Declan and Julia

I like my job at the coffee shop. Besides making the best cup of coffee in the downtown area we boast the best pastries in town. It is the perfect job for me. My bosses are an old 90s hippy couple of gay dudes that more than look the other way at my ever-changing hair color. Which, in case you wondered, is currently a violent purple. It is one of my favorites of all the colors I cycle through.

Another thing I like about my job is that we keep a rotation of amazing music playing all the time. "Sucker for Pain" by Imagine Dragons is currently playing as I bop my head up and down.

"I'm just a such a sucker for pain," I sing. "I wanna chain you up. I wanna tie you down. I'm just a sucker for pain." I dance a little as I wipe down the counter where I'd just spilled a little milk making the last cappuccino.

I look up as the bell over the door rings. A handsome man in a gray suit walks in talking on the phone. Not our usual bohemian clientele.

"Hold on I'm in some dinky coffee shop across town. I need to order a cup of coffee and get out of here if I'm going to make it to the meeting on time." Putting his hand over the mouthpiece he asks, "What do you have that's plain but good?

Dinky coffee shop? Ew. No sir. I would not let him get away with that.

"Well, I'm not sure, Sir," I say in a sickeningly sweet fairy voice, "We here at Dinky Coffee Shoppe only make sub-par shitty coffee. It would be a gamble any way you go."

He looks up at me surprised. Clearly, he isn't used to anyone being sarcastic with him.

"Let me call you back," he says into the phone before sliding his finger across the screen to end the call.

"So, what shitty coffee can you suggest?" He asks with a shit eating grin. A dimple appears in his right cheek. I'll bet that's how he gets away with such terrible behavior. He turns on that dimple and thinks people will fall at his feet. I am not the one.

"Well, the Brazilian blonde is a particularly shitty brew. I mean, if you like shitty coffee that is." I say sarcastically. His dimple deepens as he smiles broader.

"The shitty Brazilian blonde it is," he says throwing a ten down for the coffee. "Keep the change. For tolerance."

I smile sweetly while I put the money in the till after taking my tip and putting it in my apron. I turn to pour the cup of coffee.

"My god," he says.

"Excuse me?" I ask rather indigently. I was used to people commenting on my unusual appearance, rarely are they so up front about it. Today I'm wearing a pink pleated skirt with black fishnets and a pair of Doc Martens. My shirt is a fuzzy short sleeved sweater with a winking fairy woven into the pattern.

"Nothing," he frowns. I hand him his coffee and he turns to leave.

"Don't let the door hit you in the ass, Douche Dude." I call after him. He lifts his hand in a wave not looking back. What a dick, I think.

"Declan, we are going to be late, and you know how The Man hates when you are late." My assistant Simone says as I slide into the taxi beside her.

My head was still back in Dinky Coffee Shoppe with the unusual girl behind the counter. She had absolutely called me out for being a dick. It wasn't something that happened often. Being the CEO of my own successful company did have its advantages. Rarely did anyone ever challenge me. This woman had. It irked me a little. More than a little, it pissed me off, but then she had looked up at me with the most amazing eyes. A clear moss green. I'd bet she is a natural redhead under all that garish purple.

I pull myself to back to the present. I do have an important meeting and to be honest I wasn't looking forward to it. The Man as my assistant called him is my father and we rarely meet and have happy family time. My father owned the first company I bought after my own company had become successful. I allowed him to remain as head of the company. He often thinks that means he holds some kind of power over me. It does not.

Did that woman call me Douche Dude as I'd left? I thought back to the coffee shop. What terrible customer service. I should go on Yelp and leave a bad review.

"Declan! "Simone said firmly. "Where is your head? Did you hear anything I just said?"

Ugh, I think to myself. I need to get my head straight. "Right, what are the talking points to this meeting?" Simone goes over the points I intend on making with my father before the meeting can come to an end. Quickly I forget about the funky coffee shop woman and focus on my meeting to come.

As I work the next day, I think back to Douche Dude. He had been so rude. Usually, rude customers didn't bother me but this guy. Why did he get to me so? I'd already spent more time thinking about him than I should have.

Later I was cleaning up getting ready to close when the bell over the door rang. "We're about to close!" I yell over my shoulder.

"I can tell time," I hear sarcastically. I turn to find none other than Douche Dude standing at my counter.

"Come back for another shitty cup of coffee?" I ask tersely.

