Deception Point

Chapter 41

*Sydney

A couple of days later, I was getting ready to go and grab some coffee and breakfast.

I had planned on going to a place in my neighborhood, but at the last minute I found myself going towards Harper's favorite place near her apartment.

Part of me just really wanted their coffee again, it had been a long time since I'd had it; but I would've been lying if I said another part of me wasn't trying to see Harper again.

I didn't know why I kept doing this to myself, the last few times I'd been around her it hadn't gone well; but I felt like I couldn't stay away. It was like my body was wired towards her again without my permission.

I pulled into a parking spot out front of the small building, and walked inside.

My eyes immediately darted around to see if Harper was here, but I didn't see her yet.

I wasn't really sure if that was a good or a bad thing, but maybe I wouldn't even have to decide.

I got in line and started to scroll through my phone as I waited to order, and I found myself constantly looking up from the screen whenever I heard the door open.

By the time I got up to the register and ordered, I still hadn't seen any signs of her.

This was bad, but no matter how many times I told myself that, I still couldn't stop watching and waiting.

Harper used to come to this coffee shop almost every morning, especially on weekends, but I had no idea if she still did.

I found a seat at one of the corner booths and began to sip on my coffee, trying to take my mind off of the woman that I'd been waiting for.

I did my best to keep my head down so I didn't look too obvious, because that would just be embarrassing. It wasn't like she wouldn't know what I was doing here anyway, but I was at least trying to make it a little bit better.

My finger traced around the rim of my cup as I thought back to a few days ago when I went over to her apartment. When she told me that I was treating her like a stranger, the look that had come across her face was engrained in my mind.

She looked devastated, and I knew that I was to blame for pretty much all of it.

When I heard the door open again, I had to force myself to not look up.

I took another slow sip of coffee, my ears on high alert as whoever had just walked in went up to order.

I heard Harper's voice before I saw her, but then my eyes shot up; I couldn't help myself.

I watched as she ordered her usual drink, at least I knew that part hadn't changed.

Before she could finish, I looked back down at my drink that was sitting in front of me. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, which seemed to be a common theme lately.

Why did I even bother showing up here if I was trying to hide my face?

The sound of footsteps started to get closer to where I sat, and my heart pounded against my chest.

When I heard them pause right next to my booth, I lifted my eyes.

"Sydney?"

Her voice was soft and surprised; and definitely a little bit wary.

She stood there holding her latte, her eyes wide as she stared back at me.

I cleared my throat as I tried to find my voice, "hey."

She glanced around awkwardly before her eyes landed back on me.

"I - didn't know you still came here," she said.

"I um, I do sometimes," I shrugged, "but it's been a while."

I could tell by the look on her face that she didn't buy what I was saying for a second, but she didn't call me out on it either.

Instead, she waited for a moment before setting her cup down on the table and sliding into the booth next to me. She moved slowly, like she wasn't sure how close she wanted to get, and I froze.

"You don't have to - "

"I know," she cut in as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked down at the table.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes, and I couldn't help but wonder if she was replaying everything in her head like I was.

Harper finally exhaled as she glanced over at me, "I didn't expect to see you again after the other night...you kind of ran out of my apartment."

"Yeah," I muttered, "I'm sorry about that, I guess I panicked and - I don't know; but I found myself wanting to see you again."

"Sydney," she sighed, "you can't do that."

"Do what?" I asked.

"Say things like that and expect me to pretend that it doesn't matter," she answered.

"I - I'm not asking you to pretend anything," I said, "I'm sorry, I really just don't know what to say...I guess I should've thought about that before."

Harper looked down at her latte, and her fingers tightened around the cup.

"I don't know what we are now," she started, "or I mean - what you're hoping for this to be...because I can't - "

She stopped herself as her voice cracked, and she looked up to meet my gaze. Seeing the flicker of hurt in her eyes made my chest ache, and I tightened the grip on my own cup.

"Harper we don't have to - I don't want to hurt you again," I quietly said, "and I'm sorry if me showing up here or at your apartment did that; but I just - I miss you."

She bit down on her bottom lip, and I continued to talk before I could stop myself.

"Maybe...we can start with sitting here, and talking. If you want."

She hesitated just long enough to make my heart skip a beat, but then I saw her slightly nod.

It wasn't much, but it was enough.

"Okay," she said, "we can do that."

"Good," I responded as I felt a grin start to spread across my face.

When I first showed up here this morning, I had no idea what I was hoping to get out of it; but this was definitely a good start.

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