Come Again

by Kate, Jiffy

  “We need some more wine,” Sarah calls out, holding an empty bottle in the air and looking over my way.

  “What do you want?” I ask, unsure of what everyone over here’s been drinking.

  “I’ll get it,” Avery says, excusing herself as she walks around the counter and behind Shane and Sean as they compare the pumpkin pie Sarah made to the one Amy brought.

  I’ll give it to them, pumpkin pie is an art and deserves to be discussed in great detail. But I’m more interested in the beauty who just slipped out the back door. Deciding this is my opportunity to talk to her without the eyes of every one of my family members on my back, I jump on it and nonchalantly slip out the back door behind her.

  By the time I make it out into the alley, she’s already slipped inside the back door of the bar. Not for the first time, I decide we need an entrance that connects the two establishments. I don’t like the idea of her being out here alone, or Sarah, for that matter. When I approach the doorway of the storage room, I give the wood a light tap, hoping to alert her to me being here without scaring the shit out of her.

  Calmly, she pulls the bottle of wine off the shelf and turns toward me. “Hey.”

  If I’m not mistaken, her cheeks instantly tinge pink and she swallows a little harder than necessary, but other than that, she appears unaffected.

  “Hey,” I reply, willing my heart to calm the fuck down.

  Why am I feeling nervous?

  Fuck.

  “I just wanted to make sure you were having a good time. I know the women in my family can be a little much sometimes, but they mean well.”

  Avery’s lips pull up into a soft smile. “They’re wonderful.” Her tone is wistful, and I wonder what kind of family get-together she’s missing out on today and why.

  “I thought you were going home. What happened?” I ask.

  She winces and huffs, shaking her head. “It’s going to sound stupid and really pathetic,” she groans, but continues. “I called to tell my mama I’d be home this afternoon and she informed me Brant was already in town. I freaked out, I guess. I should’ve just gone and faced him, but I—”

  “Don’t feel bad about that. You shouldn’t be forced to see him if you don’t want to and I’d rather you not.”

  Her lips twist and she gets a curious look on her face. “Yeah, well, I know I can’t let him dictate my life, but I just wasn’t ready for that. And I still haven’t had a chance to tell my parents about why I left Houston in the first place, so...”

  “You didn’t tell them?”

  She takes a deep breath and shakes her head. “No, I haven’t...not yet. My mama and daddy love Brant like a son, so telling them...well, it’ll break their hearts and I just—”

  “You don’t want to do that,” I finish for her, knowing that her heart of gold is keeping her from shattering her parents’ idea of that dickhead. I huff out a laugh when I realize that in a way, she’s still protecting him and looking out for him, after everything he’s done.

  “What’s funny?” she asks, brushing a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

  I can’t help but watch the movement, following her hand to her ear and down her slender neck...

  Fuck. I want to kiss her so goddamn bad I can’t stand it.

  We’re quiet for a moment, just locked in a wordless tug-of-war with the familiar electricity buzzing between us. I watch as she licks her lips and I wonder if she’s thinking about kissing me too. If I was a betting man, I’d put all my fucking money on it.

  But then, she clears her throat and holds up the bottle of wine. “Better get this back to Sarah,” she says with a small laugh. When she brushes past me, I close my eyes and inhale greedily, holding onto the small part of her I’m allowed to keep before it dissipates with her departure.

  I give her a few minutes to find her way back next door before I head that way, slipping back into the mix of people and listen to Shane give us a play-by-play of what hot deals he’s getting tonight.

  The only hot deal I want is standing on the other side of the kitchen, entirely too fucking far away.

  Later, when everyone has gone home, even Sarah, I’m sitting in the empty bar with a lingering football game playing in the background. It was a good day. I always love being with my family, even though in the past, being with them has been a constant reminder of the people missing from our dinner table, but today was different. Having the crew from the bar there was great, but Avery made things...different.

  I cornered her later before she left, thinking she might need a ride, but she informed me she moved into her friend’s apartment across the square. I know CeCe. We’ve worked a couple events at Blue Bayou together. She’s a spunky little thing and I can see where she and Avery would make good friends. It makes me feel a little better that she’s closer and not alone.

