Coffee Shop Love

Ch. 2
We entered the coffee shop, taking a seat at my usual table. Mica takes our order of 2 cappuccinos and Puma’s usual order of water and a lightly buttered bagel. This sweet pit bull is happily overweight due to the fact that she loves bagels. And who am I to stand between a dog and her bagels?
As Puma munches on her bagel, I take the time to study the girl I was now having coffee with. Lucy hasn’t said much at all. She slowly sipped her coffee and stared out the window. I want to know more about her. Honestly I want to know everything about her. She looks so fragile, so broken, so lost. She needs someone; someone to make her feel loved. And quite frankly, so do I. In attempt to hear her voice, tried to start a conversation.
“What kind of music do you like?” I asked not really knowing if I couldn’t answer away.
She turned her attention to me “Umm… I like all kinds of music. I’m a huge fan of Paramore.”
“I like Paramore too! Hayley Williams is amazing.” I said smiling at her.
A couple seconds went by before she opened her mouth to speak again. Then quickly shut it before words come out. As if she was trying to think about what to say. Then she shyly says “I don’t mean to be rude and you don’t have to answer this question if you don’t want to. And I hope you don’t mind me asking. But why do you use a wheelchair?”
I pushed my hair behind my ears and smiled, “it’s completely okay to ask that question. I was in a car accident with my mother when I was 5. She was killed. And I was left paralyzed from the waist down.”
Lucy looks sad, “I am very sorry to hear about that.”
I grabbed her hand to reassure her that it was okay. “Don’t be sorry. Everything happens for a reason. I wouldn’t have become a military nurse if it hadn’t happened. And I wouldn’t have puma either.” Lucy smiled softly and patted him on the head and looked back at me.
“What branch of the military are you in?”
“Army”
Lucy looks surprised, “I bet that’s fun. Do you like it?”
“Yes, very much. I couldn’t dream of doing anything else with my life.”
“What about you? Tell me something about you.” I said as I sent my assistant a quick text saying I was taking the rest of the day off.
I found out Lucy is also 25 and Just moved to Norfolk, loves animals and music, cheer up in New York in the foster care system for most of her life. She is also gay like me.
After finishing up our coffee, we talked for what seemed like forever and before we know it, it was getting dark outside. I had to get puma home. She wasn’t much help when she got tired. Lucy and I exchanged numbers and said our goodbyes outside. Just as Puma and I turned to leave I noticed Lucy sat down against the wall again.
Maybe she’s homeless. She could get hurt again out here and they could be worse next time. What am I going to let a stranger stay in my house? She needs someone to take care of her. Yes but she could be a psycho. For all I know she could kill me. But she looks so sweet and damaged and in need of love.
Whao, why am I having an inner monologue with myself?
Man I hope this is a good idea. Will without a 2nd thought I turn around. “Hey do you have a place to stay?” I ask before I have a chance to change my mind.
Lucy looks up at me and shakes her head no.
Butterflies in my stomach, “Would you like to stay with me for the night?”
She hesitates, “are you sure?”
“Yes.” I say praying to God this is a good idea.
Lucy shrugs and smiles. “Sure I will stay the night. And thank you.”
She gets up and walks beside me and puma to my apartment. Puma is so excited to have company other than myself. Her tail hits Lucy every time she takes a step. Lucy doesn’t seem to mind. She giggles and Pats put them in the head as we move down the sidewalk. “Her giggle is amazing.” I think to myself. wait did I really just think that? Okay so I have officially lost my mind. First letting a strange woman stay in my apartment and 2nd t googling over her giggle. I have to admit she is really cute.
Pull yourself together Amy. You just met her. And here I go again with the inner monologue. Before I know it, We reach my apartment and I think to myself. “Here goes nothing.”