Chapt. 14

"Claire, please just pick up the phone and talk to me. I'm sorry for not telling you that I wrestled for a living, for letting you think that I worked in marketing. It was wrong and I know that, but I am sorry. Please, talk to me," Matt said into the phone. When he didn't hear her pick up, he sighed heavily. "Okay, I understand. I guess just call me when you're ready to talk, give me the chance to explain my side of this mess at least. I miss you."

It was Monday morning and Matt hadn't spoken to Claire since she left the arena Saturday night. He wasn't used to going a day without a phone call from her and he was missing his best friend entirely too much. It was his own fault though; he should have simply told her the truth about his life. Now he wondered if he'd ever speak to her again. He felt horrible that he had hurt her so badly and he was desperate to make it up to her, but he couldn't do that if she wouldn't even speak to him.

Maybe he should go to the coffee shop tomorrow and see if he could catch her on her lunch break. He was beginning to think that may be the only way to get her to talk to him. Then again maybe it would only make her angrier at him. He was at a loss on what to do but he had to make his mistake right. Yes, he had lied to her, and yes, he had known that he was holding back important information. Hell he had been down right selfish in his actions. He had only thought about how he would feel if she didn't want him in her life, and now she wasn't speaking to him at all. His worst fear had been realized and all he wanted now was his friend back. If it took moving mountains he would get Claire to speak to him, and he had a feeling that was exactly what it was going to take.

Claire couldn't concentrate all through her classes on Monday. She kept thinking about Matt signing autographs, those fans calling him Evan, and how he had lied to her and broken her trust. She wasn't sure why he hadn't just told her what he did, or how she would have reacted if he had, but surely it would have been easier than finding out this way. She had fallen for him as a friend and now she was broken in a million pieces by his betrayal. She would be lying to herself if she said she didn't miss him, but she just couldn't bring herself to talk to him yet.

Saturday seemed ages ago but in reality it was mere days. She knew that he had to be feeling just as bad as she was, maybe even worse. That was something that she hated more than anything else, knowing that he was beating himself up over it and hurting. He had left countless messages since Saturday, messages when she could tell that he was crying and that he felt horrible. She felt even worse knowing that she could ease his pain just by picking the phone up and talking to him, but she couldn't make herself do it, not yet.

That night at home she cooked dinner and sat herself in front of the television. She toyed with the idea of calling home but decided that her mom would know that something was wrong and she just wasn't up to the explanation that she would have to give. Besides she needed time to think. By the time she finished her dinner and had the dishes in the dishwasher she was convinced that she was just being foolish about the whole situation. She would have to face Matt sooner or later and she was thinking that the time was coming soon. They would talk it out, it would all be alright, and it had to be. He was her best friend, and her hope in life it seemed.

Tuesday morning Claire got up and readied herself for work. She had a feeling that today would be the day that she saw Matt and she was nervous. Would she feel the anger and hurt toward him that she had experienced Saturday night or would she just be glad to see him again? She found herself leaving earlier than she really needed to and when she got to work she was greeted warmly by Sadie.

"Good morning Claire, how was your first weekend on your internship?"

"You don't want to know," Claire said.

Sadie studied Claire and noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes. "Are you alright girl? You look like you haven't slept since you left here Thursday afternoon."

Sighing and setting her purse down on the counter Claire sat in the chair and looked at Sadie. "My internship is with a company known as FCW, or Florida Championship Wrestling. It's a brutal sport where people beat on each other for the fun of it, and people watch and enjoy it. It's contained violence."

"Oh my goodness, I bet that was a shocking flashback for you wasn't it?"

"Among other things, yes," Claire said sadly. "Matt does that for a living. He lied to me and never mentioned it. I saw him outside signing autographs for the fans. I haven't spoken to him since."

"Oh Claire," Sadie gasped sitting down and taking Claire's hand in hers. "I'm so very sorry. I know that you and he are so close. Has he tried to call or anything since then?"

Nodding Claire said, "Repeatedly, but I haven't answered. I can't yet but if he shows up today for lunch I will talk to him."

"If he comes in I want you to take an extra half hour, on the clock, to talk. I know how badly this has to be upsetting you. Now go get you a coffee and let's get to work."

Three hours later it was coming up on lunch time and Claire's stomach was in knots. She hadn't seen Matt come in yet, which by this time he normally had, and she hadn't heard from him all morning. It was the first time he hadn't tried to contact her cell phone since Saturday. She was hoping and praying that he would come in but she was quickly losing hope.

