Alone Together

Chapter 1-Analeigh

Stepping out of my car, my hands go up to fix the scarf around my neck to fight against the bitter chill of the January morning. Had it not been for a scheduled meeting, I wouldn’t even be outside at this time. Shutting my car door behind me, I headed toward my favorite coffee shop. 

Inside, the place was practically empty aside from the two older women who occupied a table by the side window likely gossiping about other ladies their age.  

Approaching the counter, Nina, the usual morning time worker during the week, gave me a tired smile. “Morning Analeigh,” Nina greeted me, her finger going to the touch screen before her.  

“Your usual?” 

I nodded. “Yes, please. Make it a large.” I answered back before looking down at my purse to dig out my wallet.  

“You’re out early,” Nina observed, punching in my order and then telling me the total. I swipe my card through the machine by entering my pin. 

“I have an inspection scheduled in an hour. So, I figured I should caffeinate myself so I don’t fall asleep while they do their walk around.” 

Nina takes the paper cup going over to the espresso machine to start on my order. “That sounds dull. Better you than me.” I laughed, tucking my wallet back into my purse and leaning against the counter. 

“That may be so, but I don’t have to deal with people lacking coffee in the morning.”

Nina sent me a playful eye roll. The door chimed as another customer walked in. Nina told the young mother that she would be right with her once she was done making my drink.  

Once my coffee is in my hand, I turn ready to head out when my phone starts chiming my pre-downloaded tune. Halting my steps to the door, I hurried over to the closest table, setting my drink down to get my phone that appeared to have fallen to the bottom of my purse.  

“Analeigh Grayson speaking,” I answered. I instantly frowned at what the man on the other end told me. I won’t be able to get an appointment for almost two weeks. 

“Listen,” I said, cutting the man off and trying to keep calm because it wasn’t his fault for the issue. “I have a couple that has a closing date of forty-five days. We are already passed thirty and I have been trying to get an appointment with your company for a while now. I don’t like the fact that my appointments keep getting canceled. I think it’s time to take my business elsewhere.” 

Just like I thought. I got an apology and a scheduled time for two days. Perfect. 

Thanking him, I hung up. Just as I pick up my coffee to get the hell out of there, I feel a presence behind me. I turned to find a tall man in his mid-twenties towering over me. Of course, being only five foot four, all men my age tower over me. 

A dark green cap covered his hair, with dark blonde wisps peeking out. Stubble covered his jaw and when my eyes landed on his mouth, his lips were curled up in a knowing smile.  

“Analeigh Grayson?” The attractive man asks. 

“Yeah,” I answered slowly, wondering how this man knew my name. I hadn’t even seen him come inside. 

I think the man’s smile might have gotten wider. “You went to Thorton High, right?” 

Everything in me was screaming get away from this creep. He knows my name and where I went to high school. I have no clue who he is. Nothing about him seems familiar.  

“Chris Wexler,” he responds, pointing to himself. I blink. The name is not ringing any bells. 

“We sat next to each other in College Algebra. My friend Darren dated your friend Crystal.” Suddenly it all came to me. Chris, right.

We ran in the same social circle but hardly interacted with each other except maybe to annoy me during our free time during class.  

“Of course.”  

Out of all the places to run into an old schoolmate, this would be one of the last places I would expect. Especially since I don’t even live in the same state that I attended high school in. Talk about odd coincidences.  

Reading my mind, Chris laughed and said, “I can’t believe I ran into you here of all places. Do you live here now?” 

“I went to school in Bloomington and I never left Indiana after that.” Mainly because I didn’t want to be anywhere near my parents after I graduated at eighteen.

“Do you live around here?” I asked tentatively. I have nothing against the people I used to hang out with. I just haven’t been in contact with anyone in nearly eight years. I keep mainly to myself. I have a small group of friends I hang out with when I have the time, but as a real estate agent, my hours are always all over the place, making it difficult to spend time with them. I don’t need another friend. 

