Lee barreled through the door on his way to the bathroom. Returning to my customary place behind the counter, I grabbed a cup and started on his usual. Looking over my shoulder as he returned, I couldn’t help poking at him. “Feel better?”
Lifting his hand, he flipped me the bird as he leaned against the front display case. “I was this close, Mills,” he said, spacing his thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “This close to peeing myself.”
Giggling at the annoyance on his face, I passed his latte across the counter and took the five-dollar bill he’d pulled out from his pocket. Returning his change, I winced as he carelessly shoved the money back into his pants.
Yawning, Lee closed his eyes and rested his head against the top of the display case.
“Long night?”
“You have no idea,” Lee said, cracking his eyes open to look at me. “Law kept me at the office until midnight picking out tile patterns for the executive bathrooms. I thought I was going to have to strangle him and dump his body down the trash chute to get home at a decent hour.”
Lee was one-half of the world-famous architect firm Klein & Vale. Lawrence Klein was an architectural genius while Leland Vale, Lee for short, was his right-hand man and an award-winning interior designer in his own right. It still confused me that someone of his wealth and renowned had chosen a poor barista to strike up a friendship with, but chosen me he had.
Eight months ago, he’d walked through the door for the first time and had ordered his latte. I’d been a little intimidated by the expensive cut of his suit and the high-priced watch I spied on his wrist.
At that time, men with money still couldn’t be trusted. I’d since accepted the money hadn’t made Neil and his friends assholes, that had been their natural state.
Swiping his latte from the counter like it was a lifeline, Lee had closed his eyes as he’d focused on his first taste. Instead of taking a seat at one of the many open tables, he’d leaned against the counter next to the register and had proceeded to chat about nothing in particular as he’d sipped his drink. At first, I’d assumed he’d been hitting on me. I’d been flattered, of course, but not interested. I’d been in no place mentally for a relationship and the money thing had still been a no-go for me. I’d waited for him to make his move, but it had never happened. Instead, he’d thanked me for the conversation and had left.
A week passed, and every morning like clockwork, Lee would come in, order his latte, and hang out by the counter. I began to look forward to his visits and his strange sense of humor. It was only weeks later that I realized we were friends. It had been so long since I’d had one that I’d forgotten what it was like. Now, I couldn’t imagine not having Lee in my life.
Once I’d felt secure enough in our friendship, I’d gathered the courage and had asked him why he’d chosen to be my friend. Lee had shrugged and said he’d felt a kinship to me as soon as he’d walked through the door. I’d nodded instead of replying. Sometimes I wondered if Lee could sense who I’d been before, before Neil, I mean.
He was everything I’d used to be: outgoing, spontaneous, and courageous. Sometimes it felt like I was living vicariously through him until I was back on my feet, but I knew I’d never be that person again. My relationship with Neil had changed me in ways that I knew I’d never be able to shake off.
I lived in a tiny-ass apartment, rode a bike everywhere, and saved every penny that crossed my path because I never wanted to be without money again. I still had trouble meeting people’s eyes when they talked to me, and I tried not to apologize for things that weren’t my fault. I’d made a ton of progress, but the impulses were still there no matter how hard I tried to crush them.
And in my heart of hearts, I knew I’d never be anyone’s submissive or little ever again. There was no way in hell I’d ever trust someone with that side of myself.
“Why so late?” I asked, returning to the topic at hand.
“We didn’t realize the order for the tile needed to go out yesterday to make the schedule.” He started moving his head