The Starbucks inside the Barnes and Nobles cafe was bright and full of energy. Its door never stopped moving on the rainy, drizzly and chilly October morning. It deposited sweatered, jacketed, wet people inside. Despite the employee's valiant attempt to keep the floors dry via an oversized rug, the floor was covered in track marks, moist and gritty.

Miran and her two friends, Jennifer and Heather, had nabbed one of the precious four person tables, and were enjoyed their steaming pumpkin spiced soy lates.

Miran’s eyes snagged on a young man in a suit, walking briskly to the counter, dripping umbrella in hand. She sipped from her latte while her friends waited expectantly.

“Anyway…” she continued after a deep swallow, her shoulders tense as she avoided her friend’s skeptical gaze. Mark is one of those people who are slow to warm up, but when they do, they love deeply and forever.” She nodded as she finished, taking another sip while coiled expectantly. Jennifer and Heather exchanged glances while Miran sipped, her eyes downcast, as if by avoiding their gazes she could avoid their judgment.

Jennifer, as usual, broke the silence, her tone soft, but Miran knew her enough to taste her skepticism. “Don’t you think he’s had enough time to make up his mind about you? He’s met your family, stayed over most nights, met us, for months…”

Heather jumped in. “You’re fun, affectionate, wear your heart on a sleeve….he….doesn’t.” She finished lightly, he hand on top of Miran’s.

Miran flushed and gently pulled it back. “You don’t know him like I do. I’ve dated people like him before. He needs time and to feel safe enough to show he cares. I don’t want to pressure him into acting warm and fuzzy, or to force him to hold my hand all the time, until he feels safe enough to do so….”

The door slammed shut, and all three women looked at the family of three that had come in. The slightly wet mom with a baby on her hip was pushing a stroller, while a third child cried while holding on to her shirt. Heather shuddered slightly. She did not like children and did not intend to start a family.

“Miran…” Jennifer’s direct voice cut through the distraction until their eyes met. “He is distant. He is emotionally unavailable. He is unsure about the relationship. And that’s not going to change, or it would’ve already.” Heather nodded softly and muttered, “When people show you who they are, believe them.”

Miran shook her head and sighed. They just didn’t get it.

“I need to give him time. He will come around….I know it.” She finished softly.

Silence decended on the table, all three friends looking down at their drinks, unsure how much they could point, counterpoint before a serious argument broke out, and a friendship wound resulted. But they were also unwilling to fold, to offer insincere reassurances.

“We should go…” Heather said, breaking the unending silence.

Miran’s gaze cut fromperson entering the busy coffeehousefeehouse, to meet her friend’s uncertain, and worried, brown eyes.

“We should.” She stated, while reaching down to grab her things. A man held open the door while smiling meaningfully at Miran. She was a beautiful woman, her dark long, wavy hair, square jaw and dark eyes appealing to men of all ages. Well, to almost all men, anyway.

She waved at her friends, who walked away together after waving back and promising to meet for another coffee soon. She turned and walked into the misty afternoon, her mind full of Mark, the sweet excitement about seeing him softening the bitter brew of doubt and concern. She would win him over, she vowed, and prove her friends wrong.