Don't Explain by Audrey Dacey Read Free Book Online

to her anyway. She already blew her chance.
Anyone else that came into her coffee shop would require no more from her than
her ability to steam milk and float it on top of espresso, and even her best
friend wasn’t that picky.
     She stretched her arms through her grey sweater jacket, tied the sash
around her waist, and headed out of the door.
    She walked down the craggy dirt path to Main Street. The morning was
quiet, and she could hear the crunching of the dirt and leaves under her
sneakers. As she walked she would occasionally twist the ball of her foot into
the dirt to hear and feel the grit of the outdoors. The dew smelled sweet in
the brisk morning air. Her cheeks turned rosy from the chill, and she hugged
herself while walking the mile to her cafe.
    She was betting that Michael would be gone. Just like that. He didn’t owe
her anything, and while they were friendly, could they be friends again after
last night? After ten years of nothing? But she didn’t want him to go away. He’s
the only guy who ever really cared about her. Who didn’t just see her as some
kind of conquest. She had been hurt before by guys who only wanted sex, and
when she wasn’t willing to give it freely, they booked it to a girl who would.
     She touched her upper lip to her nose as she sniffled and felt its cold
tip; a chill ran through her body as she turned the key and heard the steel
deadbolt grating against the jamb. She turned the metal knob and pushed the
door forcefully with her shoulder to open it. Turning to lock the door behind
her, Caitlyn felt a strange tingling running through her veins. Today, she
thought, needs to be over as soon as possible.
    The first thing she did every morning was plug her MP3 player into the
stereo to play the soothing melodies of the jazz greats. The soft sound of
Billie’s voice filled the silence of the empty room.
    She turned on all the lights, lit the wood stove in the middle of the
room, started brewing the coffee, and took the chairs down from the tables. She
slid the muffin pans into the oven; she always prepared the batter the day
before, so that she wouldn't have to get up even earlier. An acrid fragrance
filled the small shop as the American brew dripped into the tall urn.
    She tried to focus all of her attention on the little things, the menial
tasks, and not the kiss. Not the warmth of his body pushed against hers or the
strength of his hand on the small of her back.
    Caitlyn shook her head. No.
    A light rapping on the window startled her. Caitlyn walked over to the
door to let Alexis in.
    “You’re early.”
    “With good reason. Make me a latte.”
    The gurgle and puff of the espresso machine soothed her as the extracted
liquid cascaded into the small mug beneath it, and the milk foamed in the metal
container in her hands. She slowly moved it down diagonally creating a thick
foam along the top until the nozzle was completely exposed. She poured the deep
brown liquid into the bottom of a clear glass mug and then poured a layer of
milk on top. She spooned on foam to finish the beverage and then handed it to
Alexis.
    “Here.” Alexis placed a fifty dollar bill on the counter. “The change is
your tip.”
    Caitlyn narrowed her eyes at her friend and crossed her arms under her
breasts. “I don’t take handouts.”
    A smile crossed Alexis’s lips as she lowered the mug from her mouth.
“Your coffee is worth fifty bucks to me. I’ll pay more if it means you didn’t waste
your summer vacation painting walls, sanding and varnishing floors, and moving
furniture. You work too damn hard.”
    Caitlyn wiped the counter. Sure, she worked hard at everything except a
social life.
    “So?”
    “So what?” but Caitlyn knew. She wanted all of the little details. “I
told you everything to tell.”
    “So are you off your man strike? Kiss this guy move on to the next. We
could go to a bar tonight.”
    “I wasn’t on a ‘man strike.’ Do you not remember the last time we went to
Boston? All