Just before noon the bell over the door tinkled and Claire's head jerked up to see who had walked in. She groaned inwardly when she saw Stephen walking casually across the café toward the counter. Of all people he was the last one that she wanted to see. He had a broad smile on his face when he came to a stop at the counter.

"Good morning Claire, how are you today?"

"I am doing just fine thank you. What can I get you today," Claire asked forcing a smile into her voice.

"I'll take the usual if you don't mind. So, what's going on with you and Matt?"

Claire turned and acted as though she didn't hear his question as she fixed his coffee and got his banana nut muffin. Turning back to the counter she avoided his eyes and rang up his order. "That is four dollars and twenty seven cents. Anything else I can get for you today?"

"Unless you're willing to sit and talk, then I think this is all Miss Claire."

"I've got to work, I'm sorry."

She watched as he took his seat and then headed into the back. She took off her apron and sunk down in the chair at the table. Sadie turned from where she stood at the back door taking in a new shipment and smiled.

"Has Matt come in yet?" When Claire didn't answer, Sadie walked over and sat. "Hey, Claire, have you seen Matt yet? He's usually here by now isn't he?"

Shaking her head Claire sighed. "No, he hasn't come in. Stephen did though, not that he helps my mind."

"He's not a bad guy. He's been coming in here for awhile now and is always respectful. Never known him to show an interest in anyone but you though, and you're not even giving him the time of day. What is it about him that you don't like?"

"His size for starters, I mean he's huge! And he's one of the wrestlers at FCW too. That definitely isn't a plus for him."

"So let me get this straight, your judging him based on his muscles and height, all because of your ex husband? Is that really fair to him Claire? Hell, is that fair to you?"

Claire looked at Sadie a minute and then shrugged. "I guess not, but I just don't want someone like him in my life. He isn't what I need."

"Alright then, go on and take your break then. I'll cover the counter for you."

Claire stood and headed to the front to fix herself a cappuccino and grabbed a muffin before heading out to the tables to take a seat. She had a book that she had been trying to read all weekend and was determined to make a little progress on it. She was almost finished with the first chapter and her muffin when a shadow covered the table, blocking the sunlight that was streaming in the windows. She looked up and saw Stephen standing there with a smile.

"Can I help you?"

He lifted his big shoulders in a shrug and turned a chair around backwards, taking a seat. He looked so careless and carefree, sitting there with his arms crossed over the back of the chair. He reminded her far too much of Logan.

"Sure, have a seat, I was just leaving anyway." Claire grabbed her things and went to stand when his large, freckled hand shot out to cover hers.

"Wait just a minute, sit down please. I want to talk to you. I won't bite, and I won't even put the moves on you. I just want to talk."

Reluctantly she lowered herself back into her seat and defensively crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn't going to make this easy on him at all. She had no intentions of getting to know the brute of a man who thought that he was some kind of Irish god. He would just have to find someone else to be interested in.

"So, I take it you're not going to make this conversation easy on me eh? That's okay. So tell me, what is it about me that you can't stand?"

"Why must you assume that I can't stand you? Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe I'm not interested in a relationship?"

"What makes you think I'm looking for a relationship? I wouldn't do that to Matt anyway. I just want to get to know you."

Claire was more positive than ever that this wasn't a guy she wanted to know. "You're not looking for a relationship huh? So what, you think I would be okay with one night with an Irishman like yourself? I'm a lot of things, but easy isn't one of them. Nor is stupid one of them. As for Matt, we are only friends, and as of right now I don't even know about that. Now if you will excuse me, I have a real job to get back to."

Claire gathered her book and her drink and walked angrily to the back room. She put on her apron and headed toward the register to let Sadie know that she was back. Once she had clocked back in she glanced to the table where she had been sitting and noticed, thankfully, that Stephen was gone. She grabbed a towel and headed to wipe down the tables. At the table where they had sat she saw a folded up piece of paper. Sitting the towel down, she picked it up slowly and unfolded it.

"Claire, I didn't mean it that way at all. I'm sorry that it came out so wrong. I hope that you will give me another chance to make a better first impression. That sounded like I was hitting on you again didn't it? I'm sorry, again. Stephen."

With a frustrated sigh she crumpled it up and slid it into her apron. She wiped the table clean and headed back to the register. The day passed with no sign of Matt and by the time she had gotten off work she was convinced that he was too hurt to even make contact anymore. With a heavy heart and a broken spirit she headed home.