.
"Sounds likes a good group," I gave him a smile as I felt like it was the same except for the fight I was having with my mother. It was a question I always posed to the guy I was talking to see if it was worth even considering. If his family was jacked up off the wall, I stayed out but I haven't seen many guys light up talking about his family. He loved them and that was something I seriously respected as I respected my own family too much to do anything besides their wishes. I listened and valued every opinion my family had on the men I had around.
"What about your family?"
I stirred my salad around as I glanced up at him. "They are a great group," I started, "I have my older sister Amelia who is a lawyer, she got married a long while ago to her husband Jason who is a firefighter. They have a beautiful smart daughter, Abby who is just amazing and my sister is also pregnant so that is her," I said with a small smile, "I then have an older brother Tanner, who just got married and is a physical therapist."
"Hmm, a lawyer, physical therapist and an author, some pretty good kids." I laughed, "I am the one my parents frown upon but whatever right?" Troy's mouth twitched, "That's not fair,"
"I mean, I do understand where my parent's are coming from and all with the they want me to have a steady job, to always have money and to not always be busy but it still doesn't make sense to me."
Troy frowned as he had already finished his food; I pushed my salad gently away. "My parents are still pretty awesome. My mom is a retired teacher and my dad sells insurance."
"Pretty cool," Troy commented, "You sound like you have a pretty awesome family." I nodded, "Yea,"
"I want to know an interesting fact about you," Troy commented sitting straighter, I raised my eyebrow, "Like what?"
"What gave you the inspiration to write?" he posed a question I was never sure how to answer when anybody asked me, so I gave him the generic answer that they teach you when you don't have a real answer. "I'm not sure," I responded, "I think it just gave me a peace of mind."
Troy gave a simple nod, checked his watch and glanced up at me. "You seem to check your watch a lot,"
He sighed, "Yea, I am responsible for picking up my nieces today from their whatever they are doing, summer school? I don't know my parents didn't make us do that."
"You don't have a girlfriend right?" I asked looking over at him, his chest rose from breathing and he shook his head, "Being a resident doesn't give you a lot of time to yourself, I'm sort of amazed you are even talking to me as you seem to understand my schedule."
"Once I disappear for the summer you should probably understand mine too." He arched his eyebrow, "Where are you going?"
"Book tour, my new novel comes out at the end of the summer." Troy nodded with a smile, "I also have to constantly write and edit which honestly, and I should be doing. I have only a month of editing time left and I still have so much to do," I worried, Troy gave a slight smile, "Well there is a really big reason on why I asked you to come, aside from me wanting to talk to you and all but," he pulled out one of my books and I frowned.
"Like I said, my niece really loves you and once she found out I met you, I had to ask and if you say no, I'll just tell her to march around and find you on one of those fancy book tours." I couldn't help but smile; I grabbed a pen, "What's her name,"
"Kaylee," I wrote her name and a small note before giving it back to him. He nodded, "Thanks, I felt rude about it and all, I mean I guess I asked you out on a date so but that kind of forced me to call you again and well, I kind of wanted to call you again,"
I laughed, "I get it, I get it,"
He smiled, "Thanks, I guess I should let you go home and edit."
"Nah, I am going to go find a shady spot on the beach and write today."
"Must be nice getting to work wherever you want."
"Yea, it kind of is nice. Where do you work?"
"Mount Sinai,"
"That's where my sister had her baby," Troy smiled, "Yea, I work there. I have a final day off and then it's back to work."
"On Saturday?" I questioned, "Yea, I work everyday except Sunday's."
"How do they expect you to have a life?"
"They don't personally care, an anesthesiologist always has to be in the building, meaning us residents also always have to be in the building. My days off though are Sundays – family days and every third Wednesday. I get most nights off though,"
"Nights?"
"Well, I work every third night also, on call. It's a complex work schedule."
"Sounds like it."
"How do you keep it all straight?"
Troy chuckled, "My nurses. You kind of have to sweet talk them so they keep your schedule straight."
"I have Marla, that's about the only other person who looks out for me." I said with a smile, Troy laid his hand over his book, "When I go back to work on Saturday, I actually have to work Sunday to, I have to pull a forty eight hour shift."
"Ouch,"
"Tell me about it. Most of the time, if I am not in surgery, I am just hanging around learning something new."
"That's a bonus."
"Eh, sure, I would rather be sleeping."
"Of course you would," I joked, he smiled and he then stretched, "I hate running off like I do but I do have to go, I enjoyed my time with you today, do you care if I give you another call?" I stood up grabbing my bag; "Sure, whenever you can work me in," I said with a smile, he laughed, "Yea, I will pencil you in somewhere." He winked at me; "I had a great time Gabi, thanks for the signature and thanks for spending time with me."
I nodded as he walked out, "Bye," I said, I followed after him; I guess that couldn't have gone any better.
I like all of the reviews I got you guys! I hope you continue to enjoy this story! You guys rock!
Please Review!
