Page 10 of What I've Tasted of Desire

“Jesus Christ!” I muttered as he finally cleared the bumper, and I let off the brake, allowing the car to roll forward and inching ever closer to the pellucid glass.

I rolled my window down half-way and brought the car to a crawl as glimpses of the inside came into view. The place was packed. At first, I had a hard time seeing past all the heads seated in the booths that lined the window.

As more of the window became visible, my panic increased. My breathing grew labored.

He’s not here, you fool! There’s way too many people for him to have…

“There you are!”

I smiled and let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding as the back of Alex’s head became visible. He was tucked into his usual corner seat. Though, tonight, he was facing the wall instead of the dining area. It made sense that he wouldn’t want to sit there staring at all those people. I’d bet my truck that he had his headphones in, though I was too far away to see the shell of his ear.

“Fuck!” My ass came clear off the seat and my head slammed into the roof of the truck as the car behind me honked and scared the shit out of me.

I hadn’t realized I’d stopped the car entirely, causing traffic to back up behind me. I quickly put my hand out the window and waved before getting out of the way and parking across the lot. Normally, I could get a parking spot in the front row and have a clear view of Alex through the window, but with it being so crazy-busy, that wasn’t an option. I was going to have to go inside.

What if he sees you?

I flipped the visor mirror down and examined my face. I hadn’t shaved in a couple of days. My crop of stubble wasn’t too bad, but I would have preferred to have things a little more tidy. I took a couple of deep breaths and put my pointer and middle finger against the pulse point in my neck.

What if he talks to you? What if this is where you two meet?

I could feel myself beginning to sweat. “Okay, we can do this…” I reassured myself.

I grabbed my tan beanie from the passenger’s seat, rummaged around in the glove box for my old phone charger, and got out of the truck. I pulled the collar of my jacket up close around my neck, effectively obscuring my jawline as I walked into the reception area and up to the host's stand.

“Good evening,” an older woman with red hair and a southern accent said.

“Good evening,” I smiled.

“Just one?”

“Yes, ma’am. Just me tonight.”

She turned around, grabbed a laminated menu and a silverware setting, and gestured for me to follow her. I scanned the room in front of her as she walked, trying to estimate where she was going to seat me. Butterflies started flapping around in my stomach as Alex came into view. There was a small booth two over from his on the same side, and then there was one on the opposite side of the aisle. That was way too close. There’d be no way he wouldn’t see me. Especially when he got up to leave.

Two over on the same side was much better. “Actually, would it be possible to get this one? My phone could use a good charge?” I smiled sweetly and pulled the phone charger out of my pocket, holding it up conspicuously.

“Sure, no problem.” I took the seat, and she laid the menu and silverware down on the table in front of me.

“Can I get you started with somethin’ to drink?”

“Um, I think I’m ready to order, if that’s okay.”

She nodded and pulled the small pad out of her apron pocket and the ink pen from behind her ear. “What can I get for ya?”

“I’ll take a well-done cheeseburger. No onions or pickles, and extra ketchup, please.”

“Side and drink?”

Onion rings and a Coke, thank you.”

She paused for a second as the pen hovered over the pad, then chuckled, “I think I’m having déjà vu. I could swear I just took this exact order from another customer.”

I smiled wide and chuckled. “When I used to wait tables, all the orders started to sound the same after a while.”

She laughed. “It does tend to get somewhat monotonous, huh?” She secured her pen back behind her ear and collected my menu before scurrying off.

Alexdidhave his headphones in. I caught a glimpse of white when he reached up and tucked some unruly locks of hair behind his ears. I put my palms down flat on the tabletop and lifted myself up a few inches, trying to see over the booths. It was no use; I couldn’t see his phone screen from here.

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