  But, I’ll admit, I was really hoping I’d get to walk her home.

  Standing from the chair, I push it in and begin shutting the place down for the night when my phone rings.

  “Hello?” I answer on the second ring.

  “Shaw?”

  “Karin?” I ask, recognizing her voice after a second. “Did you get the food I sent over?”

  “Yeah, thank you so much. You always go above and beyond,” she says, making me grunt and shake my head at her admiration.

  “Hey...” She pauses for a second and then continues when I hear a door close in the background. “I just wanted to call and give you a heads up. I’m drug testing Jeremy tonight. I’ve had my doubts about his sobriety for a few weeks now. If he doesn’t pass it, I won’t be able to let him stay here. He can check himself into rehab and get clean, and of course, he’d be welcomed back, but I can’t have him here when he’s using.”

  I groan and kick the chair I was just sitting in back out and plop back down. Rubbing at my eyes, I try to keep my anger in check. “Fuck,” I finally say, knowing Karin understands. We’ve worked together long enough we’ve seen everything.

  “Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I had high hopes for this one, but something has been off lately and I’d rather nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand. The last thing I need is drugs making their way in and out of the house.”

  “I don’t blame you,” I tell her. “I’ve had my reservations with him and haven’t been able to shake them. Last week, he seemed off, but I was giving him the benefit of the doubt.”

  “Well, I’m just glad we’re on the same page,” she says, sighing in relief.

  “Keep me posted,” I instruct, needing to know the outcome so I’ll know how to handle things here.

  “Will do,” she says. “And thanks again for the food today. Everyone loved it.”

  “Happy Thanksgiving.”

  “Same to you.”

  Chapter 19

  Avery

  “Single...double,” CeCe says, holding up two different types of portafilters for the espresso machine.

  “To pull a perfect shot, you’ll need a grind that’s similar to granulated sugar, but that’s already set for you too.” She engages the portafilter into the grinder and selects the second option for two shots of espresso. The grinder comes to life, filling the quiet space with sound and an aroma that can’t be mistaken.

  “Ahhh,” I sigh when the coffee hits my nose.

  “Just wait,” CeCe says, pressing the ground espresso down with a small metal object that looks like a big, old-fashioned stamp.

  “This is the tamper,” she informs. “You want to make sure the grounds are packed in until they’re even. Not too hard, but nice and firm.”

  I snicker like a twelve-year-old at the nice and firm, earning a wicked grin from CeCe. “Focus,” she says, trying for serious, but failing.

  “Next, you place the portafilter into the brew head and turn until it feels tight.” She pauses and I lose it.

  “For fuck’s sake.”

  Seconds later, the espresso is made and we’re onto frothing milk. There’s a lot to learn, but I think I’m going to
get the hang of it before too long. For today, I’m on regular coffee duty and pastry patrol.

  The shop eventually gets busy and I’m completely caught off-guard when the door opens and I call out “good morning” only to be met with a familiar “good morning” in return. Popping up from behind the counter, I’m met with dark eyes and dark hair, darker than usual because it looks wet...from a shower or sweat. Whichever, it sends my heart into overdrive.

  “Hey,” I say, trying to quiet the butterflies that have taken flight in my stomach.

  “Hey,” he replies with a small smile that does wicked things to me.

  “What, uh...what can I get for you?”

  Shaw looks around at the shop and then back up above my head at the menu board. When he crosses his arms over his chest and scratches at his scruff that’s grown out a little more than usual, I swallow. Hard. For some reason, my thoughts immediately go to sex.

  Sex with him.

  Him above me.

  Him below me.

  Him behind me.

  I’ve been thinking about sex all morning. Even the espresso had me thinking about sex. Why should I stop now? It’s only natural, if you think about it. If anything gets me hot and bothered, it’s Shaw O’Sullivan.

  Clearing my throat, he must take it as his cue to hurry up because he huffs and cocks his head to the side like he’s thinking but annoyed I’m rushing him. But really, I was doing it for myself...trying to refocus my brain to not think about sex...with Shaw.

