Chapter 1 #2
He rattled out an answer, and I tapped away at my screen. Then a whooshing sound came from my phone. “There you go. Two tickets to the festival. Have fun.”
“What? Are you serious?” Hunter blinked at me, dazed.
“Look for yourself. And tell Tori she can’t leave you for a pretty-boy singer. That’s a condition of accepting the tickets.”
“Wow. Thanks, Em. That’s amazing. I can’t, I don’t… Just, wow. Thank you.”
“Have fun.” I gave him a smile and felt slightly better for not being able to go. Being able to help out my friends helped the ache a bit.
“What?” Bob held up his hands. “Nothing for me?”
I laughed. Attending the festival would be akin to torture for him. “Sure thing.” I turned, grabbed one of the small waters I had made up in advance, and plunked it down on the countertop. “On the house. Just for you.”
His laughter rolled through the diner. “You’re the best, Emma.”
“Only for you, Bob. Only for you.”
I was still grinning as I headed for the table at the back.
But my smile fell away as I noticed the guys had changed seats and my mystery man’s entire focus seemed to be on me.
I’d never been so aware of my entire body before. Was I walking normal? Is that how my hips usually moved? Why did everything feel so awkward?
I forced a smile as I paused next to their table. “Is everything okay? Need anything?”
“I’ve never seen anyone look so fucking sad while smiling.”
The words took my breath away, like he’d socked me in the stomach.
“Yeah, well, when your life turns out like mine has, it’s not easy to find something to smile about, but I still try.
So, you’re good?” I glanced at his untouched plate and stopped mid-pivot.
“Is something wrong with your breakfast?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Haven’t been able to look away from you to even take a bite.”
“Um…” I didn’t know how to take that. Guys didn’t come onto me. I was a firm resident of the friend zone. I could’ve been mayor of the friend zone. Just ask Hunter. Or Caleb. Or Luke. I was friend to all, girlfriend of none.
“B,” the man across from him rumbled warningly.
My mystery guy just shrugged. “What? It’s true. It’s like an episode of that one diner comedy. She even looks like the brunette. Only, instead of a comedy, it’s a fucking tragedy because a girl like you, who looks like that, shouldn’t be wasting away in this hellhole.”
I saw red. “This ‘ hellhole’ was my dad’s whole life—his dream. He worked here until he couldn’t stand up because the cancer was eating away his muscles. I don’t give a shit what you think.” I stomped three steps away then turned back around to yell, “And I wish I had a rack like Max’s!”
I stomped past a shellshocked Bob and Hunter and then shoved my way through the swinging doors to glare in frustration at Gwen. “Gah! Did you hear that?”
She flipped her eggs and didn’t even turn around. “Knew you could hold your own.”
“Why are men so, so…” I groaned as my words evaded me.
“Stupid? Clueless? Aggravatingly handsome?”
“Yes! Wait, no. What? Did you hear what that asshole out there said to me?”
“Uh huh.” She swapped spatulas to flip the hashbrowns. “Sounded to me like someone was getting hit on. About time, too.”
“What? No, I wasn’t. He said…oh.” My face heated. “And I pretty much yelled back that I had small boobs. Oh my god.” I buried my face in my hands.
Gwen chortled. “Yup, that was my favorite part.”
“He called this place a hellhole.”
She tipped her head. “Since it’s the only thing keeping you from going out there and chasing your dreams, he’s not wrong. Or wait, would that make it purgatory? I don’t remember my Dante all that well. It’s been a minute since high school English.”
“What?” I let my hands fall down to my side. “What are you even talking about? How am I ever going to go back out there?”
“Well, you’re going to have to.” Gwen held two plates out to me. “I’ll have their toast done in two shakes.”
“ Gwen .” I whined. “Couldn’t you—”
“Nope, not happening, kiddo.” She cut me off and shoved the plates into me until I had to take them. “Now go out there, and face your future. And maybe try to smile—with your eyes, not just your lips. Or unbutton that top button and let the girls breathe.”
Given that my girls were woefully inadequate, I would not be doing that.
Needless to say, my face was flaming red as I went back into the dining room. I studiously avoided looking in the direction of the back table.
“Two specials.” I slid the plate across the countertop to Hunter and Bob. “And I’ll be right back with your toast.”
“Em, are you okay?” Hunter asked with a frown. “Do you want us to have a friendly little talk with—”
“Oh no. No, there’s no need. It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Am I saying fine a lot? I feel like I am. Fine that is.”
My babbling did little to alleviate their concern. They frowned back at me.
So I ran back to the kitchen, yelling over my shoulder, “Be right back with your toast!”
But I couldn’t linger because Gwen already had the toast up in the passthrough.
Yay.
I dimly heard the cowbell over the door clank as I grabbed the toast and slow walked it back to the counter. “Two orders of sourdough. Can I get you guys anything else? More jelly? Napkins?”
“We’re good,” Bob muttered in between shovels of food to his face.
Hunter frowned, watching me. “Are you good, Em? You’re kinda…”
“Yup, I’m good.” I gritted my teeth. “All good.”
Then I stood there like a lingering weirdo.
After one more concerned look from Hunter, he picked up his fork and dug into his breakfast. It took another minute for me to realize what a weirdo I was being, but it goosed me into action. I literally jumped, then laughed softly at myself.
The cowbell at the door clanked again as a few more guys came in. They hollered greetings at me, Bob, and Hunter before bellying up next to the guys at the counter.
“I’ll be right with you guys…” My voice trailed off. I’d just looked at my mystery guy’s table in the back corner.
Only, now the booth was empty, and a pile of crisp bills sat between their mostly empty plates.
I’d lost my chance to flirt. Nothing would’ve come of it, they were no doubt just passing through, but still, it would’ve been nice.
My eyes filled with tears when I realized that the top bill on the table was a hundred. I picked it up and then stared down at the other bills in disbelief.
They were all hundred-dollar bills.
They’d paid me five hundred dollars for a thirty-dollar check.
“Emma? Can we order?” Andy yelled from the counter. “I’m starving.”
I blinked away the tears, shoved the money into my half apron, and grabbed the dirty dishes. “Coming!”