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Judy snickers, then lowers her voice and says, “Yeah, right.”
He leans back and watches her walk away with a scowl on his face. When his gaze lands on me, I give him a dry smile. “So what can I getcha?”
Poor Bradley doesn’t realize how people from his side of the tracks think about people who work regular jobs and don’t have chauffeurs. They are good enough to work for their sons or daughters but not be––with their sons or daughters.
“Is that what they did to you?” he asks, looking at the menu.
“Did what?” I say, playing dumb.
“Threaten you with their lawyers. I never stood a chance with you, did I?”
“No, and it’s not because of any of that. It’s because I’m in love with someone.”
“He’s a lucky man. I hope he realizes that, but if you need a friend or someone to talk to.” He points toward his chest. “I’m your guy.”
“I know you think it is dumb that I’m working here, but it gives me purpose, and I don’t mind.”
“He doesn’t know, does he?”
“It doesn’t matter. Now what can I get you, handsome?”
Bradley’s eyes light up. “Keep talking to me like that, and I might make it my mission to whisk you away.”
He knows I’m not flirting with him. Bradley is a good-looking guy and doesn’t seem creepy or anything, but I think Judy is more his type.
“Why don’t you ask Judy out?” I blurt.
He nudges his chin toward Judy, wiping the table. “Judy doesn’t like me very much.”
“Why?”
“Because a good friend of mine broke her heart. He left her for a girl he knew from way back. The girl moved back from where she went, their parents set them up, and he broke it off with Judy for no reason. She’s had a chip on her shoulder ever since. She doesn’t go out like she used to and apparently hates my guts, too.”
I never realized that Judy was nursing a broken heart. That must suck to fall for someone and then they just ditch you like you meant nothing to them. Now I feel bad for turning her down when she asked me to hang out with her.
I saunter up to her while she picks up an order from the kitchen.
“Hey, I’m free tomorrow night. How about that movie? It’s Tuesday, so there won’t be that many people.”
She smiles. “Really?”
I shrug. “Sure, why not? I really haven’t made any friends since I moved here.”
Her eyes dim, and she says, “I’m really sorry about your husband, Aura. That must have been really hard.”
“I’m no stranger to loss and heartbreak. I lost my parents before the start of my senior year in high school.”
“And I thought I had it bad.”
I make it home, and Camila is thrilled to hear I have a night out with Judy to the movies.
“I won’t take long. It’s just a movie, and I really think she needs a friend. Exie’s been busy with work, and she lives far. I can’t expect too much of her right now. It would be a good thing to talk and socialize with someone.”
“I think it’s a great idea.”
My phone vibrates, and an incoming text comes through.
Janine: The boss wants you to come to the office for a meeting. Can you come now?
