“Really?” My confusion is blatantly obvious—surely she wants to go home now. “Do you want to just reschedule?”
“Seeing as we’re already together”—her smile widens—“I figured we could go ahead and knock it out.”
I fight back my eagerness over spending more time with her. “Do you still want Wafflin’? I know breakfast for dinner is weird but they have a few dinner options, too.”
“I love that idea!” She looks genuinely excited about my suggestion and it feels good to be the one to make her excited.
We trek back into town and make it to Wafflin’. It’s a weeknight so the usual busyness of the late night bar-diner vibe had fizzled out before we even got here—an hour before closing. I had every intention of discussing work.
We spent that entire hour discussing everythingbut.
“Ben, you wanna close up for me?” Sam, the owner, had been taking his time closing out the register before he finally gave in and approached us—wanting to leave.
“Oh, we can go ahead and go if you need us to!” Ellie starts to get up from the table. I don’t budge—I don’t want this night to end yet.
“Not a problem, Benny knows what to do. Just leave a good tip on your way out!” He winks at me before leaving us in the dim lighting of the diner.
Looking at her phone, Ellie says, “It is getting pretty late, maybe we should wrap up?”
“You’re probably right,” I say reluctantly.
But instead of getting up to leave, we sit there and just look at each other. It takes me a moment to come back to Earth and gather my thoughts. She is mesmerizing and I could probably spend every waking moment of my life looking at her.
Clearing her throat, she messes with her napkin. “So, about Devon Johnson.” She pauses, probably waiting for me to respond. “His mom came in this morning and was very concerned with whom he has been hanging out with outside of school. I, obviously, am very unfamiliar with who these other students are. So I thought maybe you could help me . . . approach the situation gently.”
“Did she say whom he has been hanging out with?” I had an idea who, but hate assuming the worst about our students.
“Travis and Ethan?”
I nodded—exactly who I thought it was. “Yes, they can get themselves into trouble, but overall they are harmless.”
“So no drugs or criminal records?”
“Maybe a few warnings from the local police, or Johnny from security, but nothing severe.” I couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of Travis and Ethan in my office one morning after attempting to break into the theater room and steal the costumes from the Hamilton project. They swore to me they feltinspiredafter watching rehearsals. They wanted to try them on for size. I had a hunch they planned on giving them the ole E.T. makeover—their trademark title.
“Why would Ms. Johnson be so concerned then? If they are harmless?” She takes a sip of her decaf coffee. “And isn’t Devon an adult?”
“He’s seventeen. Devon is a really good kid, with a very promising future. He has surpassed everyone’s expectations and trumped their assumptions. There is no doubt he will go on to make a name for himself, but after all Ms. Johnson has done for her boys, I can’t blame her for worrying about whom he spends his time with. A mother knows best, right?” I ask as I finish my cup of regularly caffeinated coffee—a decision I’m sure I’ll regret considering it’s eleven at night.
“Do you know them personally?” She fiddles with her napkin.
“Naomi—er, Ms. Johnson—and I went to school together. She was good friends with Kate—they were a second family to us. I watched DJ grow up.”
“Devon?” she asks, referring to the nickname. I nod as I wipe my lips with my napkin.
“Could you talk to him then? I’m sure if he has an already-established relationship with you, he would feel more comfortable.”
“What exactly does Naomi want you to do?”
“Find out why he is hanging out with them. Convince him not to. Keep tabs on him.” She looks out the window next to our booth—it’s pitch black with only a few street lamps lighting the street.
“But you can’t do that, right?” I rest my hands on the table between us.
“Right. Client confidentiality.” She looks back at me. “There are only a few things I can discuss with the parent, and if Devon isn’t endangering himself, or someone else, then it stays between us. But if she wants information . . .” She pauses and stares at me with “you could do it”eyes.
“I wish it was that simple, but we should also give Devon the benefit of the doubt. I can talk to Naomi and try to put her mind at ease. But you might still need to meet with Devon and helpguidehim.” I wiggle my eyebrows at my pun, Ellie rolls her eyes.
“I’m not cut out for this,” she responds, her voice sounding defeated.
