My Only Exception (gxg)

Part 10

"How are you doing with everything?" she asked me.

"Everything as in...?"

"Your mental health," Liv said back to me.

I confided in Liv last year about my mental health issues that I struggle with. She has Borderline Personality Disorder, and talks openly about her struggles with it, so I felt safe confiding in her.

"Overall I'm doing well," I said to Liv, "Better than I was, which is all I can really ask for. I'd say my medications are helping me manage my bipolar symptoms."

"Are you in therapy too?" Liv asked me.

"I'm not. I probably should be."

"That's great that your medications are helping you, Delilah. I'm glad to hear it. Are you still not drinking? You said this summer that you had stopped."

"Yep, still not drinking. Alcohol fucks with me and my medications, it's not worth it. Plus...you know the deal with my mom. I don't want to somehow end up like her."

Liv gave me a sympathetic smile, "I know. I think it's a good thing that you don't drink, honestly."

"I think that it's a bad idea for me. When I used to drink, I would get carried away sometimes, especially before I got diagnosed."

"Sounds like you were self medicating."

I gave Liv a smile, "Who needs therapy when I've got you?"

Liv laughed, "Fair point! Maybe I should change my major from art to psychology."

I then asked Liv, "How are you and your girlfriend doing? Miranda is her name, right?"

Liv's face slightly dropped, "We broke up, unfortunately. No bad blood, just on two different paths. I'm single."

"Sorry to hear that," I said to Liv, "Are you alright?"

"I'm doing okay. It was a couple of months ago. Are you seeing anyone?"

"Nothing more than a very casual situation I've got going on."

Liv flashed me a smile, "Good to know."

Hm. Maybe we'll start our light flirtation again. I wouldn't mind that.

It's just a bit of fun.

During my next shift with Liv, two days later, there was definitely some light flirtation going on. Mainly just smiles and glances, but I could sense it in the air.

It was Liv, Diego, Poppy, and I working the shift, and even though Poppy and I had the oddly flirtatious conversation, we were back to basically ignoring each other.

I had been texting Corrine a bit during my shift. The last time I saw her was right before Christmas, she seemed to have gotten over me not going over to her house on New Year's Eve.

Corrine asked me if I wanted to come over after my shift, and I told her that I would likely be able to.

To my surprise, Corrine walked into the coffee shop about a half hour later.

She smiled when she saw me behind the counter, as I was on the register today.

"Hi," I said to Corrine with a small smile, "I wasn't expecting to see you here today."

Corrine smiled back at me, "I figured I would get some coffee today, plus I really wanted to see you."

Oh.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Poppy glance over at us.

"Got it," I said back, "What can I get started for you?"

"Got it". Alright, Delilah.

"A small caramel latte with oat milk please," Corrine said, "Thanks, Delilah."

"Of course," I said, giving Corrine another smile.

"Are you going on a break anytime soon?" Corrine asked me, "I figured maybe we could sit in here together."

I looked at Poppy and Diego, "Do you mind if I take a 15 minute break now?"

"Go right ahead," Diego said, "I'll hop on the register."

Poppy simply nodded without looking at me.

"Cool, thanks," I said to Diego.

Poppy then said to Corrine, "Your drink is ready, it's at the end of the bar."

Corrine grabbed her drink, and I led her to a table that was in the back corner. If she wanted to talk to me, I didn't want my co-workers to hear.

I sat across from Corrine, and she said, "I hope you didn't mind me coming in. I just really wanted to see you, it's been like a week."

I was silent for a moment, thinking of how to respond to Corrine.

I didn't want to be rude at all to her. But I was afraid that she was getting attached.

And I made it clear to her that couldn't happen.

"Corrine," I said as softly as possible, "You're not getting too attached, are you?"

Corrine's smile disappeared and she asked me, "What do you mean?"

"You know I don't want a relationship. And I don't want to do anything that gives you the wrong idea about that."

"You're really not budging on that?" Corrine asked me.

"No, I'm not. I can't," I said back to Corrine, really not wanting to have this conversation with my coworkers there, "We can hangout occasionally, but that's all. I really don't want you getting the wrong idea here."

Corrine frowned at me, "So this was really just about sex for you?"

I noticed Poppy look over at us after Corrine said that.

Jesus Christ.

"Corrine...I don't really want to have this conversation here," I said, and glanced at my coworkers.

Corrine shook her head, "We don't have to have this conversation at all. I can't see you anymore, Delilah. I want more than just sex with someone and don't want to waste my time."

"Fair enough," I said back to Corrine.

"That's all you have to say back to me?"

"I'm not sure what else you want me to say. I respect your decision."

Corrine gave me a cold look, and then got up and walked toward the door.

Well, fuck.

After she left, I closed my eyes and sighed.

I then walked back to the bar where my co workers were. Liv was in the storage closet in the back, but Diego and Poppy were up front.

"Are you okay?" Diego asked me, looking concerned.

"I'm fine," I said, "How much did you hear of that?"

Poppy looked at me, "All of it."

I rolled my eyes, "Just great."

Diego winced, "Yeah...I heard a lot of it as well. She didn't seem too happy."

"She wasn't," I sighed, "I hope she'll get over it quickly. I don't want her upset, especially not over me."

I'm really not worth being upset over.