Page 8 of How We Fooled

As I reach for my seat belt, I ask, “So, what sounds good to you?”

She shrugs. “I barely know this town, so you’ll have to decide.”

“Wren’s it is!” I respond a little too happily, making her chuckle under her breath.

“I take it, you like that place?”

“Love it. Been going since I was a little kid. There’s nothing special about it, just simple, good food.”

“Sounds good to me.”

I put the truck in drive and make my way out of where she lives and onto the main road through town. Mason Creek is similar to Leighton River in some ways with its small-town vibe. The only difference is they have stayed this way.

With TimeLand moving to Leighton River, things are slowly getting replaced and built bigger while Mason Creek still holds its same charm from the 1950s.

We park on the street, and both exit the truck at the same time, then head toward the diner entrance.

I open the door for her. “After you.”

She grins my way, and, yes, I shamelessly check out her ass as she walks by. I cannot help myself.

I enter after her and approach the woman standing at the counter.

“Two?” she asks, and I nod. “Go ahead and sit right there, and I’ll be right over.”

She motions with her head toward a booth along the front window, so I guide us both there, placing my hand on the small of Liza’s back, purposefully not looking around so I don’t catch eyes with anyone I know. Odds are, someone is here from Leighton River, and I’m not in the mood to talk to someone my parents know more than me.

She takes a seat, and I sit opposite of her in the booth, making sure my long legs don’t hit hers or I don’t accidentally step on her feet as I do so. Being tall definitely has its advantages, but don’t think for a second there aren’t disadvantages too. Sitting in a booth is a disadvantage, for sure.

No matter how careful I am trying to be, I still end up stepping on her toes. “I’m sorry,” I say.

She laughs slightly. “It’s okay, I can imagine it’s hard to get your legs in here. How tall are you?”

“Six-five,” I respond.

Her eyes open wide, and then she looks under the table to see my knees pressed against the top of the table. “Wow, yeah, here.” She slides to the side just enough so I can put my legs more in front of me.

I do so and instantly feel her leg brush against mine. Even though I have jeans on and she does, too, this little touch feels oddly comforting. I don’t bother moving it, and thankfully, neither does she.

“Thanks.” I smile just as Lucy, the waitress, approaches us.

“Hey, Eli. What can I get you tonight?” the waitress asks.

Liza instantly laughs. “You do come here often, don’t you?”

Lucy places her hand on my back. “I’ve watched this not-so-little guy grow up.” She leans in to say in a softer tone to Liza. “And I swear it’s all the cheeseburgers he’s eaten here over the years that made him this big.”

I let out a loud laugh, thinking she’s not wrong in her thoughts, and I introduce her to Liza. “Lucy, this is Liza. She just moved here, and this is her first time at Wren’s, so she’ll need a menu.”

“Oh, well, hello and welcome to Mason Creek. Let me get that for you.” Lucy walks away, then comes back and hands Liza a menu. “I’ll get you both some water, and then I’ll come back to take your order.”

I nod to Lucy as Liza looks over the menu.

“So, I take it, the cheeseburgers are good, but anything else you’d recommend?”

“My mom gets their salads, but that’s not really my thing, so I can’t vouch for how good they are. Their French dip sandwich is good. The grown-up grilled cheese is too.”

“Grown-up grilled cheese?” she asks with a laugh.

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