“You get your dramatics from your grandmother.” My mom messes with my hair as she walks back to the back room.
“I learned from the best!” I yell back over my shoulder as I push through the doors and make my way back to my new favorite table.
As I approach, I find both of their plates empty and I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that Henry ate every bite of the pancakes I ordered for him.
“No rush, but I wanted to give you guys your check before it gets too busy.” I set their bill on the table. “Thank you guys for coming in!”
Part of me wants to stay here in Henry’s vicinity but the other part of me wants to run far, far away. Run from the instant attraction and his hypnotic eyes that I can’t look away from.
I remind myself I’m just his waitress and he’s just another customer who’s walked through the doors of Ruby’s Diner. There’s nothing more or nothing less to that statement as much as I might like it to be. But the ease of talking to him, the desire to be around him, it’s enticing.
“Thank you,” Miles murmurs as he reaches for his wallet but Henry quickly interjects, grabbing the bill from him.
“I got it. A thank you for picking me up today,” he says to Miles as he pulls his wallet from his pocket. He sets a hundred dollar bill down for a breakfast that was no more than forty dollars.
“Let me go grab your change so I don’t keep you guys?—“
He politely cuts me off, bracing his hand on my wrist. Normally a random person touching me without my consent would deserve a slap to the face, but I don't want him to remove it. He can keep his hand there forever. “No need. Thank you for the breakfast, Maisie.”
“Wow. Thank you,” I say, in awe over the generous tip, my other hand hovering over the spot his hand just left from my wrist. “I hope you enjoy your weekend in Ruby Lake.”
“I’ll be here all summer, but thank you for a great start with the pancakes.” He smiles as I take their empty plates, nodding a smile at him and Miles as I head to the back once again.
He’s going to be hereallsummer.
I try hard to deny the smile that’s slowly forming.
From the back I can’t help but watch as they get up from the booth and head out the door, but not before I see Henry grab a pen from the front counter and write something on a napkin and place it on the table.
“You better go see what that is,” Kevin coos from behind me, “I think I see a meet cute happening.”
“Absolutely not a meet cute,” I playfully smack his chest, “I don’t even know his last name.”
“Go get that napkin before someone throws it away. Maybe he’s a hunter who finally found his prey.”
“You need to calm it on the werewolf romances you keep reading,” I say with a laugh as I head back to the table before my mom wipes it clean.
To no one's surprise, there is, in fact, a napkin with a man’s handwriting but what was written down was something that I didn’t expect. Thank you for the breakfast and the warm welcome, I hope to see you again.
Thank you for the breakfast and the warm welcome, I hope to see you again. - Henry
And below his name are ten numbers.
After the brunch rush,my mom let me go home early since it had quieted down a bit. On the walk home, my mind kept reminding me of the folded up napkin in my pocket. The ten numbers begging to be saved in my phone.
Feeling like I’m in high school all over again I can’t stop thinking about Henry. It’s not that I don’t get a lot of male attention, but there’s slim pickings in Ruby Lake. I’ve tried the guys here and let’s just say, once was more than enough.
I literally lost my virginity at Wren’s end of summer party two years ago in some random dude's backseat. Nothing like faking an orgasm the first time you have sex. Sometimes I wonder if he knew—and if he does, I hope it keeps him up at night. Since then, I’ve only slept with one other guy and that was while Wren and I went on a weekend trip to Oregon; he wasn’t too memorable.
Henry would be memorable… all he did was come into my place of work and now he won’t leave my brain.
I could text him… no. I need to tell Wren first, and also see how she’s feeling.
How are you?
Wren
Mother Nature: 1 Wren: 0
