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“I don’t think I’ve been this tired ever,” David groans while stretching. We all walk down the porch steps and stop on the stone sidewalk.
“Oh stop, you play soccer,” Maddie scolds jokingly, spinning around to face him.
"Not for seven hours straight, Madeline,” he counters with a laugh.
“Not everyone has your energy, Mads.” Elliot kisses her cheek and then picks up her bags to walk to the car.
“This is true,” Maddie says, with a sheepish smile. She turns to us, nervousness now gracing her expression, “I’m sorry if I was too much, I’m just so excited and I want everything to happen now.”
“I know, amor,” I say with a yawn. “You don’t have to apologize, we knew what we were getting ourselves into.”
I squat down to dig through my tote bag, looking for my keys. When I find them I snatch them and stand back up taking my bag with me and slinging it over my shoulder.
“Well, I’m exhausted so I’m going to head home,” I say, walking towards Maddie to give her a hug. Elliot returns and pulls me in for one as well. We all walk away from the porch and towards our cars. I wave as Maddie and Elliot climb into his truck, then open my car door. David walks by me and towards his car parked on the other side of Elliot’s truck.
He seems to linger around me and when he opens his mouth to say something, I quickly say, “Nice to meet you, David.” Before I turn away, I see his open mouth close and he gives me a small smile. I jump in my car and quickly turn it on. In my peripheral vision I see him walk away, and I only feel a little bit bad about blowing him off.
But I’ve reached my people-ing limit for the day and I need to shut my brain off. Just as I have this thought, I realize that the entire day passed and I didn’t think about Hayden or my grief once. And honestly, I don’t know how I feel about that.
TEN
THEN, FALL, 5 YEARS AGO
I balance a tray with several heavy dishes on it and use my hip to open the swinging door. I make my way to the table in the back, focusing on not dropping anything or spilling something on anyone. I make it to the correct table and I pass each meal to the right person, and turn around to return the tray to the kitchen.
“Ana, table fourteen requested you specifically,” Sharon, my boss, says as she passes me carrying her own tray.
I smirk. It must be Maddie, who often shows up here on her free evenings to visit me. I make my way through the tables, weaving around them until I approach table fourteen. But instead of my beautiful blonde best friend, there is a different but familiar blond sitting there.
My heart hitches as my mouth falls open, and I round the corner to find Hayden sitting there with a big smile on his face—a smile that screams trouble. He greets me with a grin. “Ana.”
“How the hell did you find me here?” I ask him incredulously.
“I asked around. It took a while since people seemed to think I was being creepy.”
“Imagine that.” I narrow my eyes on him.
“You told me to figure it out,” he defends.
I sigh. “I guess I did.” Putting my hands on my hips, I say, “Well, I’m obviously working and can’t talk to you.”
“That’s fine,” he says contentedly. “I’m ready to order.”
“You’re staying?” I ask.
He answers with just his grin.
“Dios mio, gringo,” I mumble and pull my order sheet out of my apron pocket along with the pen, and I give him a pointed look.
“What do you recommend?” he asks with a faux curious and contemplative look on his face.
“Okay, I’ll be back when you’re ready.” I turn to walk away.
“No, no, no! I’m sorry, I’m just joking,” he says and I give him a look. “Okay, I’ll have a diet soda and a cheeseburger with onion rings.”
I write his order down but don’t look up before saying, “Anything else?”
“Your number.”
