"Before I showed up you would have left the salon with your receptionist. Now, it is just you and it is dark out. I'm just assuming the dumpster isn't sitting in a very well lit area and I refuse to leave you alone."
"Stef," I started to argue but he shook his head before I could get anything out.
"Don't waste your time arguing with me. I'm not leaving until you are safely in your car, so go about your final duties and then we will walk out together."
I sighed, but didn't bother fighting back. "Do you want a magazine or something to read while you wait?"
He waved his hand in front of him, "Nah, not much of a magazine guy."
"I wouldn't guess, considering how many of them you're on."
Stefan's wicked grin caught my comment, before I even realized I had said it.
"Have you been checking up on me, Greyson Rose?" Behind the amusement in his question I heard something I didn't expect-hope. He may have been joking about it, but there must have been a part of him that wished I had been keeping track.
"I run a salon, Stefan. We have monthly subscriptions to all the tabloids and hair magazines. We receive them for the customers, and anytime you are in it there always ends up being a picture of you on the cover."
His head bobbed in understanding at my explanation, and slowly I saw the light slide from his eyes. The hurt that resided within them when he first came to the salon tonight was gradually coming back. I had to look away to keep myself from running to him, throwing my arms around him and doing everything in my power to make him feel better.
I soon began realizing that the one thing that would make him feel better, was the one thing I decided I just couldn't give.
I gathered the trash and set it in one large bag by the back door that we only used at night or in case or emergency. After a few minutes more of silence Stefan spoke up.
"I see you got my flowers." I whipped around, and saw him pointing to the bouquets we placed on the window sills.
"I did, I'm so sorry I didn't thank you sooner. They're so beautiful. Thank you, Stefan."
His hooded eyes glanced up to meet mine. "Did you like them?" That gut-wrenching vulnerability laced in every word was eating away at me. This was a side of Stefan I had rarely ever seen over the years I had known him. The only time this broken man came out were the few times he thought he was going to lose me and when I awoke in the hospital after the accident.
My hands folded over my heart as I willed my eye contact to provide the strength my words couldn't. "I absolutely loved them. Every single morning this week I woke up and wanted nothing more than to come to work and see if more showed up."
A smile crossed his lips, but didn't come close to brightening his eyes. He looked from me down to the floor, "Did you get the cards too?"
"Every single one."
He nodded, his eyes locked on a single floor tile. I watched as his eyes squeezed shut for just a moment. My heart was once again breaking painfully slow. I had never found a love like Stefan's, but I had never known suffering like the kind he caused in me either. It was for that reason that I decided I truly couldn't give him anything back … not anymore.
That logic still didn't keep the pain from coursing through my veins with every beat of my heart.
"I'm almost done here, I just need to turn out the lights, and then we can go."
Stefan pulled his head up, "I haven't paid for the cut yet."
I shook my head, offering up a smile I hoped would warm his mood. "Don't worry about it. You've paid for my medical bills, my car bills, and sent me hundreds of absolutely breathtaking flowers. The haircut is on me."
"Are you certain, Greyson Rose? I have the money for it."
I couldn't help but laugh. "I have no doubt, Stefan, but I promise it is okay."
"Okay," he smiled, but it was so forced that it looked out of place on his distressed face.
"You can wait by the back door, I just need to get the lights."
I hurried to the front, made sure the door was locked, and flipped off the switch for the front half of the store. When I reached the back door Stefan had the trash bag in his hands. I turned off the lights for the back half of the salon, and opened the back door wide for Stefan to walk through.
"You don't have a security system in place?"
"No, me and my business partner Kacie looked into it but at the time it was more than we could afford. Things have been fine, so I don't think we need one."
Stefan stopped in front of me. "It only takes one tragedy, one night, to ruin everything you have worked for."