'If coffee can't fix it, it's a serious problem.'
The possibility of a physical relationship with Evan made Ginny very happy. It had been so long since she had spent the night with a man. She missed the intimacy, the husky smell, the touching. Waking up in strong masculine arms. Sleepy kisses. Sharing a shower. Staying in bed all day, eating and sleeping and making love. Licking crumbs off each other's body. Sharing every part of yourself, and knowing all of him.
Harry had been the hesitant one; it had always been her who took their relationship to the next level. Not that he wasn't interested, he just never knew, never wanted to cross boundaries he wasn't sure Ginny was ready for. But he had been happy to follow Ginny's path, and after the first few nervous times, he began to initiate things, as they began to develop their sexual relationship.
For Harry, he had never felt so open, so vulnerable, even as he knew Ginny would never hurt him. To be able to touch her in places he'd only dreamed of, to kiss, lick and suck...and to get them in return. Sex, making love, was so much more than he expected, in the best possible way.
He wondered how people could simply hook up with strangers. He didn't think he could ever do that. Even when he had left, it was as if he had left his desire back with Ginny.
And now, she had reawakened it in him again. The thought that soon they would be able to share that again made his heart beat fast, and that damn monster in his chest rumbled, anxious for him to make a move, to get things happening. He no longer felt alone, but rose each morning with something to look forward to.
The next couple of weeks were some of the best of his life. He and Ginny continued their flirting and intense eye contact. Unfortunately, that was all that was happening, as another of Ginny's brother was away, and she was spending her nights with her sister-in-law, to help with her niece.
He went to Wales to see her play. She was better than he had even thought. She was tough, fierce and highly competitive. He had no care for the rest of the players, or the actual match. His eyes never left her, and in the end, it was a Harpy's victory. He left as soon as he saw her fly down into the rooms.
She had the next few days off, and she spent a lot of time at the café. She often pitched in if they had a busy rush, mostly clearing tables but ocassionally taking orders to help. One particular morning came to his were getting slammed, thanks to a broken down bus. Helen, who was the only waitress on, was trying to take orders for coffees and ring up sales of cold drinks and cakes. When a belligerent business man came in, demanding to be served immediately as he was running late, Ginny stood up to him, pointing out how they busy they were, and he was just as important as the council worker, who was next in line to order, or the uni student who was nodding his head to music only he could hear through his headphones. He could either wait patiently for his turn, or he could leave. He flushed at being called out on his bad manners, especially when the others nodded and began to murmer their agreement with Ginny. He stayed and even left a generous tip for Ginny in apology. She, of course, added it to Helen's tip jar.
He woke each morning with a smile on his face, eager to see her again. Being with her had always been the best part of his life, and it was the same now. She invaded his dreams in every way, his memories of his past relationship with her mixing with the relationship they had now.
The waitresses watched them both with knowing eyes. While he appreciated their support, he preferred to keep his private life just that. They all already knew too much, and he knew they were all waiting for him and Ginny to take their relationship to the next level. So many eyes, waiting and wondering...
It was Stacey who inadvertently burst his bubble. "Erm, look. I may be out of line here, but I guess it's the mum in me. You know we're all for you and Ginny getting together...but you have to make it special for her. She told Nancy she hasn't been with anyone for over a year. So you make sure you treat her right." She blushed and hurried away.
It hit him like a ton of bricks. Ginny hadn't been with anyone since he left. While that made him immensely happy on one hand, it also came with the knowledge that apparantly she was now ready to move on from him...with him.
Doubt set in about whether he wanted to tell Ginny the truth first. But what if she had given up on Harry Potter and had fallen for Evan. Should he tell her the truth before they advanced their physical relationship? Would she be angry or sad. Or worse, would she be disappointed?
He began to withdraw for he knew he wouldn't handle her rejection well. He stopped meeting her eyes. Had a million other things to do when she was in the café. He brushed her off when she asked him if he was okay, and denied it when she asked if she had done anything wrong.
Finally he took a deep breath and told her he had simply changed his mind about pursuing a deeper relationship with her. He would like it if they stayed friends.
He saw the hurt in her eyes. She asked him why, in a quiet voice. He had no answer, so he simply shook his head. He couldn't meet her eyes.
He was called away for an order. When next he looked for her, she had left. And for the first time in a long time, he began to seriously consider disappearing yet again.
She didn't come in the next week, or the week after. Stacey and Nancy particularly were shooting him reproachful looks. He snapped and shut down any conversations about her but he did hear them whispering and heard that she was away with her team.
He was working late one night; it was close to closing. He was in the back store room, grabbing soft drinks to fill the fridge so they would chill overnight and be cold and ready for the next day. He heard the door bell ring, and called out, "Be right there." He put the crate down and went out.
It was her.
She was sitting at a booth, her head bowed. She must have sensed she was no longer alone, for she looked up, paling when she saw it was him. "Where's Ben?" she asked.
He came toward her. "What the bloody hell happened to you?" he demanded, as he saw the bruise on her cheek and her right arm in a sling.
"Is Stacey here?" she asked, ignoring his question.
"She left early to take Ryan to the dentist," he told her.
"I thought Ben was on tonight," she said.
"He's off sick," he told her. "I'm covering."
She stood, grabbing a small familiar jar in her hand. Bruise paste from her brother's shop.
His eyes narrowed. "You wanted Ben to rub that on you?" he asked, in a dangerously soft voice.
