I collected the broom and some cleaning products from the supply closet before I re-entered the brightly lit store. I returned to the aisle and began cleaning up my mess, crouching down on the floor with my hair hanging around my face, when someone coughed to catch my attention. I turned around and looked up to see Colin standing behind me with a bemused look on his face.
“Is that flour causing you trouble, Rylee?” he asked with a small smile on his face.
I sighed and stood, brushing flour off my skirt as I did. “Nothing I can’t handle,” I replied, attempting humor and falling flat due to my miserable mood. “Did you need something from me?”
“No, no,” Colin replied with a shake of his head. “Well, except that I was wondering if you’d made up your mind at all about the botanical gardens?” He looked at me with hopeful eyes and my heart sunk. In all the mess with Spencer, I had completely forgotten about Colin’s offer. Still, I knew what the answer would be either way, I just wanted more time to figure out a way to let him down gently.
I sighed and clasped my hands together before looking at him and biting down on my bottom lip nervously. “Listen, Colin, the thing about that is…” I trailed off and sighed again. “I’m not in a position to a start a new relationship right now. Things are rather… complicated with Jayden’s father at the moment and I really don’t think it would be fair to you to start something while things are still so up in the air.”
I could see Colin’s hopes dashed right in front of me as his smile faded while I spoke. I felt just awful, but I knew there was no point in stringing him along any further. Hopefully, Colin would move on and find someone with a less fucked up situation to date.
“Thanks for being honest with me, Rylee,” he replied after a moment of silence. “It does sound like you’ve got a lot going on right now. I really hope things work out for you, but if they don’t… You know where to find me.”
It astonished me how much of a good guy Colin was. I couldn’t help but think that if I’d never met Spencer, I’d be dating Colin and yet, because I had met Spencer, I knew Colin would never compare. The raw, sexual chemistry between Spencer and I was unmatched by anything. Sure, Colin and I could have a loving relationship, but it would never be as fiery and electric as what I had with Spencer.
I nodded to him. “You’re a great guy, Colin, don’t ever doubt that,” I told him. “And because you’re a great guy, you deserve someone who can be a hundred percent committed to you. I just can’t be that someone.”
Colin nodded too. “I understand, Rylee. I’ll always be your friend, no matter what.”
“Me too.”
He left after that and I resumed cleaning up the mess I’d made of the floor. The rest of my shift passed in a dull fashion since Dahlia wasn’t working and the store was hauntingly quiet all day. I spent most of my shift picking at the nail polish on my left pinkie that was beginning to chip and come away.
So, when the clock finally hit seven and I left, I felt a wave of relief wash over to me. I exited the store and headed for street, excited to get home and see Jayden, when everything came to a grinding halt because Spencer stood there next to his car, waiting for me.
What the hell is he doing here? I thought to myself while trying to combat the urge inside me that wanted me to run into his arms and hug him tightly. As I got closer, I could see that Spencer had a serious expression on his face and I knew he was coming to finish our conversation from Saturday.
“What are you doing here, Spencer?” I asked him when I got close enough. I didn’t want to delay the inevitable. If he was here for another argument, I wanted to get it over and done with. I was too tired to drag it out for too long.
“We need to talk,” was all he said to me in response.
I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. I knew this was going to happen, but I was rather surprised by how long it had taken him. What had he been up to all week? “Well, talk then,” I replied with a shrug. “It’s taken you long enough to come after me, you must have thought of all sorts of things to say by now.”
“I don’t think the grocery store parking lot is really the best location for it,” Spencer replied.
“Fine, fine,” I said, knowing that he was right. “Well, I’m absolutely starving, so we may as well go somewhere to grab some food while we talk. How about Mae’s Diner? It’s just around the corner.”