She grabs me by the shoulders, turns me around, and pushes me toward the tables.
As I slowly walk to his table, I comb my bi-color fringe with my fingers, thinking maybe it’ll separate the black and bleach part, but then I give up, messing it up, dusting off my apron, and combing my fringe again.
"Good morning," I try to say cheerily, but it comes out as a barely audible croak.
He looks up from the menu, steel eyes piercing through mine, and it takes all of me not to take a step back.
It's technically not the first time I’ve seen him in person. We’re weirdly connected through friends of friends of friends. We met twice randomly, but he didn't remember me the second time. Just like I can see that he has no idea who I am now.
"Oh, hey— Hi, Achilles." I'm not sure my pretending I didn’t know it was him until he looked at me is believable.
Fuck. He really doesn't remember me. I can see it through the disdain on his face. He might have fans, and he might be famous and rich and talented…but he's also widely known for being an asshole. And for some reason, it still doesn't stop me from being a fangirl.
He doesn't so much as ask, "Do I know you?" He just stares, one black eyebrow slightly raised, the aura of a god surrounding him, and his perfectly chiseled jaw slightly tightened.
It's fucking stupid to have such a beautiful jaw. No one real has that. Only Greek statues representing mythological gods and demigods. Only someone namedAchilles.
I stay frozen for a long minute before pointing my pen at my chest. "Nyx? We met through…" I sigh. "Never mind. What can I get you?"
"Just a black coffee for now, please." Putting the menu back down, he looks over his shoulder at the front door. "I'm waiting for someone."
My chest pinches. Of course he's waiting for someone, probably a girl. What else did I expect? That he'd come to the diner I work at to declare his love for me? I feel like those girls who put on their nicest clothes and makeup to stand front row at some big singer's show. As if they're going to get invited backstage and taken on a date by the end of the concert.
"He's waiting for someone," I murmur to Lena as I grab the coffeepot. "I swear, if he's dating a North Shore girl and it's not me…it's not fucking fair. Because had I known someone from here had a chance with him, I would’ve shot my shot a long time ago."
I follow Achilles Duval's life pretty closely, no matter how discreet he tries to stay. Fan accounts have a field day talking about the girls he dates because they're so rare. There was one when he lived in France during his first two years of college. They dated for a few months in freshman year. And then there were pictures of an SFU student he took on a date to Stoneview Country Club. They were caught leaving the place. But that's it, really. He's not exactly the kind of guy whodates.
I give the coffeepot to Lena. "Please, I can't face him again."
"Scared your panties will disintegrate?" She chuckles as she grabs it from me.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny."
Colin reappears behind me. "Noticed that cap next to him on the bench? He took it off when he got in, but he was wearing it low. A man from Stoneview hiding his face and coming to ashitty diner on the North Shore with no windows?" He winks at me. "Hiding something."
In the back, Laurie gasps audibly. "My diner ain't shitty. Now get back to work!"
Lena heads to Achilles's table, and I can't help my mind wandering. What if he comes here hiding his face because he's dating a girl from here, but his family disapproves so they have to be discreet? He must really love her to go against them and come all the way here. He's going to get her out of here, isn't he? Lucky bitch.
"I know you like to fantasize about the man," Colin says, "but don't go too far in your internal fanfiction, please."
I throw him a death stare. "Wipe tables, rookie."
For almost two hours, the three of us work and watch as Achilles just sits there, drinking so much coffee his heart is bound to explode.
Lena comes back from pouring him another cup and puts the pot down behind the counter. "You say he has the reputation of an asshole, but at least he's polite to waitstaff."
"Do you think he got stood up? Does that mean she's breaking up with him?"
I chew my thumbnail, and she pulls my hand away from my mouth. "You literally made up this entire story. We have no idea who he's waiting for."
With a huff, I put a piece of gum in my mouth, the typical bubblegum taste I still love despite my age, and chew anxiously on that instead to avoid biting my nails.
"Refillable coffee is only for customers who buy a meal." I startle as I turn to Laurie. He's got a pack of cigarettes and a lighter in hand, his beer belly falling over his white apron covered in grease, and a cloth slung over his shoulder. "Someone tell that guy he either eats or leaves. Some locals want their table for lunch, and they actually pay to be here."
He puts a cigarette in his mouth and heads for the back door for his smoke break.
"You do it," I hurry to tell Lena.
