“I’ll be with ya in just a sec, doll,” one of the waitresses says to me.
She’s middle-aged, brown hair on a high ponytail complete with huge bow, and she’s wearing a poodle skirt, of all things. The entire diner is like something you would see onHappy Days. I guess management likes for the waitstaff to look the part as well. I wonder why Aurora isn’t dressed like the other waitresses.
I thank the waitress who greeted me and try to decide if I should find another booth to sit at and wait or interrupt whatever conversation Aurora is having with the guy she’s talking to. Her raised voice and the slamming of a book decide for me.
Getting closer, I hear her say, “Where do I go for the DNA test?” That piques my curiosity.
The guy sees me coming and flicks his eyes up at me in a silent gesture. Aurora turns around, and seeing that I’m standing right behind her, flushes pink with embarrassment.
“Is it ten already?” she asks me, getting up from the booth and wiping her hands down the half-apron around her waist.
“I’m early,” I reply and look at the older guy who also stands up. I’m an inch taller which pleases me greatly.
His coloring and features are similar to Aurora’s. But unlike her ripped jeans and plain T-shirt, he’s wearing dark dress pants and a tailored blue silk business shirt that I know costs more than a few hundred dollars.
Holding out my hand, because I’m polite like that, I introduce myself. “Hey, man. I’m JD.”
“Oh, shit. Sorry,” Aurora says, a bit flustered. “Trevor, this is JD. He goes to my school.”
Trevor gives me a hard once-over. “Boyfriend?”
I didn’t think Aurora’s face could get any pinker, but she blushes so hard that I have to bite back a grin.
“What? No!No. He’s just a maybe friend.”
“Maybe friend?” I peer down at her. Yep, she’s still blushing.
“Nice to meet you,” Trevor replies. “What happened to your eye?”
I tilt my head in Aurora’s direction, tongue in cheek, and he barks out a laugh. Aurora hangs her head and looks at the scuffed tile on the floor.
“I’ll leave you two to the rest of your evening. Aurora, call me in the morning and we’ll set something up.”
Trevor goes to hug her, but she freezes up so rigidly that I involuntarily take a step beside her to block him. He switches intentions and gives her a pat on the shoulder instead and picks up the book from the table, tucking it under his arm.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Alright. Good night, Trevor.”
“Nice to meet you, JD.”
I give him a nod in answer and watch Aurora as she watches him leave. “He seems nice.”
She heaves a sigh and I’m fascinated at how she’s able to smooth over the expression on her face until it shows nothing. She’d be an excellent poker player.
“Are you hungry? I’m sure Pete wouldn’t mind fixing you something.”
I am hungry, but I want to talk to her more. “I’m good. Do you need to help close up or clock out or something?”
“Debbie and Pete close up. Let me go grab my stuff.”
She’s gone and back in less than a minute. Debbie waves a few patrons out and gives Aurora a big hug. This hug, she leans into and accepts readily.
“Clocking out early. ‘Night, Debbie.”
“Have a good one, sweetheart. See you on Friday.”
I lift Aurora’s bag from her shoulder to carry it for her, and you would think that I joy-buzzed her instead with the way she startles.
