Desi.
“Desi!”
He smiled wide, and I admired his face. He was so incredibly handsome. “You’re working tonight?”
“I am.” I kicked off the building. “You and your friends coming in for a bite?” I walked over to him and motioned to the restaurant. We started up the stairs together.
“Just me tonight. I wanted that cherry pie you offered me the other night.”
“What?” I stopped at the door. His face paled, and his smile fell. He cleared his throat.
“It was my birthday, and you offered me pie. I was just—” He swallowed hard, blushing bright red.
“Oh, right! Yeah, let’s get you in there and I’ll bring you a slice. Cool Whip or ice cream?” I laughed and opened the door for him.
“Uh, Cool Whip sounds good.” He hurried inside. I went to the back and poured myself some coffee. My regular eight-hour shift was about to start soon. I put some creamer in and was stirring my cup when Phylis burst into the back, causing me to jump.
“Did you see that guy just walk in? He’s so fine!” She sighed and her blue eyes went to the ceiling, and she pouted. “And my shift is over. You guys are so lucky.” She looked around the kitchen to the night shift waitresses wandering around.
“Who?” Deanna went to the kitchen doors and peeked her head out. “What table?”
“He’s over at twenty-seven.”
“Oh, that’s Scout’s table,” Deanna said quickly, popping her head back in.
“He’s all alone?” Jennifer, another waitress, asked after she took her turn in peeking out. “Oh wow. Scout, I’ll trade you tables.”
“Fat chance,” Deanna said before I could answer her. “Let me guess, you’ll trade her the family booth?”
“It’s a bigger tip,” Jennifer protested.
“Let her have an easy one,” Deanna argued.
I rolled my eyes. Those two were always fighting. I pulled out my notepad and pen and clicked it.
“While you two argue, I’m going to go see what he wants.”
They glanced at me and continued bickering as I shoved through the swing door. Despite my heart hammering, I walked as confidently as I could and forced a smile.
“Hey, stranger.”
Desi leaned against the wall with an open book in his hand. He grinned. “Hey.”
“You thirsty?” I lifted my pad to write his order.
“Uh, yeah. A Budweiser will work.”
“And food?”
“Uh, what do you have?”
“Oh, let me get you a menu. I’ll be back with your drink in a moment.” I spun around, silently scolding Phyllis for being too dumbstruck by his ridiculously charming smile to give him a damn menu. I grabbed his drink and returned, then placed the menu on the table. “I can come back in a bit and take your order.”
He nodded but didn’t reach for it. Instead, he picked his book back up.
“Are you not hungry?” I asked. “Or maybe waiting for someone?” My gut fluttered, praying it wasn’t the latter.
“No, it’s just me. I kind of wanted to relax here a bit tonight, if that’s okay?”
