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“Goals?”
“Yes. Career goals, you know, that sort of thing. I think you’re amazing, I do. But I’m looking for more than a pretty face. I need someone who is going places. And from what I’ve heard, that’s not exactly what’s been happening for you.”
The waiter chose that exact moment to come over for drinks, which was a perfect distraction.
“Excuse me,” I said, hobbling on my crutches to get away from Carl. I didn’t care if he was my mom’s boss’s son. I couldn’t handle one more minute of him or his condescending looks at me. Tears were ready to stream down my face, mostly from anger.
I exhaled, studying myself in the bathroom mirror. And then I made the decision. I hit “Call” on my phone and prayed he would pick up. He did.
“Can you please come rescue me?” I asked without any precursors.
And without hesitation, Leo Turner said, “Yes, just tell me where you are.”
***
“SOMETHING’S COME UP,” I said icily to Carl, shouting halfway across the restaurant. I’d stalled in the bathroom for a little while, examining my frizzy top knot and contemplating how life had ended up with me hiding in the bathroom from Carl.
“Oh. Do you need a ride?”
“Nope,” I replied, done with social niceties. “Have a good day.”
It would have been a strong woman moment, but the crutches put a damper on the storming out effect. I clinked along, the restaurant silent except for the swanky music blaring. Everyone was staring as I clink, clink, clinked my way to the front of the restaurant, the humid air a relief to the stuffiness of Carl and the booth. I shook my head.
If that was what stability felt like, then I’d prefer to flounder. I found a bench out front and sat down, trying not to feel dejected and embarrassed that I’d had to call Leo.
A yellow bug screeched into the parking lot of the Bayview Bar & Grill, and Leo jumped out. He seemed relieved to see me.
“You okay?” he yelled. I nodded, beelining for the car and leaping into the passenger seat after he opened the door for me. He stowed my crutches carefully in the small backseat.
“Nice ride. A rental?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. I got it this morning. Figured it was safer than taking the bus.”
I tried not to think about the fact that on a whim, Leo Turner went out and bought a car when I could barely pull together bus fare. But at that moment, I felt relieved to be making a prompt exit.
“What happened?” Leo asked after we’d put some distance between us and the Bayview.
“My mother. A blind date with her boss’s son. A total jerk.”
“I see. Well, where to then?” he asked, willing to let me put the experience to rest, for which I was grateful.
“Anywhere but home,” I said. I didn’t want to hear my mom’s defense of Carl or worries about how I’d blown any chance of getting a job at the hotel.
“I’ve got a place I want to try, actually,” Leo said.
“I thought I was supposed to be the tour guide,” I said, smiling.
“You can have the day off, given the circumstances. Come on. Hope you didn’t eat back there.”
“I didn’t even get to the drink menu,” I admitted.
“Ouch. I’d feel bad for the guy if he wasn’t such a jerk,” Leo said.
“You don’t even know him. It could be me who is the jerk,” I replied as I reached for the knob on the radio to turn up the music. I switched the channel to country, and Leo groaned.
“Well, I was on your side, one hundred percent, until you reminded me you like country. Of all genres.”
“Aren’t musicians supposed to appreciate all genres?” I asked.
