Bret's Bakery Chapter 3

Tugging on the hem of my dress anxiously, I quickly took another scan of the café. He wasn't here. And to make matters worse, everyone else was looking laid back and casual in scruffy jeans and cosy sweaters. Then here I was, in an admittedly stunning but still totally inappropriate metallic shimmering dress paired with polished peep-toe heels Flo had lent me and curled hair Becca had insisted on doing for me. I looked like I was supposed to be at a prom party but got lost and wound up here instead. Overdressed didn't cover it.

Deciding to take a seat, in an attempt to lessen the amount of smirking and sniggering glances being thrown my way, I spotted the perfect table right in the corner. Not only because I would be able to hide from the onlookers' laughing and critical stare, but because whenever me and Bret used to go out together, to a restaurant or such like, we'd always pick the table in the corner, the one that was out of the way. It just seemed more private, we'd agreed, away from the throng of people at the door, looking over people's shoulders while they were eating to see when they could occupy their table.

We could RELAX. This was a rare thing in both of our lives, what with me constantly studying for university and him desperately trying to keep his family business afloat. But we made sure that when we were together we banished everything else from our minds and relaxed.
''It was bliss and had worked perfectly until recently...' I sighed inwardly.

My little reverie was interrupted as Bret hurried into the café looking breathless and disorientated, still in his work clothes. Quickly straightening my posture and flipping my light brown hair back (which actually proved quite difficult due to the amount of hairspray Becca had plastered onto it), I watched his eyes flick around the room like baby blue searchlights. When they finally found mine, his face broke into a relieved grim as he bustled towards me. Of course, nobody stared a HIM.

''Oh Lauren, I'm so glad you came,'' he blurted when he reached my table, still flustered. ''I was worried you'd have left.''. Realising this was all I was going to get by way of an apology for being 10 minutes late, I felt my face merge into a smile. It was impossible to be angry with him. Instead I decided to see the funny side.
''I gotta say Bret, you really do scrub up well...'' I teased, smirking at the checked trousers especially.
''At least I didn't turn up in shoes with holes in them!'' he retorted, glancing at my choice of footwear.
''They're called peep-toes! And you could've had a shower.'' I finished matter of factly, noting the tiny beads of sweat collanating above his brow. Shrugging, he gentlemanly accepted defeat. Taking it that the joking was now over, I continued solemnly:
''I never should have broken up with you Bret.''. He nodded emotionlessly. Pausing, I tried to read his expression, but failing this I carried on, ''I didn't think I could bare a long distance relationship. I mean, my university is in London, we'd never be able to see each other half as often and-''
''Lauren, stop.'' His voice was quiet yet assertive. Shocked, I sat back and waited to hear what Bret was going to say, his words had created bewilderment, as my thoughts rapidly pondered their meaning. Allowing himself a deep breath, his eyes locked on mine.
''Let's not revisit the past. We both know why you broke up with me.''
''What?'' I breathed in disbelief and exasperation, but he silenced me with his brown, sun kissed hand, as he took a painstakingly long sip of tea.
''Your going to London. Your going to have a completely different lifestyle, a much more exciting one. At your university, your going to meet some really smart, interesting people, people you'll have lots in common with. And trust me, I'll be forgotten in an instant.'' he stated slowly like I was stupid. There was a tiny of venom in his voice or was it regret? ''You don't want some common baker boy back home stopping you from having fun with them. And besides... We both knew that I had always loved you more than you loved me. It was always me fighting for you, but, I can't compete with them. I can't, I just don't think I can do it anymore. Always worrying, never being sure that you were mine. I'm sorry.''.

The words hung in the stuffy air like a bad smell as he got up, and left.