Seth
I snorted.
I was trying so hard not to laugh at Hamish’s soggy crotch and the look of complete mortification on Claire’s beautiful face, that I actually snorted. Her cheeks burned as she grabbed a handful of paper napkins from the pocket of her apron and reached into Hamish’s lap trying to dry the wet spot.
I made it ten seconds before I reached over and grabbed her wrist, halting her. There was no way I was about to let her go near some other guy’s crotch, let alone Hamish’s. God help me. I’d never hear the end of it.
“Claire!” At her name, she dropped the soggy napkins on the table and took a step back, still refusing to meet my eyes.
“Shit,” I heard her mutter under her breath.
“Can you go get another bottle and I’ll get this cleaned up,” a guy asked, and Claire scurried away like a mouse while he pulled a rag from his back pocket and started mopping up the mess. “Sorry about that, guys. It’s her first day,” he offered apologetically.
The pieces were starting to fall into place. Now I understood why Claire had fobbed me off earlier, and although I understood, I wasn’t sure why she just didn’t come out and tell me she had to work. It wasn’t like I would’ve judged her for it. I knew how much she wanted a job. How much she needed one. Whether she was the CEO of the biggest bank in town or a waitress at my favourite lunch spot, didn’t matter to me at all. Maybe it mattered to Claire.
She appeared again, hovering behind the guy who I was wishing would just piss off. I’d rather Claire tip that bottle over my head than have to deal with this guy, but I couldn’t embarrass her. Not in front of the others anyway. I was sure we’d laugh about it later, but for now, I’d let it go.
“I’m so sorry about that, guys. Can I get you a round of coffees on the house?”
“Nah, we’re fine. You’re used to having a wet mess in your pants, aren’t you, Hamish?” Angus chuckled, and I couldn’t help but grin.
“Piss off wanker,” Angus replied before turning back to the waiting waiter. “I’ll take a large cappuccino. Two sugars please.”
After we all added our coffee order, Claire and the other guy disappeared, leaving us with the menus.
“She was cute.” Hamish shrugged.
“She tipped a bottle of cold water in your lap, and you’re still thinking about hitting on her.”
“Better fucking not be,” I growled out before I realised what I’d done.
“Do you know her?”
Shit! How the hell was I going to talk my way out of this one? “What was with your half-arse effort this morning? That tackle was pathetic.”
“Nice try, changing the subject.”
“It was worth a shot,” I shrugged.
Thankfully, the guy appeared with our drinks, and as much as I wished it was Claire, I wasn’t keen on having my flat white ending up in my lap, burning my balls. While I was busy being thankful my balls were dry, the guys were doing their best to bust them. And I wasn’t really sure why they thought they could talk. The next hour over fresh-caught fish and perhaps the best beer battered chips I’d ever had; they gave me shit about Claire.
“It’s not like you can talk,” I tossed back in their faces multiple times. None of them, not one had a girlfriend or even a girl that came back for seconds.
“Well, your game ain’t that great either, Casanova, by the looks of it. Seems since she gave Angus a shower, she’s hiding from you,” Hamish taunted.
I hated the fact he was right. I’d been watching for her ever since, but she hadn’t appeared. It was almost as though she’d taken one look at us and bolted out the back door. When the guy brought the bill over, I considered asking him, but the last thing I wanted to do was get her in trouble. It was her first day, and she didn’t need us interfering.
Angus paid, first time for everything – he was the world’s biggest tight arse, I don’t think he’d ever even shouted a round of drinks. Usually before it got to his turn, he’d claim he had to get home and relieve the babysitter and vanish, leaving our glasses empty and our throats dry.
Turning the corner, I headed for home, loving the fact that this place was only a couple of blocks from my place. And better still, the walk along the path that skirted around the headlands made it a nice walk. Sliding my glasses down over my eyes, I was digging my phone out of my pocket when I smashed into someone with a whoosh.
“Shit!” I startled, reaching out blindly grabbing at whoever or whatever I’d hit.
“Fuck,” came the breathless reply. “Oh, my god, Seth.”
“Claire! Are you okay? Sorry I wasn’t looking…”
I was babbling, but there was nothing I could say to make this better. Claire was standing beside me in a pile of rubbish with something white dripping down her long, slender leg. From the look on her face, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling either.
