Confused
"Hey." Punk said, walking into The Brewberry Café after closing time, noticing Lyla cleaning up by herself. He'd come over with the intention to check on AJ. He hated the way he had left her apartment last night. He felt like he'd done something wrong when all he'd done was share his past with her.
"Hi." Lyla nodded, "We're closed."
"I was coming to speak to April." Punk said.
"She's not here." Lyla said bluntly, continuing to sweep the floor as Punk stood by the door awkwardly, "But if you'd like me to pass on a message, I can."
"She left early?" Punk asked.
"She had the day off." Lyla said as Punk nodded slowly. He wasn't sure he'd saw AJ take a day off since he'd arrived in this town. Surely, she wasn't so mad about him being a criminal defence lawyer that she'd needed to take the day off from work to avoid him.
"She was helping me make donuts last night and-"
"She told me." Lyla cut him off as Punk shook his head with confusion.
"Did I do something wrong?" Punk asked, "I'm pretty sure I haven't." He said.
"I think you should just give her some space." Lyla nodded. In a way, she almost felt sorry for him. Technically, he hadn't done anything wrong. His previous job was, of course, a challenging one to wrap one's head around, but it didn't make him an evil person. She hoped.
"If I did anything to upset her… please tell her I'm sorry." Punk said.
"Why were you swinging by her apartment late at night anyway?" Lyla asked, turning her attention towards him and less on the sweeping of the floor.
"It was 8pm." Punk challenged.
"I didn't know you two were close enough to be dropping by each other's apartment." Lyla said.
"I've been wanting to try out donuts. I know she can make them… pretty well." Punk said, "I just wanted some help."
"And the other night? During the storm?" Lyla asked.
"I don't actually think I owe you an explanation for anything I do in my life." Punk said.
"You do if it's involving my best friend." Lyla nodded, "She might look all hard and tough on the outside. And she is hard and tough when she needs to be." She made clear, "But she's been through hell and back. The last thing she needs is a guy messing with her." Lyla shook her head.
Of course, when AJ had called Lyla this morning to let her know she wasn't coming to work, she'd explained why and what happened with her and Punk last night. How it had triggered awful memories for her.
"I'm not messing with her." Punk shook his head, "Did she say that to you?"
"No. I'm just warning you." Lyla nodded.
"I thought we were trying to be friends." Punk said with a hint of anger, "And it was going well. I mentioned I was a criminal defence lawyer and she just… her demeanour completely changed." He said.
"You're smart. You can figure it all out on your own." Lyla shook her head.
"I can't win with you lot." Punk shook his head with frustration, "I mess with you guys, and you hate me. I try to be friends with you guys, and you hate me." He said, "What is it I'm supposed to be doing here, exactly?"
"Nobody hates you." Lyla scoffed.
"Yeah? Doesn't feel that way." Punk said.
"Do you like her?" Lyla had to ask. She was no fool, she could see thing changing between her best friend and this man. She could tell when she stumbled in on them during the storm, the way they were looking at one another, how her friend's shoulders were completely relaxed… she knew there was something going on, even if it was small and undeveloped.
"Do I like her?" Punk questioned, "What kind of question is that?"
"Do you want something more from her than just… a friendship?" Lyla questioned as Punk looked across at her with confusion.
"N-No… I mean…" Punk paused, not knowing what to say really, "I barely know her." Was all he could think to say. Had he thought about the way she'd opened the door to him last night? With her tanned legs on show and her nipples very visible through her t-shirt? Yes, absolutely. But to be asked if he was looking for more than a friendship from her was far-fetched.
"Well… whatever way she lets you into her life… friendship or more… don't you dare hurt her." Lyla whispered harshly.
"I only want to be civil with her. With all of you. I'm grateful to her for giving me different tips for baking. That's all that's going on here." Punk insisted. He couldn't exactly tell AJ's best friend that he had indeed been thinking about her an awful lot lately.
"I can let her know you stopped by to check in on her." Lyla nodded to him.
"Ok. Thank you." Punk said, "I'm just… I'm confused on what I did wrong. Can you help me out?" He asked.
"It's not for me to explain." Lyla said, "It just takes a lot for AJ to trust someone. I guess when you used to lie for a living… it's not a great sign."
"I didn't lie for a living." Punk shook his head.
"C'mon. You're telling me that every single person you defended in court was completely innocent?" Lyla raised a brow.
"I took every client I represented at face value." Punk said, "But I don't see how my past is relevant?" He said as Lyla nodded.
It was hard to have the conversation with him when he didn't have the full reason for why AJ was so triggered by his previous occupation. It wasn't fair to be so harsh on him when he was pretty much in the dark. It was a complicated situation. But she'd defend her friend until the end of time.
"Maybe just give her a little space." Lyla said.
"Ok." Punk put his hands up. He was angry at himself for feeling like he'd done something wrong when he knew he hadn't. Most people weren't fond of his previous job, but they didn't react like this.
"See you around." Lyla said, carrying on with sweeping as Punk nodded and left the coffee shop.
"Oh my God." Daryl said, holding a half-eaten donut which Punk had made and was preparing to sell at his coffee shop for the day.
"Good?" Punk asked nervously.
"They're amazing." Daryl said with astonishment, "Who knew you had it in you."
"I've been here since 5am making them." Punk groaned tiredly.
He'd perfected a batch of glazed donuts and also managed to do some brown-sugar coated donuts. All had turned out pretty well and he was proud of the outcome for sure.
