Chapter 40: Chapter 40

It’s been three weeks since she’d met Ryan even though they lived in the same floor and amazingly few doors apart. Max’s apartment was room 16 while Ryan lives in room 12.

She’d gone out to the rooftop almost every day, hoping she’d see him again but he never shows up. It’s always a couple barging out drunk or some random man ranting about his nagging wife or work.

She doesn’t like any of the men that she’d met on the rooftop—they’re not as lively as Ryan was. They’re not as real as he is. They all try to impress her and it’s a turn off for her. Ryan didn’t even try to flirt but she found him fascinating.

She could see herself being friends with him for a long time. Yes, she just wants to be friends with him but if she was to tell someone about him, they’d never believe her if she told them she wasn’t crushing on him. Who wouldn’t crush on tall, big Ryan? He looks so much like Dominic.

She grunts out loudly when the thought of her ex-mate crossed her mind. She has been thinking about him for an awful amount of time. He’s all she could think of, even with Aaron constantly staying in touch with her.

She really appreciates Aaron for putting effort in making things work but she was so fractured by how he suddenly neglected her that it makes her think twice about taking him back. She wants to because it feels like he has changed a lot but she has to make sure he’s truly ready to spend the rest of his life with her.

Last night, he told her he wanted them to move out of town after they get married. She was taken aback by that because it appears he has forgotten that he vandalized her home and her father was still pissed with him about it.

Whenever she questioned him about it, he’d always shrugs it off and tell her he did it because needed her attention. And he was constantly blaming Dominic for everything that has happened. She doesn’t like that he was Blaming him—she’s the only one allowed to blame things on Dominic. Not even Dominic is allowed to blame himself.

“Hey, so why don’t I find something for you to do?”

She was torn away from her train of thoughts by Max’s voice. It was Saturday and Max took her shopping because she needed new clothes. They had just left the boutique and now walking down a pavement, leading back home.

“Like a job?” She asked and he was afraid to nod let alone speak. Alice smiled brightly. “I was thinking about that too. I could work in a restaurant or babysit.”

He smiled back, his head looking straight as they walked upright ahead. “Yeah,” he said. “I’ll look up some places for you.”

He led them into a coffee shop and they head toward the counter to order.

Alice peered her eyes around while Max ordered for them. He knew what she liked since he had brought her back tons of latte whenever he was coming home. It’s the only coffee she accepts.

Her eyes dots to a man standing tall as he spoke to one of the baristas. She sucks in a quick gasp just as her eyes gawked with awe. It was Ryan and she didn’t think twice before walking up to him. His back was facing her. He now has his hands on his waist while he spoke in a low tone. She tapped him and it took him seconds to turn around.

His stoic expression immediately lit up with their eyes met. He was smiling now and his blue eyes were obvious happy to see her. “Alice,” he said. “It’s so good to see you again.” His eyes looks ahead, as if he’s looking out for who she came with.

His caught sight of Max looking at them and he waved. Max walked over, astonished by what was happening. “You two know each other or something?” he asked, looking between the two of them.

“Ah, yeah. We met at the rooftop a day after I moved,” Alice explained briefly. Max shrugs and nodded his head.

“It’s good to see you, man.” They shook hands and Alice stood there, staring at them with complete shudder.

“Ryan is my neighbour, he lives few doors away from us,” Max said when he saw the scandalous look on her face.

“Oh,” she mumbled, her eyebrows shooting up with astonishment.

“So, I finally know where you live,” Ryan said teasingly, looking at Alice.

Alice chuckled and shook her head. “I’m only here for a few months.”

Ryan looked disenchanted by what she had just said. He sighs and stiffens his back, then nods his head.

“Alice and I were uhm… talking about finding a job for her. I don’t know if you have any vacancies open at the café,” Max said as he looked around the crowded place. Ryan’s coffee shop is always jammed with people walking in and out of the café. He makes one of the best coffees and breads in New York city.

“I actually have an open space that’d fit her,” Ryan said, looking at Alice. She raised a brow, sending a distrustful look his way. He chuckled softly because he knew what her look meant.

“You’ll love it, I promise.”