  Right.

  Taking Shaw’s order.

  Giving Shaw what he wants.

  What. The. Hell. Is. Wrong. With. Me?

  Get it together, Avery.

  I smile and surprisingly enough, he returns it. His isn’t big or wide, but it’s there and it’s directed at me, so it feels huge. “Am I not paying you enough?” he asks in a low, husky voice that sounds a lot like bedroom talk.

  “What?” I ask, shaking my head slightly, figuring maybe I didn’t hear him correctly, what with all the blood gushing through my body thanks to my heart beating so fast.

  “I said, am I not paying you enough?” He pauses, his dark eyes devouring mine. “You had to get a second job?”

  “Oh.” Realization finally dawns and I blush a little at being so scatterbrained and allowing him to affect me like this. “No, I’m just helping CeCe out,” I tell him, thankfully being saved by her at that very second as she strolls in from the back.

  “Good morning, Shaw,” she greets cheerfully, placing a few sleeves of cups under the counter. “Just a black coffee?”

  CeCe knows everyone’s order. If you’ve been in once, she miraculously remembers what you like. It’s crazy. She’s like a coffee wizard. Not that Shaw O’Sullivan’s black coffee order is that hard to remember. I’ve known how he takes his coffee from the first week I started working for him.

  “Yeah, and I’ll have one of those fancy pastries you like,” he says, looking directly at me.

  The request isn’t what gets me. It’s the way he delivers the words, like honey dripping off a spoon, slow and sweet. If this were anyone besides Shaw, I’d think they were flirting with me, but this is Shaw and I know he doesn’t flirt.

  Not with me, at least.

  CeCe doesn’t miss a beat and goes about pouring his coffee, while I stand there, allowing my eyes to linger on him a little longer than necessary.

  “I thought you didn’t like them?” I ask, finally pulling myself out of the lust-filled haze. “They’re girly shit, if I remember correctly.”

  When his words get thrown back at him, he smirks and it’s probably the hottest thing I’ve seen yet. “Right, well, I decided I like girly shit.”

  “Okay, so a danish it is,” I say with a sweet smile. “Would you like cream cheese or cherry?” I make sure to put extra emphasis on cherry because he asked for it and I’m feeling a little naughty today.

  When Shaw shifts on his feet and then clears his throat before letting out an obvious breath, I smile inside, feeling like I’ve won a small battle.

  Later that evening, as I’m walking across the square for my shift at Come Again, I have a slight tingle of nerves or maybe it’s anticipation. After my encounter with Shaw at the coffee shop this morning, I’m unsure what to expect from him tonight.

  Will he be the same flirtatious, easygoing Shaw he was this morning?

  Or will I get the Brandy treatment?

  I’m hoping for the former.

  But when I walk into the bar, he’s nowhere to be found. Paulie greets me from behind the bar and Kevin waves from the back, but the table where Shaw usually sits is vacant.

  “Hi,” I call out to Paulie, placing my backpack under the bar and grabbing my apron.

  “Hey,” he replies, walking over with a small scrap piece of paper. “Would you mind going to the back and pulling these few bottles. I thought Shaw would be in and I was going to have him do it, but I haven’t seen him in a while.”

  “Sure,” I tell him, taking the list. “No problem.”

  There are only a few people at the bar due to the night being young. I smile at them as I make my way to the storage room. Passing Kevin, I call out a hello. He smiles and gives me another tip of his head.

  When I get to the hallway, I notice Shaw’s office door is closed, meaning he’s either in there and doesn’t want to be disturbed or he’s not here. Scrunching up my face in disappointment, I punch in the code that unlocks the storage room door and walk inside. Turning on enough lights to see the labels, I grab a crate and make my selections.

  As I’m leaving, I hear the backdoor open and I look up, expecting to see Shaw, but it’s Jeremy.

  “Hey you,” I call out, setting the crate down by my feet so I can lock the storage room back up. When Jeremy doesn’t reply, I turn to him, noticing he’s leaning against the wall just inside the door. “What’s up? You okay?”

