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As I’m checking her out, I clear out the bill once again. Lo insists on paying something, so I pretend to use her card for half. She’ll figure it out later, but by then, it’ll be a sealed deal. I’ll settle it up with Don later before my shift ends.
“Thanks again, Tyler. I appreciate it. Are you sure I can’t pay for the other half too? Please?”
“No, it’s okay. I get a discount, don’t worry about it. I know you’re stressed enough already with job hunting, so I wanted to help. One less stress is always better than more.”
Lo smiles again, the smile she used to give me. Last summer, during those late nights and early mornings. Watching the sun rise and set over the horizon on the beach. I hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I’d seen it on her face. God, I missed it.
I missed how it made my heart beat so fast it felt like it would pop out of my chest.
I missed how it made my skin tingle.
I missed how it made me feel, like a warm hug on a cold day.
But most of all, I missed it from her.
I shake away the thoughts, trying to ignore her deadly, beautiful smile as I staple her paperwork and receipt together before handing it to her.
But to see it again… and it’s directed at me…
That must mean something, right?
Yeah, that you’re an idiot.
As I pass her the keys, our fingertips touch, and I jump at the contact, not expecting the sparks that fly up my fingers. But I act like I didn’t notice, quickly pulling my hand back and grabbing my pen.
With a small wave and another smile, she turns and walks to her car. I turn away and try to look busy when all I want to do is watch her. Her beauty is something my eyes feast on, and it feels as if I’ll never get enough.
“Tyler?”
“Yeah?” I ask, spinning around to face her in the most nonchalant, not excited way I can muster.
“Friends can have dinner together, right?”
Like the lovesick fool I am, my fucking heart soars in my chest.
But we’re friends.Just friends.
Dinner as friends.
I nod. “Meet me at the Boardwalk Cafe at seven?”
Her face lights up. It was our favorite place to go together for dinner. After our meal, we would sit on the beach and watch the sun go down. “I’ll be there.” She climbs into her car and takes off, my eyes never straying until her taillights disappear from view.
“Aha! I knew I smelled romance in the air,” Don says as he claps me on the back.
Where the hell did he come from?
I roll my eyes. “How long have you been listening?”
“Long enough to know love when I see it.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my boss?”
Don chuckles, a deep sound rumbling from his throat. “I don’t always show this side of me, kid. But deep down, I’m a hopeless romantic. And I know true love when I see it.”
“Alright, but I think you’ve inhaled too many fumes working in this garage for so long.”
Don shakes his head as he walks away. “You’ll see, kid. You’ll see.”
