Returning to his desk, distracted Neil looked at the time, it wasn't any later than ten a.m. He sat down and tried to focus on his work. He also kept checking the cell phone but he'd had no more messages. He was still debating on stopping by the book store to apologise in person. Texting seemed so informal. He needed her to know he was really sorry, that he care for her a great deal and didn't want her to be angry with him. He wasn't a romantic type of guy, flowers die too soon. He thought for a moment and knew the best course of action.  He checked the time again, it had only been fifteen minutes. He tried to keep focused on his work, even though lately it had become mind numbing to him. He was going to use his lunch break to try and smooth things over with her. He needed to know she would forgive him. Then he heard the familar ding of the cell. It was a text . He slipped it out of his pocket and saw a message from her. 

"Come by the store later and we'll talk." 

"Yes, I'll come by on my lunch break. i love you." 

"I love you too. bye." 

"Bye." 

He let out a sigh of relief, at least she still wanted to see him. It was obvious she wasn't that mad at him or she wouldn't have sent another text. Good, he thought. one less thing to worry about today. He perked up, got back to work and as the time had passed a little faster for him, he looked up to see it was noon. He smiled as his heart started beating faster. He got up and headed out of the office. He jogged quickly to the local coffee shop and picked up two cups of dark roast and a giant cinnamon roll for her. He wanted to see her and even if she was still mad, maybe coffee from their favorite shop would help matters. He didn't know what else might make her feel better. 

He placed his order and waited , he was glad they weren't as busy as usual. That would give him more time with her. He thanked the girl working the register and left the coffee house. He strolled quickly, crossed the street and went the few blocks down until he reached Merlin's Trunk.  When he walked in he saw she had a handful of customers, but there was a girl at the register he'd never seen before. She must have been the new hire Jenna had mentioned the night before. He looked around but didn't see Jenna right away. He then headed to the back of the store and poked his head in her office.

"There you are." He told her in a perky sounding mood.

"Hello." She replied.

"Oh, I brought coffee and one of those Giant cinnamon rolls." He told her.

"Thank you, that's nice of you." She replied in a flat tone.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." 

"You didn't,huh?" 

"No, I was actually only kidding." He tried to explain.

"I didn't find it funny." She retorted.

"I can tell. Here, have a cup of coffee." He offered placing it and the bag with the roll inside of it on her desk.

"Fine." She replied having a long overdue sip of it.

"Are you still mad at me?" He asked.

"A little bit, yes." 

"What can I do to make it up to you?" He asked her, hoping there was something he could do to fix this and put it all behind them. 

"I don't know. I guess it's my fault for throwing myself at you like some slut, is that it?" She growled at him. 

"No nothing like that at all." 

"Did it occur to you that maybe I just wanted you?" She replied looking as though she wanted to kill him right then and there for being so incredibly stupid.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make a mess of things. What we have together means a lot to me. I love you." 

"I know that and I love you too it just really hurt me." 

"Can I meet you again after work? Maybe we could go eat or something. I still have to go to the funeral tomorrow. Will you still go with me?" He asked her giving her a look as though he were a puppy begging for a treat.

"I think I can do that, yes." 

He stepped closer and gave her a hug. "You're all that matters to me in this world and the next." He whispered to her.

"Thank you. I love you too." She told him.

"I want to stay but I had better get back to work." He told her.

"Okay. Thank you for coming to see me." She replied.

"Anytime I can, I will." He told her before leaving her office and heading out the door, back to his own office.

As he briskly walked back to work, he smiled. That went better than expected he thought as he reached the building sipping his own cup of java. He hurried through the double doors and got inside. He couldn't wait to see her again at the end of his work day.