The Retail Store, Part 13

"I'm going to leave the store"

"What... really?"

"Yes I already handed in my resignation, I'm serving my notice now"

I sat there contemplating Candices decision. I really didn't see her outside the store. It had just dawned on me.

"I'm an idiot aren't I?"

"Yeah you're really 'special' you know"

"That's pretty dark Candy" as I laughed

"Well you've completed the set, got to fuck all three C's"

"It's crazy don't you think, you and I are always in a group setting?"

"That's because you avoid intimacy"

Candice continued

"You were with Sam to avoid embarrassment, Claire out of guilt, Me because of happenstance and Chloe because she needed consoling, you've never purposefully been with someone"

I absorbed her words, whilst looking around at her place. Everything was in order, neat freak I guess.

"Being a nice guy will do you more harm than good, you know"

"Well what about you, you've fucked your friends with me?"

"I care for them but there are lines you know."

"What friends that sleep together stay together?"

"Don't try and flip the switch dude. Until today Chloe and I had never touched. Claire is Claire as you have experienced"

"Huh"

"Let me go make that coffee, I promised you"

"Hey isn't coffee a metaphor?"

"Nope Coffee is a hot beverage"

We spent the evening chatting away and getting to know each other.

"I'm really into you, you know" I said mid conversation

"I already know, but you're just afraid" Candice replied

"afraid of what?"

"letting someone in, I don't know what happened to you, maybe it's how you grew up but you really don't let people in"

"but I do care though"

"Yes you care but you don't let yourself love"

"Well we can make love now?"

Candice looked disappointed

"you really are dumb"

"I know but I'm your dumby"

I continued

"I don't know how to do this but I'm willing to try. Things haven't really been going well for me, so I've grown cautious to everything. I've been committed to walking alone."

She leaned in and kissed me

"Let's have that ' coffee I called you up for"

"but we already had... Oh 'coffee' well..."