“You’re right. Let’s just keep an eye on when she goes for the coffee pot.” We all agreed. Dara didn’t seem to realise what a commotion she had caused. She was happy she hadn’t needed to tend to as many tables as she usually did. Thankfully, Dara didn’t work the lunch shift. CeCe came in and together we set the diner in order and CeCe told me the latest gossip. If it weren’t for her and Mrs Andersen, I wouldn’t have a clue what happened in town. In the middle of the lunch rush, the Alpha came back and again sat in my section, but again at a different table.
“Please CeCe, can’t you just take that table?” I pleaded.
“Why? I won’t take it unless you tell me why you are so hellbent on not serving him,” she told me.
“I just don’t like his vibe,” I said.
“His vibe? Come on, Amie, there has to be something else,” she insisted.
“I don’t know, I just have a bad feeling about it. Can you take him? Pleeeease.” I tried my best at puppy dog eyes.
“Fine! But I’m only doing it because we don’t get men like him that often and he’s a good tipper. And god knows he deserves some decent service after what happened this morning,” she relented.
“Thank you. I’ll be forever grateful.”
“If you really want to thank me, could you take care of Jessie?” she asked. I looked and saw that Jessie had sat down at one of her tables.
“Sure. Something wrong?” I asked. I knew CeCe and Jessie had a thing in high school. A month of flirting leading to a one-night stand that fizzled out into nothing. But neither of them had held a grudge and had been friends.
“Oh, ehm. Well, I might have done something I shouldn’t have the other night,” CeCe said.
“You slept with Jessie?” I asked.
“Well, yes. I didn’t mean to. It just sort of happened.”
“Yeah, sure. You just stumbled, undid both of your pants and accidentally speared yourself on his meat sausage,” I said, nodding.
“Shut up! And who says meat sausage?” CeCe giggled.
“I’ll take Jessie and you take my table and everyone is happy,” I said.
“Deal.” I walked over to Jessie and saw him looking towards CeCe.
“Hi, Jessie,” I said.
“Hi, Amie. Looking good today,” he told me, but his usual line sounded flat.
“Thank you. Don’t worry. She’s a little freaked out at the moment, but give her a day to digest it and everything will be fine. Then you can ask her out for real,” I told him. He looked at me like I was speaking martian.
“What?”
“I’m talking about CeCe. Don’t pretend with me, Jessie. If you don’t stop pretending and start acting like the adult you are, I’m going to have to kick your ass,” I told him.
“Right,” he said, a small blush on his cheeks. “So, a couple of days?”
“Yes, no more than two. Come in with a nice bouquet of flowers and be sweet to her.”
“I can do that,” he said with a nod.
“Of course you can. Do you want your usual, or are you ready to try something new?” I asked.
“No, I’ll have what I always have. Thank you, Amie,” he said.
“No problem.” I handed the order to the kitchen and made sure my tables had what they needed and kept an eye on the Alpha. I needed to think of a strategy for dealing with him. It didn’t seem like he would give up, but at the same time, he hadn’t approached me. So I had no clue what he wanted. Again he left the diner without so much as a glance in my direction. Maybe I was overthinking things? Maybe he was just a tourist? I didn’t even know if my lack of wolf and all the years living with humans had masked my wolf scent. To be on the safe side, I went straight home after work and stayed inside until just after lunch the next day. I had the late shift and was happy to see CeCe talking to Mrs Jones.
“There she is,” Mrs Jones brightly said.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” I asked.
