“A man after my own heart,” I teased as I opened the door and headed inside.
He followed me inside but only long enough to hit a switch by the back patio entrance and go right back outside.
When I got to the counter, it was to have Bernice there watching with a sadness to her that surprised me.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
Bernice’s eyes had been on the back door when I caught her attention. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was just thinking.”
My brows rose. “You look a little pale.”
She straightened, her shoulders going back, as she said, “It’s just been a long day. Which is awful seeing as I’ve only been here for a couple of hours.”
“Whoops.” I grimaced. “I hate those kinds of days.”
She shrugged. “What can I get you?”
I eyed the menu, finally deciding on, “Can I get a Reuben with mac n’ cheese, a fruit cup as an extra side. A classic turkey on your white ciabatta bread with only turkey, cheese, and mayo? Side for that one will be fruit only.”
She typed everything into her computer and told me the total.
“Oh, can you add a couple of drinks to that? As well as a couple of chocolate cookies?”
I usually tried to be fairly healthy. However, there were times that you had to indulge.
Being in a sucky mood was one of those times.
After getting our drinks, I stopped by for a child’s cup and filled that up with water as well.
As I was heading outside, the same creepy boy-man from earlier smiled at me and said, “Can I take one of those for you?”
I smiled tightly. “I’m good.”
I’d drop them before I asked for help, especially from some random kid who didn’t seem to get the hint.
At least Odin is here now.
He held open the door outside for me, and I reluctantly walked through it.
I glanced around, the guy at my back, to find Odin.
He was in the very back corner where I’d originally been planning to sit.
I walked toward him, feeling the man at my back keeping close.
I widened my eyes at Odin, who had already clocked the man at my back before I’d even spotted where he was sitting.
Odin got up and walked to me, taking two of the glasses from my hands.
“Thanks.” I smiled in relief at him. “Those were getting precarious.”
He gestured for me to go first, then followed at my back, keeping distance between me and the weirdo using his own body.
I took a seat that Odin gestured for me to take, and I realized why a moment later when I looked up to see the heater on directly above my head.
“Thanks.” I grinned. “This is nice. I didn’t realize how cold it was going to get so fast.”
“Last year was my first year here,” he murmured quietly, his eyes flicking to the man that sat two tables away. He literally had the entire damn space, and he chose this close? What the fuck? “Seat over there has a heater, too. Come on.”
