#{c:nora}

Demitri was always baffled how the worn wood tables, the scent of freshly roasted coffee beans, and indistinct chatter of his favourite hometown coffee shop could bring back old memories. Despite nearly ten years passing and his life flipping upside down, nothing within the four walls had changed. The same sweet family owned it, they still served his favourite sandwiches and their coffee, though made with love, still tasted terrible. But he wasn’t there that afternoon for the coffee. He was there to meet with Nora. 

During the drive, Demitri reasoned there was nothing criminal about meeting with his ex-girlfriend for coffee. It was just coffee between old friends, and years had passed since they’d last seen each other. Let alone spoken to each other. But a small part of him knew his reassuring words were simply lies. Because when there was trouble in paradise and he re-evaluated his relationship, his mind often wandered what life would’ve been like if she was there instead.

Returning with two hot coffees and a plate of pastries, Demitri placed them on the wooden table and slid back into his seat. “They don’t sell strawberry danishes anymore, which I told them was a crime. They’ve pivoted to blueberry, which is, in my opinion, the far inferior berry. I even told them it was for a celebrity guest, and they didn’t budge. Sorry, guess they don’t have Instagram out here,” he teased with a smile reserved only for her.

Seeing Marcus with another woman wasn’t something Emily normally batted an eye at. She knew they were all temporary and the only woman that was constant in his life was her. So when Emily saw Marcus arrive with Lyric, something inside her burned in anger. Lyric wasn’t just temporary. He had slept with her before and now, she’s his date. Emily wanted nothing more than to spill a drink on Marcus or lure him away from the red-head... But then, it would draw too much attention to her and make it very obvious that she didn’t belong at the wedding.

Before accidentally making a scene, Emily turned to the bar to try to forget her worries. She ordered a champagne, before noticing the owner of the bakery sitting next to her. “Oh it’s you.” She greeted the other woman nonchalantly. “You’re way too beautiful to be sitting at the bar by yourself. Men are the worst. Who needs them anyways?”