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She belonged here. She was accepted here.
It became clear she was not going to get a chance to talk to Niles while he was slammed with the lunch crowd. She bought a sandwich instead, using her employee discount, and told him she’d come back.
He saluted her in acknowledgment, too busy with the line of people to respond vocally.
Then she somehow ended up at the Mecklenberg. It was a warm day, and she sat in the garden at a table with Jennifer, and Dahlia explained all about how she had finally cut ties with Tommy.
Eventually, three drinks in, she realized she needed to go back to the sandwich shop. She texted Niles.
I’m actually leaving the shop now,he texted back.
I’m at the Meck,she texted back.
Fifteen minutes later, he appeared at the table holding a glass of beer.
Jennifer got up, smiling really widely. “I have a thing to do.”
“You don’t have to leave,” said Dahlia, waving at her to sit back down.
Niles settled in next to Dahlia. “You totally don’t. We’re just talking about my restaurant. It’s not a Dahlia-and-me thing. I guess we’re on hiatus or something.”
“Hiatus,” snickered Dahlia. “Like a TV show.”
“You remember thatthing,” said Jennifer. “I really have to do it.”
Dahlia shrugged. “Whatever. Bye, then.”
“Bye,” said Jennifer. She pointed at Dahlia. “Donotmove in with him.”
“Jennifer,” said Dahlia.
“I’m serious,” said Jennifer. “You need to be on your own for a while.”
“If you’re going to be like that, I’m glad you’re leaving,” Dahlia called after her friend.
Jennifer shrugged, laughing as she made her way down the stone path in the garden.
Dahlia groaned, giving Niles an embarrassed look. “Sorry.”
“On your own, huh?”
“Oh, I moved out of the place with Tommy,” she said.
“Really?” he said, giving her an approving smile. “Good for you.”
“Good for me,” she said and giggled. “I’m finishing up the social work program. I know now that Icouldbe a social worker because I can control myself, but… I don’t know if that’s what I want.”
“You’re very young,” he told her. “You have time to figure it out.”
“I guess that’s true,” she said, beaming at him. “Tell me about your restaurant.”
“My dad agreed to cosign for a loan,” he said. “I just put an offer in on the building on Duke Street.”
“Seriously?” She gave him a wide grin. “That’s so great. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Somebody pointed out to me that I could do this on my own, that it was all about making a choice to commit, and so… here I am, very fully fucking committed. Andsoscrewed. Because I’m not going to have a life besides this restaurant for probably two years.”
She giggled. “Okay, wow. Who needs a life when you’re living the dream, though, right?”