Chris, from what I can remember, is the boy next door. Good looks, friendly, ranked high in our graduating class. He was a goof-off and liked to joke around, but it was easy for him to make friends. Meaning if he was nearby he would seek me out again.  

“No. I work in the automotive industry and the main company in Indianapolis has brought me out for a few days to work on a project.” 

I was impressed. “That’s awesome,” I answered sincerely. Glancing down at my phone, I saw that I needed to get going.  

“Sorry to take off but I have got an appointment shortly.” 

“That’s okay, I need to head off anyway.” Chris took a step back, allowing me to walk past him. He follows behind me, getting to the door. We walk silently and I know that Chris is making sure I get to my car.  

“Hey, this is one of the models I worked on,” Chris exclaimed when we stopped in front of my SUV. A proud smile appeared on his face. Hand reaching out as if he wants to touch it. 

“Really?”  

Chris nodded once. “Yeah, my second year at my company.” 

Before I had a chance to say anything, Chris asked, “Since I’m here until Friday, do you want to catch up tomorrow if you’re not busy?” 

I had to school my face as I nearly recoiled at the question. Did I want to catch up with someone I barely talked to in high school? I didn’t get a chance to think a second longer about the offer when my mouth opened and answered with a “sure.” 

“I’m free after four tomorrow.” Again, a smile from him. 

“Great! Four works for me. Shall we meet back here?” Chris asked, pointing his chin in the direction of the coffee shop. 

“Sounds good,” I responded and my phone started ringing again. “Oh for f**k sake,” I muttered with a sigh. 

“Bye Grayson,” Chris gave a quick wave to me, going off in the direction of his car, leaving me to deal with the person on the other end alone. 

That night, I walked into my apartment of nearly two years and was instantly greeted by my Pitbull, Tinkerbell. She let out playful barks, trying to jump at me to get me to pet her.  

“Did you miss me, Tink?” Tinkerbell let out a loud bark and whined at me. I put my stuff down and took off my coat before I sat on the floor to play for a few minutes. Since I live alone, Tinkerbell has been my only companion when I went to the shelter and adopted her. I had just gotten out of a relationship and decided then was the time to get a dog. It was impulsive, to say the least, but I had wanted a dog for the majority of my life. Now I have someone to look forward to seeing when I come home at night.  

I went through my usual routine of taking Tink out, making dinner, then going through emails before settling in front of the TV to catch up on the trash TV I love to watch. My thoughts went briefly to the man I ran into today, thinking out of all the places I could have run into an old classmate, my favorite coffee shop far from our former hometown never crossed my mind.  

The next day, I was busy with phone calls, limiting myself to my desk that I’m barely at most of the time at the office. By the time I was done, it was nearing four. I quickly put away my things and shut down my computer. As I drove to my favorite coffee shop, I was certainly unsure how I felt about meeting up with Chris.  

When I arrived, I went straight to the counter to order an iced coffee. While I waited, my eyes scanned the tables to see if Chris was already there, since I didn’t look as I came in. Sitting at a table in the corner, I spotted him looking down at his phone in his hand. 

“Analeigh,” the barista yelled for me.  

“Thanks,” I said back, taking my cup and sticking my straw into the caramel goodness. I took a sip and walked over to where Chris was sitting. He looked up as I approached. 

“Hey, look at who finally graced me with their presence,” Chris jokes as he sets his phone down. I set my coffee down on the table and my purse beside it to be able to take my coat off. 

“I lost track of time,” I admitted, draping my coat over the back of the chair and sat down, moving my purse onto the floor beside me.  

“Sure. You were going to stand me up but you came to your senses.” Chris leaned back a little in his seat grinning widely. “Can’t say blame you. I mean look at me.” He waved his hand at the length of his body. 

I’ll agree that Chris is attractive, even more so since our teenage days. But good lord, he is full of himself. Fortunately, he was only joking and not one of those overly cocky guys.

