AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I slicked on a smile and seated the first couple, who were about my age and painfully cute. They kept looking around in wonder, including studying my nametag that said “Serena, she/her” on it. I gave them menus and poured water and said I’d be back to take their orders.
“Serena?” a voice said behind me. I nearly crashed into one of the tables in all the chaos.
I whirled around because I knew that voice.
“Fi,” I said before I could stop myself. The café faded away as I stood there, locked in on her brown eyes. I hadn’t seen her in person in years, but here she was, in the café, waiting for a table.
I opened and closed my mouth a few times and she gave me a shy smile.
“Long time no see,” she said and I looked from her to the girl she was with. Tattoos, choppy brown hair, and a septum piercing. I looked back at Fiona.
My brain couldn’t figure out what I was supposed to be saying or doing. All I could do was drink in her familiar face with the freckles all across her nose and cheeks. Her skin was tanned and her hair was cut in a cute long bob that framed her face.
Oh, shit. I was staring. I was staring and I needed to stop. I ripped my eyes away from hers and blinked a few times. Right. I was in a café. I was a waitress. I needed to get them to a table.
“Um, follow me,” I said, spinning around and leading them to a table that had just emptied and been wiped down. I robotically showed them to it and then handed out menus and tried to pour water without spilling too much. I couldn’t look at her.
“Hey,” a soft voice said and a freckled hand touched my arm. I looked at her just as I was about to scurry away.
I looked from Fiona to the girl she was with and realized that they were probably together. Well, shit. She’d moved on, and why shouldn’t she? We’d dated in high school when neither of us knew what the fuck we were doing. I still didn’t know what I was doing, but at least I had a few years of experience under my belt.
“I’ll be back to take your order in a few,” I said quickly, because there were people still waiting to be seated and I didn’t want to get fired my first week. I had no backup if I lost this job.
I scampered away, but I couldn’t stop thinking about seeing her. About what happened the last time I saw her. About what had happened in her life since. Clearly, a lot.
As I went through the motions, I kept part of my attention on her table. At last, I was able to go ask them what they wanted. Maybe I could figure out what the relationship was.
“Okay, so what can I get you?” I asked, poised and staring at my order pad.
“I’ll have a why-are-you-acting-like-we-don’t-know-each-other and a side salad,” Fiona said, which made my head snap up.
“What?” I said.
“I . .. think I’m going to find the bathroom,” her companion said, easing out of her chair and basically running away. Great.
“Okay, that was mean, but at least it got your attention,” she said, and I was locked into her eyes again. Such lovely eyes. I remembered the look in them when we’d . ..
Yeah, I didn’t need to think aboutthatright now.
“I’m working,” I said, gesturing around. “And you’ve moved on, so . .. I don’t know what there is to say.” I started to sweat. I mean, sweat more than I was already sweating. With all the bodies in here, it’s heats up quick.
She looked confused and then her eyes went wide.
“Oh! You thought I was with . .. no, no, no! Trick is just a friend. She has a girlfriendanda partner and I don’t think she’s looking for anyone right now. Not that that would make a difference. Anyway, we’re not together.” She spoke in a rush and I almost didn’t catch everything.
“Look, this is going to have to wait. I just, I can’t do this right now.” I pleaded with my eyes and she nodded.
“Of course. Of course. When do you get off?” I glanced over at the clock.
“In about an hour.”
“Okay, cool. I’ll just wait for you. If that’s okay?” Did I really have a choice? I mean, I was glad to know she wasn’t with the sexy girl she’d come in with. Wait, no I wasn’t!
Fiona Davis had scrambled my brain.
*^*^*
One extremely painful hour later, I took off my apron and told Anna I would see her later. She had a later shift, so I would be at the apartment alone. Lacey wasn’t coming back until tomorrow.
