Morgan
“And how would you know?” he snapped, perhaps with more attitude than he should have used.
The server, stunned, floundered. “I wanted to show her to your table, but she… Well, she decided to leave and asked me to let you know.”
Fuck !
Trying not to let his anger show, he simply rolled his eyes and peered in the direction of her voice. “Thanks.”
“I’m sorry.”
Morgan shrugged and reached for Blue’s harness. The boxer had been his partner in crime the past two years. “It’s fine.”
“My shift ends soon, and I don’t have plans tonight.”
“I don’t need your pity.”
The woman shuffled in place. “I didn’t mean to make it seem that way. Just thought you were quite attractive and that I’d shoot my shot. Let me grab your bill.”
He stared after her, rather dumbfounded.
Not that he saw much anyway, she was just part of the blur of colours around him.
Instead of attaching Blue’s harness again he scratched the pup’s ear, the soft fur calming the brewing storm of emotions.
It wasn’t the first time he’d been ghosted or stood up, but that didn’t mean it made it less hurtful—especially after he’d been sitting in the restaurant for over half an hour.
When the server reappeared, he tried to remember her name. “How long before you get off, Ruby?” Shit… How embarrassing it would be if that wasn’t her name.
“Twenty minutes.”
“I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
“That’s alright. I can’t say I’d be so calm in your position.”
She laughed, and the sound warmed Morgan’s soul. Maybe he could turn this awful evening around after all… “I would like to take you up on your offer.”
“I was going to grab dessert to take home, but if you like we can eat together.”
“If your boss doesn’t mind.”
In a light, airy voice, she scoffed. “She better not—half my pay checks are spent on the cakes here. Would you like anything while you wait?”
Holding the menu into his sight of vision, he read over the pages in search for an appetiser and chose bread with a variety of dips.
Her voice was rather chirpy as she asked if Blue needed anything then went off to get his order and attend to her other tables.
It wasn’t long before he had a plate in front of him stomach growling at the prospect of food.
He tasted all the dips and doom-scrolled on his phone until Ruby appeared next to him again.
“I’m getting the cinnamon strudel, what should I bring you?”
“The same.”
“Give me five and I’m all yours.”
Though she quickly returned, setting a plate in front of him before taking the seat across the table. “I put the fork on the right side of the plate.”
“Thanks.” He took his first bite and hummed around the fork. “I get why you lose half your wages to desserts.”
“If I didn’t have bills to pay it would be everything.” The bubbly tone in her voice made his skin tingle.
“Is this one your favourite?”
“Yes, but the cheesecake comes super close.”
“Is that your way of asking me to come back?”
“It would definitely brighten my shift.” After a brief pause, she asked, “What do you do for a living?”
“I own a company with my two brothers.”
“Anymore siblings?”
“Only them, and let’s be honest, two is more than enough.”
That made her giggle again. “I have three, so you got lucky.”
“Three? God I would lose my mind.”
“I always thought they were a pain in the ass but now that one moved out of state and the other to Europe, I can’t help but miss them. Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“How much can you see?”
He held his hand in front of his face to about the spot where his vision became blurry. “Past that it’s just blobs of colours. Same with most of my periphery.”
“Has it always been like that?”
“Yes, I was born with it. But I was pretty self-sufficient and since I was a first-born, my parents didn’t think anything was wrong. After all I was only ever interested in books and I could walk just fine.”
“They just thought you were clumsy.”
“That’s right.”
“Did that bother you? Me asking about it.”
“I prefer that over making assumptions. Often people overlook me.”
“Only an idiot would overlook an eye candy like you.”
Morgan smiled so wide that his cheeks burned. “Are you always this flirtatious?”
“I mean, I don’t often ask to have dessert with my customers.”
“I’m glad you offered, I was about to have a shitty ending to my week, but you definitely turned it around.”
“I’m glad I summoned the courage to ask.”
“Well, I think it’s only fair if I bring up the courage to ask what you’ll be doing this weekend and see if you can squeeze me in?”
“I feel like I have to put a disclaimer out there. I’m a total Christmas freak, so anything I suggest will probably be Christmassy.”
“That is perfectly fine with me.”
“Have you gone to the Zoo Lights yet?”
Morgan paused, surprised. He didn’t often get invited along to visual-reliant activities. “I haven’t but even if I had, I would still join you.”
“Does tomorrow at six sound good?”
“Yes.” Morgan’s stomach fluttered. Were those… butterflies ? “Do you want me to meet you there?”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll pick you up.” There was a short pause before she added, “Unless you need accommodations for your dog.”
“Not at all.” He opened his phone, added a new contact, and held it out to her. “Maybe you’ll even give me your number.”
She took it and playfully teased, “Only if you promise not to stand me up.”
Grinning, Morgan shook his head. Her bubbliness and easy-going personality were addictive. When she handed it back, he sent her his address.
“Oh, you live right around the corner.”
“I’ll meet you out front.”
“We have a date,” she chirped.
“We certainly do and maybe if Blue and I behave, you might allow us back to try that cheesecake.”
Ruby stifled a yawn. “Would you be offended if we cut tonight short?”
He’d had a feeling she’d be tired and after making his entire evening, how could he be upset? “Of course not, I’m sure you’ve had a long day.”
“Thank you.” Her chair scraped over the floor. “I’ll be right back.”
While Morgan assumed she was grabbing the check, he had Blue come out from under the table. “Blue, head in,” he said and held the harness out for Blue to stick his head through. As he fastened it, Ruby returned to the table.
“Such a hardworking boy,” she praised. “And cute too. How long have you been together?”
“Two years, he’s my first.” He took the bill from her and noticed right away that her cake wasn’t on there. “You missed something.”
“I didn’t.”
Morgan frowned, adding enough cash to cover both cakes and a tip before handing it back. “Would you let us walk you to your car?”
“That would be wonderful. I’ll be right back.” She headed off once more and when she returned, she asked, “Does Blue need me to show him the door?”
Fuck, why was that simple question melting his insides? He gave a nod, stood beside Blue, and swung his right arm forward. “Blue, forward.” He set in motion so he added, “Follow.”
Blue led him to the door, where he paused by the stairs and safely led him onto the curb.
“Okay, dumb question time. Do I walk next to you? I don’t want to confuse him.”
“That’s not a dumb question. Did you park at the car park beside the gym?”
“Yes.”
“He knows how to walk home from here. He’ll lead that way.”
“Clever boy.”
With another forward swing of his right arm, he said, “Blue, find home.” And Blue did, taking off down the sidewalk.
“What made you want to live here?”
“The convenience of having everything in walking distance and the infrastructure in this area is really good for Blue with sidewalks and crossings that make it easy for him.”
“And when he has the harness on, he’s working so no talking or touching him.”
“That’s ideal, but people aren’t all that sensitive or have the knowledge.”
“I mean, he is kind of cute and my weakness for boxers isn’t helping.”
“I see—you’re only here for him.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know? But I haven’t seen many boxers as guide dogs to be honest.”
“I felt like he would be intimidating enough for people not to touch him as they might do with a cute labrador.”
“Also, very clever.”
With it being Friday evening, the plaza was busy, but Blue was used to navigating through the crowd to get to the next crossing.
“That’s me,” she said softly when they paused. “I really enjoyed our cake meet cute.”
Damn, every time he thought that Ruby couldn’t be more adorable, she topped it off. “I did too.”
Then she surprised him by pulling him into a hug. He could see a flash of red hair, her build smaller than his as she pressed into his side. “I’ll see you both tomorrow at six.”
Then she disappeared into the mixture of colours and light, melting with everything around him—including his heart.