“I see you haven’t changed since high school.” 

He gave me a lopsided grin in return. “I have. I just have to ease you into my maturity.” 

“Oh lord.” 

Chris picked up his coffee to have a drink after he swallowed, he said to me. “So, tell me about your job that gives you a potty mouth.” 

I chuckle, remembering that I was a bit irritated yesterday morning. “I’m a realtor for Redwood Realty. I have been on this appraiser’s ass to get an appraisal done for my client as their closing date is approaching.” 

“And did you get the appointment?” He asked.  

I grinned. “Of course. For tomorrow actually.” 

Chris laughed and I decided to ask him about his job. I am a little curious as to what he does based on what little information he gave me yesterday. “I know you said something about cars yesterday. What is it exactly that you do?” 

“I’m an engineer,” he responds. I about choked on my drink as I took a sip at the same time, he told me his job. 

“Don’t look so surprised. You are hurting my feelings,” he teases. I wipe my chin to make sure I don’t have any coffee running down it.  

“Sorry,” I said. “I just never knew you were into math and science. I mean we were in the same math class senior year and college algebra isn’t one of the more challenging maths.” I point out. 

“Oh, I took that for an elective.” 

I stared at him dumbfounded. Who takes an extra math class for fun? 

“You can’t give me that look when you were Darren’s accounting tutor.” I’d forgotten all about that. It was a requirement that every student take an accounting course for graduation. Darren, Chris’s best friend, was struggling with it and knew from his girlfriend that I aced the class the year before.

He gave me a pointed look. “See, I’m not the only one who did extra for math.” 

I rolled my eyes and we settled into a comfortable silence for a minute. Chris had picked up my discarded wrapper and started playing with it. 

“How exactly did you end up living in Indiana?” Chris finally asked after another moment.  

“It’s a fairly short story. I went to college here and after college, I got a job where I had my internship, so I decided to stay.” 

“Boring,” Chris says. I narrowed my eyes at him. “What kind of story were you expecting?” 

He sat down the wrapper as he thought about it for a second. “I don’t know, a k********g story would have been cool.” 

I scoffed. “Sorry to disappoint but there was no k********g involved.”  

Chris snapped his fingers in fake disappointment. “Darn.” 

I shook my head at him. “You are really something, you know that?” 

“Of course, I know that. I’m absolutely charming.” 

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” I responded playfully, rolling my eyes. 

For the next hour, we talked about our lives during and after college, trading stories about what we had seen or done. We didn’t get too personal and thank god for that because I could end up talking all night. Finally, I look down at my watch, noting the time, and I realize that it is officially dark outside.  

“I better go. It’s getting late,” I said, looking up at Chris. He nods. “Right. I hope I didn’t keep you from your boyfriend.”  

I shook my head. “I’m not married either if you want to know my marital status.” Chris chuckled, standing up at the same time as I. I pulled on my coat, zipping it up to my neck.

“Hey, I have to be sure I don’t get my ass kicked.”  

There was a weird look in his eye but by the time I tried to focus on it, it was gone. I must have imagined it.

“Don’t worry no one is coming after you because we had coffee together.” I picked up my purse, hooking it over my shoulder before gathering up my trash.  

Chris and I walked side by side over to the trash bin, disposing of our plastic coffee cups. We step outside and I shiver at the brisk air. Again, Chris walks me to my car. 

“It was good to see you again Grayson.” He shoves his hands deeper into his pockets, scrunching his shoulders up to protect himself from the cold. 

“You too,” I said back. We arrive at my car and I dig out my car keys quickly so I can get inside and start the heat and so Chris can get to his car.  

“Be careful driving home after work tomorrow. There is a snow storm rolling in sometime tonight.” 

“Thanks, I will.” I get inside my car and Chris shuts the door behind me. We wave goodbye and I drive off pleasantly surprised at the evening.