"It doesn't matter," she said, and turned to go.
"You're hurt. Let me help you," he insisted.
"No. I'll be fine. I have to go," she said, shaking her head and wincing. She took an unsteady step towards the door.
"Ginny, please. Wait."
"No."
"Ginny!" He felt desperate. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you." Yet somehow he always did.
She raised her face to look at him. "Goodbye, Evan...James." She left.
He let her go, standing at the open door. She rounded a corner, and he swore he heard the crack of Apparation. He went back into the café, shut and locked the door. He sunk into the booth she had just left.
Now he knew how she must have felt when he left a year ago. Hollow and empty.
Deep down, he knew he deserved it.
/*/*/*/*
The July days seemed longer than ever. He was glad to keep busy, trying to put off the time he returned to his small flat, only to lay staring at the ceiling as he remembered every moment he had ever spent with her. It was self inflicted torture, but he deserved it.
He was working a shift with Nancy. It was quiet, as the road outside was closed down due to the council fixing the road a bit further up. The footpath was strewn with council equipment, thus putting off people from even attempting to come to the shop. He was contemplating closing early; sure that Nancy wouldn't mind leaving early.
They had taken advantage of the quiet to give everything a good clean. When Nancy mentioned a roster change she needed to make, he went upstairs to his flat to get the rosters for the upcoming weeks.
He returned downstairs to find the café closed, but full. Nancy's boyfriend Tom, Ben and his girlfriend, Stacey and her two kids and Helen were there, waiting. There was balloons and a sign up.
"What-?" he began.
"Happy Birthday!" they cried. The children blew out a whistle, and Tom started them off singing the birthday song.
He was surprised. "Wow, I-I didn't even realise. Is it the thirty-first already?" he chuckled.
Helen made two milkshakes for Stacey's children, and Ben began making coffees for everyone else. Each woman had brought a plate of food to share, along with bags of chips and popcorn, mostly for the children's sake.
"You've been keeping busy these last couple of weeks. No wonder you lost track of the days," chided Stacey.
"How did you even know?" he asked, choosing an energy drink for himself.
"Oh...er..." Stacey looked uncomfortably at Helen, who raised her eyebrows at Nancy. She looked at him.
"Ginny told us," she said, almost defiantly. "She said you probably wouldn't do anything for yourself."
"Oh," was all he could manage to say.
"Presents," bellowed Ben, with Ryan on his back. Ben's girlfriend nodded.
"Presents," the little boy mimicked.
He was touched that they had gotten him presents. Ryan had drawn him a picture of the café with a stick figure of his mum waving, and a stick figure of himself, taller than the building. Becca had given him a colourful handprint. He stuck them both on the fridge out the back, so all the staff could see it every day.
There was a small stack of presents on the counter. He felt humbled that they had spent their wages on him, when they had other needs more important. They all hushed him when he said as much.
"Mine's not much," said an embarassed Stacey, pushing it forward.
"Doesn't matter, it's the thought that counts," he told her, opening it to find a mug with 'Best Boss', on it, along with some chocolates. "I love it, thank you," he said, hugging her and Becca, and high fiving Ryan.
Ben had given him a bottle of Scotch and suggested a night out at the pub soon. Helen had given him a couple of tee shirts with funny coffee sayings.
One said 'It's Always Coffee Time' and the other said, 'Life is Too Short for Bad Coffee'. He promised her he'd wear them to work.
Stacey and Tom had gifted him a voucher for two for a dinner at a restaurant. He thanked them both for their generosity.
"No problems, mate. We got it when we all thought you and Ginny might – ow, why are you poking me, Nancy?" groaned Tom.
Nancy flushed and shook her head at her boyfried, before looking apologetically at him.
"Oh, right," realised Tom, looking sheepish. "Sorry mate. Listen, come into the shop, I'll do you half price on a tat," he offered.
"Thanks, mate," he chuckled. He picked up the last present, a small box. "Who's this from?" he asked.
No-one said anything, although Helen and Nancy exchanged hopeful looks.
He opened it slightly, peeking in. He read the small card that came with it, and slammed the lid shut.
Everyone was watching him. "Who is it from?" asked Ben.
"Nobody," he said, fooling no-one.
"Was it from Ginny?" asked Helen.
"Is Ginny coming...and Teddy?" asked Ryan. He looked at his mum. "You said Ginny would come."
" Dínny?" parroted Becca.
"I said might come, Ryan, might," emphasised Stacey. "Sorry," she mouthed to her boss.
"Was it from Ginny?" asked Nancy curiously.
He slowly nodded, his mind still on the card and the gift.
"Maybe she'll show up," suggested Stacey hopefully, and the others agreed.
They stayed as late as they could, but there was no sign of Ginny. He shooed them all home, saying he didn't mind cleaning up after his own party. Deep down he knew he was waiting for her to show up.
But an hour later, when she hadn't shown and with nothing left to do, he turned off the lights in the shop and headed upstairs to his flat. He trudged up the stairs slowly, head bowed and her present in his hand.
He was nearly at the top when his eyes landed on a pair of Converse shoes, with feet inside. Feet that stood as he looked up. Up past jeans, past the tee shirt for Weasleys' Wizards Wheezes. Over generous curves and gorgeous coppery hair. Over a mouth set in a line and familiar brown eyes. Soft brown eyes.
"Ginny," he said, in almost relief.
"Happy Birthday...Harry," she said softly.