“This is a nice little place,” Drew commented as we took our seat in a back booth of Carter’s. It was a small-town diner on the outskirts of Savannah and only locals really knew about it, so it wasn’t crowded, but the downfall was that most people in the diner knew who I was.
“It’s, quiet too.” I picked up a menu from the table and sat it in front of my face, hoping no one would recognize me.
“You all right there?” Drew asked, lowering my menu and letting out a chuckle. He was amused, I could see, but the second one person knew I was here, I’d be greeted by everyone. I hadn’t been here since I’d found out I was pregnant and I knew some of the ladies would want to know what was going on, considering I came here almost once a week.
“Can I get you anything, love?” I looked up at Nancy, who was staring at Drew. Of course she would be. She might have been in her sixties, but she was definitely a cougar.
“Water, please, the same for her.” Drew pointed toward me and I couldn’t get my menu up fast enough because Nancy saw who he was talking about. She’d probably been blinded by Drew’s looks and hadn’t even noticed he had someone else at the table with him.
“Tabitha Ruthen!” It was a scolding tone with a stomp of the foot and I knew I was in deep shit. “You don’t get to just sneak in here! Maggie!”
She turned around and left us before coming back seconds later with Maggie, the other waitress at the diner.
“Where have you been?” Maggie scolded me with a soft hit to the shoulder and then pulled me from the booth.
“Don’t squeeze her too hard!” Nancy shouted and now all three of us were in an embrace and the center of attention of the diner. I couldn’t see Drew, but I figured he was probably mortified by the interaction happening right now. He always seemed so modest when out in public that a display like this was most likely a lot for him.
“I’ve been working a lot on my art and kind of just forgot about life.” I shrugged as both women let me ago. Both gave me a knowing look that they could tell I was bullshitting them, but they were going to let it slide. Most likely because Drew coughed, breaking up the little reunion we had going on.
“Let me get your waters and then I’ll come back for you to order.”
I slid back into the booth, but where I expected Drew to be surprised by everything that was going on, he seemed perfectly in-tuned.
“You don’t seem surprised by all of this.” I gestured toward where Maggie and Nancy had walked into the back room of the diner.
He shrugged his shoulders again, like it wasn’t a big deal.
“When you left I made sure to keep tabs on you. I found out who you were from a friend who is currently working in politics as well. I wanted to make sure you were always okay. I know that sounds like I’m a stalker, but I only checked your social media, your friends, and anything articles about your family.”
“But why? Why go through all that trouble from just one weekend, Drew?”
Now I was the confused one. I had left Drew, but yet he had managed to find out who I was and watched from afar, for who knows how long. For some reason this man was still interested in me and I couldn’t wrap my head around as to why. Why a man like this would want to still pursue a girl like me.
“Because, that weekend wasn’t just some fling for me.” He sat farther back in the booth, with a serious look on his face.
This most definitely wasn’t the conversation I was anticipating today and now that we were here, my heart wouldn’t stop racing. It felt like the first time in that hotel bed months ago. Me on pins and needles and Drew perfectly calm, leading the way.
“I feel as if you’re at an advantage here.”
“How so?” He raised an eyebrow in question.
“You just told me that weekend meant something to you and you’ve learned all you can about me, but I know nothing about you.” I leaned back, mimicking the way Drew was sitting. “And if I’m going to tell you that, that weekend also meant something to me, then I’m going to need to know everything.”
Drew sat up straight and leaned across the table, reaching for my hands and taking them in his.
“Do you mean that?” The cocky man I had seen for a majority of the afternoon was long gone and in stood the sweet Drew who knew how to melt my heart.
“Yeah.” My response was soft when Nancy brought back the waters we had ordered.
“What can I get you two?” I looked up at her as her eyes were trained on where Drew and my hands were connected in the middle of the table.
“Two Caesar salads, extra dressing.” Drew was short with her and handed her the menus. I knew it wasn’t because he was trying to be rude, but Drew was antsy right now and wanted our bubble back in place.
“Coming right up.” Nancy left us alone and the second she was out of earshot, the rambling began.
“What do you want to know?” He leaned closer to me now, knees on the bench he was sitting on, so he was raised in the booth over the table, only inches from my face. “My full name is Drew Wade Whitaker. I’m one of the top real estate agents in Maryland. Myself and my parents were born and raised there, so yes, I’m a pure city boy. I get cravings for Chinese food at least almost every day and I can’t stand the taste of tomatoes, but I love ketchup on everything.”
He stopped to take a breath and before he could start again, I placed a hand over his mouth.
