“Often, too often.” smiled Tina, wondering how much she contributed to The Planet’s profits.

“I haven’t seen you with anyone though.” said Shane, frowning slightly.

“Too be honest, I usually come here for an hour or so on the way home from work. Most of my friends come here for breakfast but I like to start work early. Sometimes I grab a coffee to go, but most of the time I just head straight to work.”

“Do you mind if I sit down, or do you have work to do?” asked Shane, gesturing towards Tina’s laptop.

“It’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.” smiled Tina, pulling out the chair next to her so that Shane could sit down.

Shane sat down and smiled shyly at Tina. To hide a sudden surge of nerves she took a quick sip of her coffee. Tina watched while all of this happened. A feeling coursed through her again. She felt it was wrong and yet there was something glorious about it.

“Have you found work yet?” asked Tina, hoping a question of a practical nature would help to dampen her emotions.

“Yes. It’s really good. Well, actually, it’s not that good. A chair in the back of a salon down the street from where I’m staying. It’s not much but it’s helping to pay the rent. I’m hoping it will allow me to get out a little more as well. Meet a few more people.”

“You should come here tomorrow. My friends and I will be here, just for a few drinks, nothing special, but you’ll get to meet my friend Alice. I think that you’ll like her.” smiled Tina, thinking about the extrovert Alice and Shane together.

“I’m not sure. I know you probably won’t believe this but I’m kind of shy.”

“No, I guessed that. That’s why you should meet Alice. She’ll introduce you to people. I think that it’ll help.”

“Maybe, I’ll think about it.”

Tina looked at Shane and wondered why this woman had come into her life. She felt it to be a good thing but she wasn’t quite sure why or what it would lead to. Tina let out a short breath of frustration. She hated uncertainty and this situation had uncertainty written all over it.