"Actually, I came back because I think I left my wallet here yesterday."

"Nope. No wallet. Sorry to disappoint you. You must have left it at some other dinky coffee shop," I say.

"Damn. Okay. Thanks anyway." He turns to leave but stops turning back to me.

"My name is Declan, by the way?"

"Um, okay, so?"

"You know instead of Douche Dude," he says smiling a little.

I guess it has been rude to call him that to his face, well to his back, he had been walking out. But he'd disparaged my amazing, rocking coffee shop.

"So, Douche Dude isn't your real name. Who would've have known." I say smiling a little. "To be honest Declan suits you better."

Declan smiled back extending his hand.

"Nice to meet you..."

"Oh!" I snap, "Julia."

"Nice to meet you, Julia. I'm sorry I dissed your coffee shop. It really was a spectacular cup of coffee. Thank you for the recommendation."

"Thanks, it's not bad for shitty coffee." I say jokingly.

"So, um, I'm off to find my wallet," he says as he walks out.

I stared after him as he left a faint smile across my face.

I knew damn well my wallet was in front breast pocket of my jacket. But I'd found myself back at this little coffee shop wanting to talk to this woman again. I couldn't tell you why, except I really wanted to look into those green eyes again.

She was just as rude as she had been yesterday, but I figured that had been my fault. When she smiled and her eyes had twinkled, I knew I was a dead man. There is something about this girl. I have to get to know this her. I decide I have to make a habit of getting coffee at Dinky Coffee Shoppe.

The next day about lunch Declan appears through the door again. Strange. I hope he's found his wallet. I'd looked all through the shop yesterday after he'd left. Just in case.

I was helping another customer, so I peeked at Declan from under my lashes. He was wearing a navy-blue suit with a red tie. Black dress shoes buffed to a high shine. He was handsome. Not the kind of man I usually went for, but I could appreciate the aesthetic.

Declan stepped up to the counter. "Did you know this coffee shop is named Dante's and not Dinky Coffee Shoppe? Who knew?"

I laughed out loud. "I did actually. Strange that you should discover that."

"Can I get another cup of that shitty Brazilian coffee?" He asked pulling a ten-dollar bill from his wallet.

"You found your wallet," I say excitedly.

"Yeah, um, it was on my desk all along," he said sheepishly.

"At least it wasn't lost. Anyway, we do not have shitty Brazilian coffee today, but I can offer you a full-bodied coffee we call Dragon Tears."

Cocking his head to the side, Declan said, "Sounds good."

I busied behind the counter pouring the coffee. Handing it to him he said, "So um, would you like to go for coff-"He stops, laughing almost hysterically. "I was about to ask if you wanted to go for coffee sometime then I realized that you might get all the coffee you want in a day."

Looking around the coffee shop I reply, "Well I would but my doctor says I can only have six cups a day or my heart will implode. I'm afraid taking you up on your offer would firmly place me over the limit."

Declan nods thoughtfully.

"What about we go out for a drink sometime?" What did I just ask? Surly that had not come out of my mouth. I didn't go out with the corporate types. But something about this man left me wanting more.

"Great. Tonight?" He asks quickly.

"Um, sure. I'll meet you here about 8. I'll take you to a nearby spot."

"Wonderful."

This was a bad idea, but I was committed. At least I'd told him I'd take him to a place. I could only imagine the kind of swanky high-class kind of place he would have chosen. I shake myself in mock disgust.

Smooth, Clive. I admonish myself. Asking her out for coffee when she works at a coffee shop. That's just stupid. I'm usually better at this than that. This woman has me tied in knots. I take a taxi back across town to my office and finish my work for the day before going home to change clothes. I figure my usual suit will be out of place any place she's willing to take me.

I drive back to the coffee shop and arrive a little early. I sit in my car and wait for Julia to arrive. I see her walking down the sidewalk before she sees me. She's wearing slim black pants and a bright purple top that clings to her curves. Her purple hair styled into a vintage updo. I shake my head to myself. She is something else.

I get out of the car as she approaches, and step to her side. I kiss her on the cheek in hello. A little spark passes between us. Did she feel that? I am in so much trouble.

I help her into my car and ask her for the address for where we are going. She gives it to me, and I plug it into the GPS. It's about 10 minutes away. Good, we'll have a few minutes to chat before we get there.

