My Only Exception (gxg)

Part 23

As Emily carried on about Evan, my resentment started to grow. I was completely heartbroken, and I couldn't even talk to her about it. I know I was the one that lied to her for months on end, but I could hardly sit here and act like everything was okay, and I wasn't hurting every second of every day.

Emily was saying something about PA school, and how it would work with moving in with Evan, when I mentally had enough.

"Em, I'm sorry," I said, "I have to go. I have a massive headache, and I want to make sure I'm okay before work."

Emily looked at me, concern in her eyes, "I'm sorry, Delilah. We can totally head out."

"Thanks. I think I need to."

Emily gave me a hug by my car before we left, and I hugged her back, but on the inside I felt completely empty.

I got ready for work, and when I walked in for my shift, I simply mumbled "hello" to Poppy, Diego, and Liv, who had just graduated and was now working at the coffee shop for the summer at least.

Poppy hardly even looked my way when I grumbled my greeting.

I was making drinks with Liv, and Poppy was on the register.

At one point during the shift, Liv whispered to me, "Are you okay, Delilah? You seem pretty low."

"Just dealing with some things. Nothing really to do with my mental health issues. Thank you for asking," I whispered back to Liv.

I swore I saw Poppy glance over at us as we whispered together.

About an hour before my shift ended, when Diego had already left, Liv asked me and Poppy, "Do you mind if I leave earlier? I'm getting dinner with my family for my grandma's birthday and I was hoping to head out sooner than later. Are you two okay to close together?"

"Yeah, we're fine to do that," Poppy said to Liv, not really looking at her.

"Thanks!" Liv said, "I appreciate it."

A woman then walked into the shop. She seemed to have a similar style to me. Dark hair, dark clothing, some tattoos and piercings. She walked up to the register, and I heard Poppy say to her, "Good evening, what can I get you?"

"Hi," the woman said, "I'll take an iced lavender vanilla latte with oat milk."

"Sure thing," Poppy said, "What size?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'll take a medium."

"No problem," Poppy said back to her, "That'll be $4.67."

I saw the woman pay out of the corner of my eye, and I immediately tensed up at what she said next to Poppy.

"Might I just say, you're absolutely stunning," she said to Poppy.

"Thank you so much," Poppy said back to her, "As are you."

This is just great to hear. Not.

"Thank you," the woman said back to Poppy, "My name is Mandy, what's your name?"

"Poppy. Nice to meet you, Mandy."

Is it?

"Gorgeous name to match a gorgeous girl," Mandy said as I saw Liv making her drink.

Poppy chucked, "Thank you, Mandy. You're sweet."

I glanced over and saw Mandy smile at Poppy, "Maybe I'll see you around sometime."

"Maybe you will," Poppy said back, a playfulness to her tone.

Liv handed Mandy her drink a moment later, and I saw Mandy wave to Poppy as she left.