She gave him a sly smile and nodded. “What would my job be, then?”

He looks around for a moment. “Do you know how to make coffees?” He asked.

“No, but I’m a fast learner.”

He settled his gaze on her, as though he was reading her mind. It made her to gulp down her tension and stared back. She wasn’t just afraid of losing her job before even getting hired, she was afraid he’d notice how attracted she was to him.

“Can you come by the café later by 8pm?” He asked and Max furrowed his brows. Ryan gaped his eyes and shook his head. “I want to teach her everything she needs to know about our menu, that’s all.”

Max took a glimpse at Alice, afraid she’d say yes. He trusts Ryan a lot but he doesn’t know if he could trust him around Alice.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, placing a hand on his arm. It eased up his doubt and uneasiness. He gives her and approving nod without saying anything.

“I’ll be here by 8pm.”

**

She took a right turn and walked down the pavement. She could see the lights blooming from the café. She exhales deeply as she shoved her hands into her jacket pockets.

This was the first time she was going out alone ever since she moved her. She always goes out together with Max even if they were just going down to the lobby. He insisted in accompanying her but she politely rejected. She wanted to get used to going out alone if she was going to start working. She can’t have him waking up by 7am just to take her to work while it as just a block away from their apartment.

She stood in front of the café window, and looked through it. It’s few minutes past 8 but it still seems busy. Ryan was talking to a girl as he hands her, her coffee. She laughed at something he said and placed her hand on his shoulder. He gave her a tight lip smile as he shrugged her hand off him before he turned to leave.

Alice’s stomach churned as she smiled. Why was she happy that he just shunned another girl?

With a smile, she pushed the door open and the bell went off, indicating someone had just walked in. Ryan turned around to look who it was. He smiled immediately and walked over to her.

“I was dead scared for a minute,” she said to her, offering to take her jacket.

She hands him the jacket after taking it off. “Why? You thought I wasn’t coming?”

He chuckled softly. “Something like that,” he said and guided them towards a door. He opened it and she stepped in. It was his office. It wasn’t big but it looked comfy with the all-white painting and small plants to spice up the place.

“Please take a seat,” he said, motioning to the long sofa that was beside his desk. She falls into the seat as she looked around.

“Just give me a second to close up.” He walked out of the office and closed the door behind him.

She heaves a sigh as she looked around the artwork he’d nailed to the wall. He must be a fan of art. Behind his desk was a family picture—she stood up to take a better look. It was a picture of his parents, him and a little boy that must be his brother. They seemed happy and unbothered in the picture. It made her wonder if they ever go through rough times like she goes through with her parents.

Well, hell didn’t present itself in her home until she was old enough to have a mate—until the two men showed up in her life. Ever since then, she hasn’t rest. She hasn’t rest even now that she was so far away from them. It crushes her to still have sleepless nights, heartaches, panic attacks even without having to deal with them in person.

The office door opens and she immediately closed her eyes shut, hoping he wouldn’t find it awkward that she was staring at his family photo.

“Hey.” It wasn’t his voice. It was a girl’s voice—a teenage girl’s voice. She slowly turned and it was a red head girl, staring back at her with a stoic expression. She was holding a coffee cup with a disposable plate of muffins.

“You’re Alice, right?” she asked and Alice didn’t know whether to nod or just keep staring back.

“Uh, yeah, yes, It’s me. I’m Alice,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, great. I’m Brooke, Ryan asked me to give you these.” Brooke was now smiling and it made Alice ease up the pressure she felt squeezing her chest.

She dropped the cup and plate on the desk. “He’d be with you soon. Enjoy,” she said before walking toward the door.

“Thanks.”

Brooke left and Alice was alone again. She heaved a sigh and picked up the cup. Her name was written on it—a smile crept up on her face and she lets it. She brought the cup to her mouth to taste it. It was latte, her favourite. She doesn’t know how he knows her favourite but this was the best she’d ever tasted in all the lattes Max brought home for her.

She briskly dropped the cup back on the desk and fetched her phone to text Max. She promised to text him the moment she was in the building and she somehow got carried away from everything that was in her mind.