"What's the name of the place we are going to?"

"Inferno," she replies. I chuckle "What?"

"It's just you work at Dante's and we are going to Inferno. Dante's Inferno." What was wrong with me? I was so not on my A game tonight. I never feel nervous around women, I think. Why does this little purple pixie do it do me?

I have no answer to the question.

Julia actually laughs at my bad joke, and I relax a little. We pull up to the front of bar. A neon sign with licking flames and the word Inferno hangs in the window. Here we go.

Declan gets out of his very nice car and comes around to open the door for me. How very gentlemanly. Taking my hand, I let him help me to my feet. I look toward Inferno, wondering how he will do in a place like this. At least he hadn't worn a suit, but he would still look a little out of place in his white button-down and black slacks. No matter. This was probably a one-time deal, and I wouldn't have to worry that we did not in any way go together.

Declan held the door for me as we entered. " Julia, hey!" Squeals Rebecca at the front podium. She kisses both my cheeks in greeting. "Can I get you guys a table?" She asks as she raises her eyebrows in question.

"A booth if you have one, please," Declan instructs. Okay, he wanted a somewhere we could talk. I respected that. To be honest, I want to get to know not Douche Dude better. He had been charming once he had stopped being such and asshole.

Rebecca shows us to a booth in the back of the bar, away from the stage where they sometimes had live music. At the moment The Summoning by Sleep Token was playing over the speakers.

Declan motions for me to take a seat first before sliding in beside me.

"This place is great." He says over the music.

"Is it?" I ask with a little mirth. He did stick out like a sore thumb. The crowd here is definitely more of a funky bohemian crowd. One where the patrons are more likely to have ear gauges than the cuff links studded through Declan's cuffs.

"Did you bring me here because you thought I wouldn't fit in Julia?" Declan smiles as he asks.

"Maybe. I wanted to see how you'd adapt."

"How am I doing so far?"

I look him up and down and say, "Well so far so good."

"Whew, good. I was worried." He was so not worried. He looked as at ease as he would in any board room.

Our waitress arrives placing small napkins on the table. "What can I get for you?"

"I'd like a lemon drop martini please," I request. Declan looks at me with doubt. "I wouldn't have taken you for a lemon drop martini kind of girl," he says as he turns to the waitress, "Whiskey neat, please."

I scoff jokingly, "I totally took you for a whiskey drinker."

"What? It's the superior drink by far."

I laugh and we settle into easy conversation. We talk for a couple of hours completely enjoying each other's company.

Declan stands tipping his head toward me. "I need to go to the men's room. I'll be right back."

He moves to the back of the bar where the restrooms are.

I sit listening to the music. Adam slides up and sits down across from me. "Who's the dork, Julia? Where'd you get him?"

"Adam." I grind out. "What are you doing here?"

"It's our place. I figured you'd be here. I didn't think you'd be here with someone else."

"Adam, we broke up months ago. There's no reason I shouldn't be with someone else."

"You're just some slut to him, you know. Someone like that wouldn't ever actually go for you."

Tears sting my eyes. I hate Adam. Hence the reason we broke up. I didn't know why I let his words get to me. It's not like I didn't know that Declan and I didn't match. But it hurt for him to call me a slut like that.

Declan slid back into the booth beside me.

"Hey man, can I help you?"

"'Sup," Adam said with a jerk of his head. "Just talking to my girl here."

"It seems she doesn't want to talk to you, my friend."

"It seems she doesn't want to talk to you my friend," Adam mocked. "She's not that special you know. She'll do anybody."

Declan rises to his feet. "I think it's time you left."

"I think it's time for you to shut your face."

Declan balls up his fist and decks Adam clean in the nose.

"You son of a bitch!" Adam yells as he swings his beer bottle at Declan. Declan ducks before the bottle makes contact but as he does the table upsets and I grab to right it. It puts me right in the path of the swinging beer bottle. It smashes against my head ripping the skin open.

Declan punches Adam again this time leaving him unconscious. He whirls to me yanking the flimsy paper napkin from the table and pressing it to my head. "We need a towel!" He yells. A towel appears from one of the bar hands. Declan grabs it pressing it to my head trying to stop the bleeding.

"Julia, I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," I wince.

"We need to get you to an emergency room. You are going to need stitches. Come on."

"I'll get blood in your car. Let me just call an ambulance."

