"If it's destroying you, then it's not love."

"Thank you for making me get my ankle checked out yesterday. I wouldn't have gone on my own, to be honest. Luckily it's just sprained." Charlie rambled to Ash as he set up the coffee machine for the day.

Ash nodded with a hum, "Yep. The best friend award goes to me. But wouldn't Ben have brought you?" She asked, leaning against the counter.

"Uh, no. He's been busy." Charlie lied, chewing his lip. "I've never actually met Ben?" Ash realized, growing suspicious of their relationship.

Charlie shrugged and looked up as the door dinged, meaning a customer had entered the cafe, the first one of the day, saving his ass from Ash's questions.

It was Nick.

Oh god,

Charlie couldn't help but blush at the sight of him. How could someone be that attractive and kind? He wished that Ben was as kind as he was handsome.

"Well hello pretty man, What would you like today?" Ash of course flirted with him. Charlie didn't blame her.

Nick chuckled softly and fiddled with Nellie's lease, who stuck close to his legs. "Why thanks. I'll take a late and a blueberry muffin please." He took out his wallet. "What size would you like?" Charlie asked shyly.

Nick spotted Charlie and a smile grew on his face, "I'll take a large."

Charlie nodded and began to make the late. "I know Nellie's on duty but would she want a piece of cheese?" He offered as he handed Nick the late.

"Oh, she would love that!" Nick chirped and paid Ash who was at the cashier.

Charlie fed Nellie the piece of cheese and smiled as she wagged her tail.

Nick watched Charlie with adoration. "We definitely will be coming back here. The other cafe down the road gave me a tough time bringing Nellie in so I just came here instead." Nick explained.

"You can always bring her here. The other cafe should get in trouble for bothering your service dog." Ash told Nick and handed him his receipt.

Nick nodded in agreement and sat down at one of the tables. Nellie got comfortable lying under the table in between his legs.

"He's so cute." Ash hummed and turned to Charlie, "Do you think he's fruity?"

"Ash!" Charlie tried hard not to laugh. "It's not nice to assume someone's sexuality!" Ash put her hands up in defense. The bell at the door dinged meaning another customer had walked into the cafe.

Charlie looked up and froze like a deer in headlights as Ben walked up to the cashier. What was he doing? He never comes to visit Charlie's work like this?

"Hey babe." Ben looked at Charlie with a smug expression on his face. "Oh my gosh, you're Ben! Charlie's boyfriend!" Ash squealed.

Ben nodded, "Yup that's me. Can I talk to Charlie alone for a second?"

Charlie felt his face go pale, what did Ben want to talk about so badly that he had to come to his work? "Okay, uhm yeah." Charlie managed to say through nerves and looked at Ash to make sure it was okay. Ash nodded, not picking up on Charlie's nerves...

But Nick did.

Ben followed Charlie into the break room and shut the door. "You didn't pay the rent this month." He stated.

"I paid it last month...I-I thought we were going to switch off each month to share it." Charlie stammered, confusion washed over him.

"I don't have the money this month so you got to pay it!" Ben declared.

Tears whelmed in Charlie's eyes out of frustration. "It's all my paycheck though-" Ben slapped Charlie hard causing him to yelp in pain.

The slap and yelp echoed throughout the cafe causing Nick and Ash to look at each other in worry. It didn't help that Nellie was growling in the back room where Ben had brought Charlie. Luckily there was nobody else in the cafe.

Nick debated if he should go back there to see what was going on.  Charlie took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "No, Ben I'm not going to pay it. You have to get a job to get the money-"

Charlie whimpered as Ben punched him hard, he held his nose in pain.

That's when Nick had enough. He got up and oofed as Nellie yanked him to the back room, barking, she had the same idea. Ash stood at the cashier, unsure of what to do in this sort of situation, she was scared for Charlie.

Nick jumped as Nick stormed into the room, he had let Nellie off of the lease. Nellie was barking loudly at Ben causing him to back away from Charlie.

"You okay?" Nick asked in concern as he saw Charlie holding his nose, clearly in pain. When Charlie shook his head no, he turned to Ben.

"Get out, away from Charlie. Now." Nick demanded, clenching his fists.

Ben rolled his eyes and walked out, knowing that Nellie would attack him if he didn't. "You are now banned from this cafe," Ash told Ben in a stern tone. He walked out of the building with a sigh.

Charlie looked at Nick with teary eyes, cupping his nose with his shirt to stop the bleeding. What was he going to do?