Tortured Beginning by V. M. Holk

muffin."
    I inwardly sigh, not wanting to answer this question. I don't want to think about him, I was finally feeling normal.
    "It was fine."
    "Fine, that's it?"
    "Yeah that's it. He dropped me off, and I went to bed."
    I don't need to talk about it. Anne walks back and saves me from the rest of the conversation. She already heard all about it, knowing me so well, I couldn't hid it from her. Lynette knows me too, but she doesn't press me as hard as Anne, unless she has to.
    I finish putting the order together and get ready to load up in my car. I offered to drop it off down the street to the Knight of Columbus Hall, for the shower.
    "Hey can one of you help me load this up?"
    "Okay, that's my que to lead. I will talk to you guys later," Lynette waves as she walks back up front.
    "What's up with her?" I ask Anne. Since they are cousins, I'm assuming she knows.
    "Nothing, really. Let's get this out to the car."
    I have a feeling there is something going on and they aren't telling me. Anne didn't look at me when she answered.

    I pull back into the parking lot behind the shop, and park my car. This is turning out to be a long day. I can't wait for it to be over. Luckily it's almost over.
    I walk back in, through the back door into the kitchen. I drop off my stuff into the office and grab my apron. It's one of the more girly ones, with flowers on it. I usually wear the ones that aren't so feminine.
    I head to the front, hoping that there isn't much left to do for the day. I feel like I worked a thousand hours, and really want to leave. I go behind the counter and help Amanda with her coffee order. I'm so focused on what making coffee that I didn't look around the cafe at all.
    Anne comes up next to me and stands there smiling at me.
    Finally I say, "What is your problem?"
    "Seriously? Didn't you see who is here?"
    I sigh heavily, "Please just tell me, I'm not in the mood."
    "Wow. I guess not. Well your stud is at the table in front of the window. He came while you were gone and he has been waiting for you."
    I try not to smile to big and fail. "Damn," I whisper more to myself.
    I look over to the window and our eyes meet. He smiles back at me and my knees get weak. What the fuck is that, I'm acting like a stupid girl. I look away for a second and catch the smirk on Anne's face.
    "Shut up," I say to her in warning, pointing my finger at her.
    She shakes her head and laughs at me. I grab a cup of coffee and go join Trevan at the table. I sit down across from and smile again.
    "Hi. What are you doing her?"
    "Well I wanted to see."
    I'm not use to this, I haven't had a relationship like this in a very long time. I catch myself and I want to put up my walls. I almost feel like some of them have crumpled and I don't like it.
    "Well now that you've seen me, what else can I do for you?"
    He looks at me a little strange, "Well there was another reason I came."
    "Okay."
    He pulls a small glass blown bluejay out of his breast pocket of his suit jacket. My heart sinks, I want to run home, lock the doors and hid.
    "Where did you get that?"
    "Well it was on your end table, next to the couch. I found it when I was at your house and was going to ask you then. But, well... Well we got sidetracked. Is it yours?"
    "No," I whisper.
    I feel like the world is closing in around and I'm being swallowed up. Why can't Ben leave me alone, and how the hell did he get in my fucking house. I put my head in my hands, trying to calm myself. Trevan moves to the chair closest to me and grabs my hands. He puts his finger under my chin, to make me look at him.
    "It means something to you, though. It's from Ben, isn't it?"
    I only nod, not sure if I can answer. I only look into his eyes, feeling the warmth of his body and hands envelope me. I feel safe when he is around and I don't like the feeling. I never want to put my trust in another man, I won't let someone else do this to me.
    "What does it mean?" Trevan asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
    I shake my head,