"Won't AJ be pissed that you're doing donuts here?" Daryl asked.
"Why? She doesn't own donuts." Punk scoffed childishly whilst Daryl stuffed the rest of the donut in his mouth, "Can I ask you something that might be a little nosey?" He asked.
"Sure." Daryl shrugged, putting the donuts out on the front of the counter behind the glass so customers could see them on show and be tempted to buy one, hopefully.
"Has AJ ever had a boyfriend here?" Punk asked. He knew it was an inappropriate question to ask, but it was the question that was running through his head constantly.
"I'm not sure." Daryl said, "Not anyone that I know of. I think she's married to her coffee shop, honestly. Which is a damn shame cause… she is a fine lady." Daryl nodded as Punk rolled his eyes, "You don't think so?" He questioned.
"She's… an attractive woman." Punk nodded responsibly as Daryl scoffed.
"Is that the professional term for smoking hot?" Daryl chuckled, "Why are you asking anyway?"
"Just… curious. She's been here for like five years and no serious boyfriends?" Punk asked.
"I don't know, man. I don't keep tabs on her." Daryl said, "I've not saw her out holding any dudes hand or anything." He clarified as Punk nodded. He just wanted to figure her out some more. It appeared she was perfectly fine with fighting with him and playing games, but now as they got closer to a normal friendship, she was avoiding him. Was it easier for her to hate him than befriend him?
"Maybe she has a social media page or something. We could look." Punk shrugged calmly as Daryl turned to him.
"That's a little stalkerish." Daryl said, "But… she doesn't have any social media. I've already checked."
"Oh… and I'm the stalker?" Punk questioned as Daryl shrugged, unbothered.
"I think these donuts are going to be a hit." Daryl nodded, "Maybe we should have ourselves an Instagram to promote this place. I could run it."
"You're too irresponsible for that." Punk shook his head.
"I can be professional." Daryl insisted.
"No social media. We do fine without it." Punk insisted.
"I love that you guys wrote down some ideas for the Summer Fair yesterday. They're all really great." AJ smiled, closing down the coffee shop later that night with the girls after a successful day.
It was good to be back at work after a much-needed day rotting on the couch and binge-watching TV shows to distract herself. Not to mention chatting with her aunt which really did make a difference, as it always did.
Lyla had told her this morning that Punk had dropped by last night to check on her, which did warm her heart a little. She knew he was no doubt confused and unable to figure her out given he had no idea what she had been through. She just needed a little time to digest the realisation that he was brutal enough to defend the lowest of criminals and no doubt belittle victims like her. It was hard to imagine him in that way when she'd just begun to see him in a different light.
"I think the mini peach cheesecakes will go down well." Becca nodded, lifting the chairs and stacking them onto the tables whilst Lyla cashed up from the till and AJ and Shiv started on the cleaning.
"They do sound amazing." AJ agreed. It had been good to be back in the company of her friends and customers. It definitely made her realise just how much they picked her up when she was having a bad moment.
"And the mini pancakes. Kids will love them." Shiv nodded, "Oh, you know what we should do? A pot of melted chocolate along with the mini pancakes. And we could serve it in a little basket with checked paper." She said.
"Calm down." Lyla scoffed as Becca chuckled.
"I think that sounds like a great idea." AJ nodded.
"Thank you." Shiv said happily, making a face at Lyla.
They continued clearing up the shop, wiping surfaces and mopping the floors until everywhere was sparkling, ready for tomorrow morning.
Becca and Shiv had already gone, leaving Lyla and AJ in the kitchen putting some equipment away, the last of the clear up.
"You can come sleepover with me tonight if you want." Lyla said, "I don't mind."
"I'll be alright, Lyla." AJ assured her, "I did all my wallowing last night. Really, I'm fine." She assured her friend, appreciating the love and concern, nevertheless.
"You know where I am." Lyla stated as AJ nodded.
"I got this. You get going." AJ said, carrying her very large mixing bowl from the sink and over to the counter where it sat.
"Look at those muscles go." Lyla smiled, putting her coat on.
"Mixing muscles." AJ nodded as Lyla chuckled.
"See you tomorrow." Lyla said, putting her bag on her shoulder and leaving.
"See you tomorrow!" AJ called, drying off the extensions to her mixing bowl and sitting them over on the counter.
She continued to clear the kitchen, putting the different equipment in their right places, when she heard the door to the café open and close.
"You forget something?" AJ called, assuming it was Lyla.
She heard no reply, only the door opening and closing again. She washed her hands at the sink and dried them, turning the kitchen light off as she walked through to the front of the shop, pausing with confusion when she saw no one was there.
She grabbed her jacket from the coat hanger, putting it on and flicking her long hair out from being tucked in, when she noticed something on the counter.
She walked over, noticing the white take-away box with a note sitting on top of it.
Let me know what you think. Phil.
She sat the note to the side and opened up the box to a perfectly shaped donut, just the way she'd showed him. Although, it appeared he'd upped his game and done more than just glazed donuts as the one sitting in the box seemed to have some kind of sugary coating.
She picked it up, feeling it still warm, smelling the sweetness from it the closer she raised it to her mouth. She bit into it, savouring the warm, soft, doughy texture alongside the sugary, crumbly crust. She was in heaven. She had a pang of happiness in her heart for his success. Before, she would have been worried that his newfound donut making skills would have made his coffee shop better than her own. But all she felt was pride and happiness over his achievement at making such a delicious treat.