Page 31 of Hers To Keep

As I’m about to open the passenger door, he throws me a death glare through the front window, daring me to open my door. He wants to be a chivalrous gentleman on this date, fine, I’ll humor him.

I sit patiently waiting as he moves to open my door, reaching his hand out for me to take. I hold on to him as I jump out of the SUV being careful not to flash any person walking by. I don’t know why I agreed to go commando or wear a dress for that matter. It’s oddly cold for a winter night on the West Coast, but as his hand lowers to my back, guiding me toward the front door of the diner, I suddenly remember why.

With just this simple amicable touch, my body is alreadyreacting to him.What will become of me if I’m to spend hours without him touching me?

We enter the diner, walking up toward the front counter. The inside is like a retro truck stop, with license plates, highway and street signs, and car memorabilia from all parts of the United States, complete with black-and-white checkered floors.

“Wow, this place is—” I say, suddenly interrupted by an older woman dressed in a white and black checkered uniform, her short, dark brown curls bouncing as she walks toward us.

“Welcome to Scottie’s, honey, let me—” She stops abruptly, looking up at Ace, a bewildered look crossing her face. “My goodness, Wallace Servite,” she adds. “I can’t believe it’s really you.” I turn to look between the two of them, noticing a genuine smile upon Ace’s face directed at the older woman.

“Hey, Sally,” he says, reaching out to hug her.

“My goodness, my boy. It’s been years since I’ve seen you come in here.” She hugs him tightly, before grabbing his face between her hands, like a grandma would her young grandson. “Just look how handsome you’ve gotten.” Ace blushes awkwardly at Sally’s remarks.Well shit, he’s human after all.

I look back and forth between the two of them baffled by the scene before me. “Yeah, I guess I’ve been busy. Scottie around?” he asks.

“Oh you know Scottie, the old man never takes a day off. Scottie honey, look who came in to see us!” Sally calls out, an older gentleman, who must be at least sixty, with almost all white hair, comes out from the back kitchen.

“What’s all this fuss about, woman? You’re going to scare away all the customers,” he sneers, as he comes toward us.

“What customers?” Sally asks, rolling her eyes as Scottie walks up behind her. I look around to find the diner nearly empty, with just a small crowd of people toward the back. Seems to be a family of four at one table, an older couple in their sixties, about Sally and Scottie’s age, and a group of teenagers stuffed together in anotherbooth. My attention turns back to Ace as Scottie moves to hug him, affectionately patting him on the back.

“Well, if it isn’t the youngest of the Servite men. Man, son, you haven’t been in here since you were all scrawny and freckled.” I turn to Ace, raising a brow at Scottie’s mention of his less than godly appearance as a child.

“Oh shut it, old man, you know this darling boy was nothing less than angelic. Not a flaw in sight, from his curly blond hair to the dimples in his cheeks, to the cute little smile with his missing front teeth.” I laugh at the mention of Ace with missing teeth, and both Scottie and Sally turn to me, noticing me for the first time tonight.

“Come on, Sally, you’re embarrassing me,” Ace says, looking over at me and grinning widely. “Don’t believe a word they say, babe. I was always devilishly handsome.”

“Well my goodness, who is this darling angel you’ve brought to us, sweetie?” Sally asks, directing her attention to me.

“This is Scarlett, my girlfriend,” he says, and the word girlfriend still sounds surreal coming from his lips.

“Hi,” I utter awkwardly, reaching a hand toward Sally. “It’s nice to meet you.” Sally steps forward, wrapping her arms around me and embracing me in a gentle, warm hug.

“Oh, we’re huggers here,” she says, squeezing me tighter. I can’t help but chuckle lightly, the smell of apple pie and cinnamon emanating from Sally, flooding my nostrils.

“Let the poor girl go, you’re going to break her. Look at her, it looks like she hasn’t eaten in days, she’s so thin.” Scottie groans from behind her. These two are hilarious, continuously squabbling. They remind me of Grayson and Sarah from the foster house. They aren’t as old as Scottie and Sally, but we’d always joke around that they fought like an old married couple.

“Oh nonsense, let me enjoy this. Ace hasn’t been here in years, let alone would he have ever brought in a girl before. This one must be special,” she says, winking at me.

Ace wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in closer to him. “She is, and I brought her to have some of your famous cherry cobbler.”

“Well then, why are we still standing here, let’s get her some proper food?”

Sally walks us over to a booth on the right-hand side of the diner, opposite from the customers eating to the left. Not sure if Ace requested some privacy, or if Sally assumed we’d need it. Ace motions for me to take a seat, as he slides into the booth across from me.

“Here you two go, best seats in the house. I’ll leave you some menus. You call me when you’re ready.”

“Actually,” Ace calls out before she walks away. “We’ll have two of Scottie’s famous cheeseburgers with crinkle fries and two Neapolitan shakes,” he says, ordering for the both of us. “Oh, and we’ll share a slice of cherry cobbler with French vanilla ice cream. You can bring the pie over when we’re done with the burgers.”

“All right, coming right up,” she says with a delighted smile, as she walks off toward the kitchen.

Ace turns to me, appearing slightly anxious, surely waiting for my snide remark about him ordering for me. But I kind of found it romantic. Must be all the sugary pie fumes I’ve inhaled since walking in, but he seems so happy here. Carefree. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile this much. It’s hypnotizing to see all the fears and challenges he faces daily just disappear.

“What?” I say, as he continues to stare at me awaiting my response.

“Just surprised you don’t have a snarky comeback for me. No, why did you order for me Ace, I can make my own decisions.” I burst out laughing at his attempt to mock me, trying to mimic my voice, but failing miserably.

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