Max immediately texted her back. He told her to text him when they were done and she shoved the phone back into her jeans pocket. She literally lives in the same floor with Ryan—they’d go home together… hopefully.

Fifteen minutes later, Ryan walks in just when she was taking the last bite of her muffin.

“I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting,” he apologized and sighed. He settled down on the sofa just as his cologne mixed with coffee hits her nostrils. She smiled and nodded, flouting the new sentiment she was feeling all over her body.

“Everyone’s gone and… we are good to go,” he said to her, glancing at his watch.

She observed his face and it described every word that meant tired. “You really look tired.”

He shrugs it off and got to his feet. “We don’t open Sundays, so I’ll sleep in tomorrow.” He offered her a hand and she took it.

They stepped out of his office and it shocked her to see the café empty and tidied up in just half an hour.

He guided her to the back of the counter; there the coffee machines are. “So, we have ten types of coffee in our menu.” He crunched down and fetched a bunch of disposable cups. “Black coffee, cappuccino, americano, espresso, latte…” he dropped the ingredients they’d be using to make the coffees. “Galão, Macchiato, flat white and affogato.”

He fixed his eyes on her and he knew they would need an extra day to learn again. She had her mouth hung as she rubbed her temple hastily. It made him to chuckle, “don’t worry, you’ll get a hang of it.”

They started with latte, like she requested. “You only need espresso, coffee and steamed milk for latte,” he said as he showed her carefully how to make it.

It wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be. They finished the coffee tutorials 15 minutes after 10 and cleaned up their mess.

She waited for him to close up and they began walking home. The street was still busy and it made her wonder if New Yorkers ever sleep. It’s always busy no matter what the time it was and the weather.

“You’re lucky to have Max as your boyfriend.”

His statement took her off guard that she had to halt and take a look at him. He thought Max was her boyfriend. Do they even look anything close to looking like a couple?

Alice laughed, a very appealing, purely feminine sound. “What? You’re so funny.” She giggled while she continued to walk.

He lowered his eyebrows in confusion. “Wait… he’s not… your boyfriend?” He asked, stunned.

Alice shook her head smile, as she kept her head straight. She doesn’t know why Ryan just thought Max was her boyfriend but it sure did take her off guard. “Max has been my friend since we were kids. We grew up together until his father died and they moved here together with his mother. I’m just here because…” her words falter. She wasn’t just going to start talking about how her life was shit and she couldn’t control it so she ran to Max to avoid her problems.

“I’m just here for a couple of months,” she said, brushing off the pang in her chest.

Ryan shakes his head and sighed. “You really don’t see it?” he asked her.

“See what?” They were walking slowly, in union and she liked it.

He looks at her in disbelief. He just found out she lives with Max this morning but he could see every single story and feelings in Max eyes whenever he looks at her.

“I could see it in his eyes; he doesn’t look at you like a friend anymore. The way he smiled for you? A friend doesn’t smile like that. The way he put his hand on your back? Friends don’t touch each other like that. The way his face lit up when you spoke earlier? Friends don’t look at each other like that. The way his voice changed when he said your name? C’mon Alice, friends don’t talk like that. Anyone could see it, clear as day. He’s obviously in love with you.”

Her expression freezes, as if his words jolted her with a bolt of lightning. She doesn’t want to believe anything that Ryan had told her just now. Max is her friend—her best friend. He’s like the brother she needed. He’s always there for her and he has never given her any intimation of affection. Ryan must be mistaken Max’s benevolence with something as strong as love.

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.

They were already almost home so she doesn’t bother to say anything. Ryan didn’t push her to. They walked into the lobby and head towards the elevator—she still didn’t say anything.

They were now on the fifth floor and walking toward her apartment—her mouth was somewhat open and they were already standing in front of the door.

“We open by 8am Monday to Friday and 9am on Saturdays. Your uniform would be given to you on Monday.” He kissed her cheeks and moved back. “Sleep well, Blue eyes,” he said walking backwards to his apartment.

She stared at him for a moment as her heart beat faltered. He told her Max liked her and now he just kissed her cheeks, living a tingling sensation surging into her entire body.

It’s obvious that Ryan just came into her life to make it more obfuscating than it already was.