"Absolutely not. I don't care about my fucking car. Let's go."

Declan ushers me outside to his car, tucking me into the front seat and running around to the driver's side jumping in. He revs the engine and shoots out of the parking space.

He taps a few buttons on his GPS then makes a turn as he heads to the nearest hospital.

"You should have let me call an ambulance." I hold the bar towel to my head. I feel the blood running down my face.

That motherfucker hit her with a fucking beer bottle. I was livid. I'd have beat him to a bloody pulp if Julia hadn't been bleeding so profusely. I immediately went into action to get her to a hospital.

"We need to get you to an emergency room. You are going to need stitches. Come on."

"I'll get blood in your car. Let me just call an ambulance."

"Absolutely not. I don't care about my fucking car. Let's go."

As I drive to the hospital, I notice blood is running down Julia's face. I can't let go of the wheel to help her wipe it away. I want to kill that motherfucking asshole.

I pull up to the emergency room bailing out of the car helping Julia into the hospital. We rush to the front desk. A nurse jumps up from her desk. "What happened?"

"She was hit with a beer bottle," I snap.

"Okay, let us do what we need to do. Please move your car from the drive."

"No way. I'm staying- "

"It's okay Declan, move the car. I promise I'll be here when you get back," she quips.

I frown. "Okay but I'll be back."

I move the car, frustrated when I have to park in the back of the parking lot far from the door. I rush back to the ER and back to the front desk. "Yeah, I'm here with Julia, Julia-shit I don't even know her last name yet. She's the one hit in the head with the beer bottle."

The nurse nods giving me a visitor pass and escorts me back to Julia's room.

When I get there, the doctor is already sewing up the laceration on Julia's head. I clasp her by the hand. "Are you okay?"

"She's going to need a CT of the head after we finish sewing her up," she says. "Even if the CT is clear she is going to need someone to monitor her for the next twenty-four hours for signs of a concussion."

"I'll take care of that," I say quickly.

"No Declan, I'll call David and Jose. They'll be glad to look after me."

"Absolutely not," I declare. "I'm taking you to my place and looking after you."

Julia starts to protest. "No," I say. "This isn't up for discussion."

It's another thirty minutes before the CT scan is performed but the results come back clear. The doctor gives us instructions for what to watch for over the night. I thank her then take Julia to my car to take her to my place.

Declan drives a little more slowly to his place than he did to the hospital but not by much. He clasps my hand in his not letting go until we get to his apartment building. He helps me out of the car. I wince. My head really hurts. The anesthetic from being sewn up has worn off and I'm also developing the monster of all headaches.

"Mr. Wright is everything okay," the doorman asks as we approach. Good god, Declan was a doorman kind of guy. The only person outside of my apartment was the bum that pissed on the door.

"We are okay, Phil. Can you catch us an elevator?" The doorman rushes ahead to punch the button to call the car.

"Declan, really, you don't have to take care of me tonight. I'll be fine. If I run into any trouble, I'll call David and Jose."

"Absolutely not, Julia. The doctor said you couldn't be alone tonight. I've got this."

We stepped onto the elevator. Declan punched the button for the top floor. Of course, he did. I shook my head but stopped because it made it ache more.

When we reached the top floor, we stepped out into the hall. There was only one door located at the end. Declan unlocked his door and ushered me inside. He led me to the couch and helped me to sit.

"Hold on, I'll get you some ice." Declan scurries to his kitchen. I hear him open the freezer door. A moment later he returns with an ice pack in hand.

"Declan, thank you," I put the ice pack to my head. God that hurts so bad. "If you'll just get me a blanket I'll sleep here on the couch. I don't want to be any trouble."

Declan looks at me like I've suggested I'm about to run the Boston marathon. "Julia, you will not sleep on the couch. You'll take my bed."

"Really, Declan, you'd don't need to do that. I'll be fine out here."

"Absolutely not." He'd used that phrase a lot tonight. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. Honestly it hurt my head too much to consider it.

"Come on let's get you settled in." He helps me to my feet and takes me down a hallway to his bedroom. It's a masculine dream. Black walls and dark woods. You'd think it would make the room too dark, but it didn't.

I go to lie on the bed when Declan says, "You can't sleep in your clothes. Hold on." He dips through a door to the side of the room and returns with a a big t-shirt. "Here, this will do."

I take the shirt from Declan. "Thank you."