  Grabbing the crate, I walk down to him and feel my pulse quicken when I get a good look at him. Even in the dim light of the hallway, I can tell he’s pale. When he looks up at me, or tries to, his eyes don’t focus, they squint and then he lets his head fall back to the wall.

  “Jeremy.”

  “Yep,” he replies weakly.

  “What’s wrong? Are you sick?” I want to jump to conclusions. I want to ask him what he took, but I’m trying to be a good friend and give him the benefit of the doubt.

  Innocent until proven guilty, right?

  “I’m fine,” he says, his head snapping up all of a sudden. “You’re fine too.” His words come out with a bit of a slur and I know then he’s on something. I’m not sure what, but when he advances on me and his hands grab my waist, pulling me into him, it’s all I can do to not drop the crate of booze on my hip.

  “Let go, Jeremy. I’m going to drop this, if you don’t.” I try to keep my voice calm.

  “You like me,” he says, his face only inches from mine.

  “Yep, we’re friends,” I tell him with a light chuckle, balancing the crate on my hip so I can push him away gently, without causing a scene. It’s a good thing Shaw isn’t here. “How about I, uh...call you a cab?” I ask, grasping for a solution to this problem.

  Somehow, I need to get Jeremy out of here and sobered up without anyone knowing. Shaw would probably fire him on the spot and that would be the worst thing that could happen. Without this job, Jeremy will be back on the streets and back to...

  Drugs.

  But I guess it doesn’t take him being on the streets to use, because he’s obviously been using today.

  “What’d you take?” I ask. There’s no use beating around the bush. It’s obvious he’s under the influence of something. Not that him telling me what he’s on will help, but it might. Plus, I feel the need to know. I want to help him, but I can’t if I don’t know what I’m dealing with.

  Using the weight of his body, he pushes me against the wall behind me. “I want you. I’ve wanted you from the beginning.”

  “Jeremy,” I
warn, trying to maneuver around him, but between the wall at my back and the crate of booze on my hip and him taking up all the other available space around me, I’m cornered. “Let me set this down, okay?” Opting for distraction, I turn my head when he inches his closer. “I don’t want to drop this and cause a scene.”

  “I want to cause a scene,” he murmurs, his mouth brushing my cheek and I recoil, swallowing down the panic as I try to grasp for a solution that doesn’t involve getting him fired.

  A nervous laugh is all I can manage as I slide the crate down to the floor beside me and effectively move out of his line of attack. When I’m finally able to take a step to the side, I start reasoning. “You don’t know what you’re saying. How about we go outside and I’ll call you a cab. Maybe a coffee or something to eat would help?”

  Now it’s Jeremy’s turn to laugh, harshly, at me. “You’re so fucking stupid, Avery...” He draws out my name, almost mockingly. “Avery from Oklahoma. Have you ever even been high? Do you know how good it feels? Maybe you should try it, just once.” His gaze is invasive, taking me in and for the first time, I’m a little scared, because this isn’t the Jeremy I know and all of a sudden I’m having small flashbacks of Brant.

  Maybe it’s the feeling of being cornered?

  Maybe it’s feeling like I don’t have an escape...or being so caught off guard?

  I don’t know, but when tears sting my eyes in fear and frustration, I blink them away.

  “Well, I...” I don’t know what to say. All of my solutions fall flat, so I go with the truth. “I want to help you, but I don’t know how.”

  “Let me have you,” Jeremy says, stepping back into my space and grabbing me forcefully, so forcefully I swerve on my feet and fall into his chest.

  “Let go,” I demand a little louder, no longer caring if someone hears.

  Somewhere between those two words and Jeremy trying to lift me off my feet, a booming voice carries down the hallway. “Get your hands off her.”

  My heart stutters and starts again, practically beating out of my chest. I’ve never been so equally thankful and scared shitless in all my life. My warring emotions don’t stop there. When Shaw pulls Jeremy back, slamming him against the opposite wall, I lunge forward.