Read Online Back to Reality by Danielle Allen - Free Book Online Page A

she picked up a phone and called Mr. Cooper to come to the Welcome Room. She eyed me quizzically as we waited.  Another group of customers came in and I took that opportunity to walk away.  My nerves were shot and I didn’t want to remain standing awkwardly at the hostess stand, so I walked closer to the dining room door. As soon as I walked to the door of the beautifully decorated restaurant, I felt a pang in my chest. The sheer beauty of the room was mesmerizing, but I halted because in the far right corner of the room a woman was singing and playing the piano.  As she smoothly belted out ‘Never Felt This Way,’ the hair on the back of my neck started to stand on end.
    Ty said this song was how he felt about me, I thought as my eyes filled with tears. I bit the tip of my tongue as the beautiful rendition captivated me.  I won’t cry. I won’t cry. I won’t cry, I chanted as I couldn’t stop the flashes of the last time I was in Jimmy’s play in my mind.  Here is where we were just beginning to make up. Here is where our last kiss happened.  Here is where I made him promise to hurry back to me.
    “Hi Mr. Cooper. This is the woman who wanted to speak with you,” the hostess said, pulling me out of my reminiscing. I blinked back the tears that had welled in my eyes before preparing to turn around.  I don’t want this guy to think I’m a weepy ex-girlfriend. If he thinks that, he won’t tell me anything, I thought taking a deep breath.
    “Hello… I’m Mr. Coop—” the deep voice started.
    I turned around and my mouth fell open. “Bennett?!” I uttered in shock. 
    Bennett’s face hardened as shock quickly turned into irritation.  His thick neck strained against the dress shirt that was buttoned all the way up.  His hazel eyes flashed angrily, but he didn’t say anything.  He looked as though he were trying to maintain at least a modicum of professionalism as he rubbed his huge hands together.  He glanced at the hostess who was looking between us with wide eyes. A couple had walked into the Welcome Room and they too were looking intrigued by the silent stare-off between us.
    Bennett flashed a wide smile to the hostess and the couple standing in front of her.  “Lily, I’m going to the office for a few minutes if anyone needs me.”  Looking back at me, he growled quietly, “Follow me.”
    Because I’m not easily intimidated, I was surprised at the level of difficulty I had meeting his eyes.  Guilt filled me as I followed Bennett into Ty’s office.  The familiar space made me simultaneously long for Ty and worry about him.  He never misses a Saturday, I thought suddenly.  As soon we were in the belly of the office, I made eye contact with Bennett.  He stood behind Ty’s desk and the anger radiated from him.
    “What the fuck are you doing here?” Bennett asked through clenched teeth.  He was fuming…and I couldn’t blame him.  However, he wasn’t going to speak to me any kind of way.   I deserved Ty’s wrath. I deserved Ty’s irritation. I deserved to feel guilty for what I did to Ty. But I don’t owe anything to Bennett, I thought as I put my hands on my hips and glared at him.
    “ Don’t you ever speak to me like that again. Where is Ty?” I countered in an even tone.
    We just stared at each other not speaking and not moving.  We were in a battle of wills and I was determined to win.  I came all this way to speak to and apologize to Ty. I’m not leaving without him knowing how sorry I am, I promised myself determinedly as the office phone rang three times.  Bennett didn’t answer the phone and neither of us moved. Seconds turned into minutes and we continued to grit on each other.  The sound of the door opening broke the tension in the room as we tore our eyes away from each other and toward the short hallway that led to the door.  I heard his voice before I could actually see him.
    “Bennett, I’m paying you to—” Ty began before he stopped in his tracks. A