Read Online The Coffee Shop by Lauren Hunter - Free Book Online Page B

The guys she tends to go out with are not…How do I say this?”
    “Does the word start with an a?”
    “You could say that.” There was another pause. “She hasn’t had the best of luck with guys, and she keeps getting hurt. The last time she let her guard down and let herself care about someone, and I mean really care, let’s just say she had a nervous breakdown, and it took her more than a year to recover. Since then, she’s never been the same.”
    “How long ago was that?”
    “Five years.”
    “And she hasn’t seen anybody since then?”
    “No. When I heard about you, I was surprised to see that she was even entertaining the idea of going out, let alone actually doing it. That she has spent time with you is saying a lot. And I mean a lot.”
    “She doesn’t think that I’m just looking to get what I can out of her and then just tossing her aside like she doesn’t matter? Does she? That I’m just out for a…”
    “One nighter?” She sighed. “She’s scared, Derrick. And I don’t blame her. That last time took everything out of her. I’ve never seen her so upset. If you are serious — ”
    “I’m in love with her.” There was a sound not unlike someone dropping the phone, followed by silence.
    “You are?”
    “Yes. I am.”
    “So fast? You only just met. How can you be? How can you even know something like that? I mean really know, for certain?”
    “No one is more shocked than I am. But this is something I have never been more certain of in all my life. It came completely out of left field. But I love her, and all I can think about is her.”
    “Forgive me for saying this, but as her friend I feel I have a right to protect her. You sure this is not just some infatuation?”
    “No, this is not an infatuation.”
    “So, you’re telling me, you won’t lose interest the moment she lets you in? You know, the conquest having been acquired, the challenge gone, the — ”
    “Yes, Angela, I do believe I have the idea.”
    “Because that’s happened before. The guy was obsessed with her, and the moment she opened up to him and allowed herself to care about him, it’s like there was no reason to bother wasting energy on her anymore.” She paused. “He actually told her that. That now that she had told him all about herself, he didn’t have to exert any energy on her anymore. Can you imagine a guy actually saying those words out loud? Can you imagine how that made her feel? And the moment she let herself feel something for him, the very thing he was wanting, he realizes, oh, now I feel suffocated, get away from me.”
    A loud sigh came through the phone, and then silence. “I’m sorry, Derrick. I’m sure you’re a great guy. But, what’s the expression? Once bitten, twice shy. Look, she obviously likes you and must believe she can trust you, otherwise she wouldn’t even be with you. But you need to understand she’s afraid of getting hurt again.”
    “Then I’ll just have to convince her, I won’t hurt her.”
    “Good luck.”
    “Could you at least please tell me where she is?”
    “It might be best if you give her a little breathing room just now. You try to push this too soon and you will definitely lose her.”

    The next two days were unbearable for Derrick. And then on the third morning, his cell phone rang.
    “Hello, Derrick.”
    “Annie, hi.” He tried to sound casual. “How are you?”
    “It’s okay, Derrick, you don’t need to walk on eggshells or anything. I overreacted. I admit it, and I’m sorry you had to be the one to take the brunt of what happened.”
    There was a pause, and he wasn’t sure if he should talk. He didn’t have a clue as to what he should say.
    “Angela told me you called. And she told me she explained everything to you.” Annie sighed. “I’m sorry that you had to be the one to be subjected to the residual. Well, I think you get the idea.” There was another pause. “How about we start over again? How does that