“Oh, I’m so sorry. That’s why you were looking over here. I feel so stupid. I meant to order earlier. You guys were busy when I first arrived so I thought I'd just wait a bit, but then I got into what I was writing and totally forgot,” the girl nervously reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet.
“It’s no big deal. Honestly, don’t worry about it. You don’t have to get anything if you don’t want to.” Even as he was saying it, Chase internally cringed. As manager, he was constantly having to enforce the “paying customers only” rule. He understood why Grant was so adamant about it from a business perspective, but his small-town Southern roots struggled not to feel guilty.
“Oh really? Everywhere else in LA is really strict about how long you can sit at a table, evenifyou order.”
“Well, yeah, my boss is kind of that way, but since I’m the manager I’ll let it slide this one time if… you tell me what you’re writing about and your name.” A smile flitted across his face as he folded his arms across his chest, still holding the rag in one hand, waiting for her response. He wasn’t usually this forward, but something about her made him forget his insecurities.
The girl peered up at him and a smirk formed on her pink tinged lips. “I’m not getting too many stranger danger vibes from you, so I guess I can tell you… and actually, maybe you can help.”
Intrigued, and a little nervous, he slid into the chair opposite her. “I’m Chase by the way.”
“Nice to meet you Chase. I’m Maggie.” She nodded toward him and smiled with her eyes.
“So what are you writing so intently? My boss and I noticed you haven’t even pulled out your phone since you came in… Do you even have a phone?” Chase decided to leave out the fact that he had noticed her the two nights before as well.
“Yes, I have a phone.” Maggie reached into her purse and pulled out an iPhone as proof and then promptly tucked it back in before setting her purse down.
“Okay good. I was beginning to think you time traveled here or something,” Chase gave her a teasing grin.
A giant smile crept across her face. “I guess it is weird not to constantly be checking your phone. I’m kind of avoiding mine right now.”
Chase was about to ask why, when she quickly changed the subject.
“I’m actually trying to come up with ideas of new things to try in the city. Do you have any recommendations?”
“What kind of things? LA has a wide variety to choose from.”
“Uh… that’s the problem. I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve been coming here because my life coach told me that an open mic night would give me inspiration to be brave and try new things, but I’ve been here three nights in a row and I’m still stuck.”
Chase had so many questions.Why did she need a life coach? Why did she need inspiration? Where is this girl from?He decided to start with what might be the least personal of the questions, “If you’re stuck, what have you been writing?”
“You’re gonna make fun of me…” Maggie pulled her notebook close to her.
Her face oozed self-consciousness and gave him a strange aching in his chest. He barely knew this girl. How come he suddenly felt like he wanted, needed, to help her—protect her?
“I promise not to laugh.” He clasped his hands together in front of him and set them on the table. He mustered his most serious face and hoped she would take a leap of faith to trust him.
“Okay…” Maggie replied skeptically, leaning back in her chair. “I’ve been trying to figure out what I like and don’t like. I should really wear a name tag that says, ‘Hi, I’m Maggie Eckland, chronic people pleaser,’ she pointed to where an imaginary name tag would be near her shoulder, and Chase finally read what her sweatshirt said. The words, “Coffee & Campfires” were written in white font. He quickly focused back on what she was saying as she continued, “I’ve been so set on making other people happy that I have no idea what I actually like. I feel like I don’t even know who I am.” She cupped her cheeks in her hands and a sadness crept into the deep recesses of her eyes.
She quickly laughed it away though and said sarcastically, “I guess I’m on a journey of self-discovery or something… I sound like a wannabe hippie.”
Chase felt himself tense at how much he resonated with her words. He had never admitted it, and no one would have guessed, but deep down, pleasing people was all he ever wanted to do.
Unlike Maggie, though, he had failed terribly at it.
Chapter 3
Maggie
“YouthinkI’mcrazy,don’t you?” Maggie tried to read the expression that flashed across Chase’s face as she spoke. She was usually great at picking up on how people were feeling. Empathic tendencies are requirement number one for the top people pleasers.
But, Chase’s energy quickly shifted. “I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’re perfectly on par for the majority of people in Los Angeles. Everyone here is trying to discover themselves or create the life of their dreams.”
“It’s interesting that you say that. My life coach mentioned a quote by Abraham Lincoln about creating your future… I guess that’s kind of what I hope to do. For now, I’ve been writing lists of things I like and don’t like to try to tap into my… inner soul? I don’t know, this is all totally out of my comfort zone.”
“So, what do you have so far?”
“I thought I could tell you, but I can’t. It’s too embarrassing.” Maggie cringed at the idea of actually reading her lists out loud.
