Page 6 of All In
For me.
All the commotion of the cafeteria fades into the background, and I can’t help the huge smile that stretches across my face. I study him as he comes around and pulls out my chair for me.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to die because this feels like a date. In the cafeteria. During school hours.
It’s a first but I’m digging it.
I want to appear confident, so I round my shoulders and raise my chin. “I was hoping you wouldn’t have changed your mind.” The words come out hoarse as I sit and he scoots me closer.
With a playful snicker, he circles the table and pulls up a chair, positioning himself across from me. “Are you kidding me? Not a snowball’s chance in hell. I have been planning this for months.”
Wait … he’s been planning this for months?Sam. Cute, adorable Sam that I have always watched and admired from afar. The boy that always seemed too far out of my league. The most beautiful guy in the entire school has been planning this. For months. For me.
Impossible.
I can feel the blush creep onto my neck and face at this revelation.
He continues. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have rushed out of class like that.” He shrugs. “I was just nervous, I guess.”
Hewas nervous? I can’t process that statement, so I turn my head downward and wipe my palms on my jeans.
Out of nowhere, Sam snaps his fingers, causing me to jolt upright. Ricky Holland comes scurrying over … wearing a freaking white plastic apron. The same ones the cafeteria ladies wear.
I suppress a giggle, barely audible. Ricky is the class clown, and this whole set up fits him to a tee.
“Hello and welcome to Cafe Fitch,” he starts, his eyes darting between me and Sam. I look across the table at Sam, bewildered at what is happening.
He winks at me. My stomach flips.
Ricky continues. “Today’s selections are Pizza Noodle Casserole with a side salad. For dessert, we are offering a chocolate brownie smothered in icing.” He whips out a small, spiraled notebook from his back jean pocket. “What can I get the lovely lady to drink today?”
I glance at Sam, not sure if I should play along or not. “You heard him,” Sam gestures to Ricky. “Order whatever you want to drink. I wish there were more menu options, though. We may have to dine elsewhere tomorrow.”
I can’t believe this is happening. Nobody has done something this sweet for me. Ever.
Ricky stands tall, his eyes fixed on me as he patiently waits for my so-called order, pencil and notebook in hand. “I’ll have a Sprite.”
“Certainly.” Ricky writes this down as if it’s hard to remember. For him, it might be. “And for you, sir?” He shifts his attention to Sam.
“I’ll have a Coke.”
Ricky scribbles down Sam’s drink and bows to us. “I will be back momentarily with your drinks and entrees. In the meantime, would you like to order an appetizer? Today, we are offering bags of chips and pretzels.”
“No, thank you. We’re good.” Sam replies between gritted teeth. I’m thinking Ricky may have taken his duties too far because his grin is playful as he turns and gets in the food line.
This whole thing is surreal. And pretty darn amazing.
I lean forward on my elbows. “What did you do to talk him into this?”
“I have to pay for his lunch for the rest of the school year.” Sam leans back in his chair, resting his forearm on the worn wood. “Totally worth it.”
There is an awkward pause after this loaded admission, and now it feels like we are the only two people in this noisy cafeteria. My whole undivided attention is on Sam.
“You said that you have been planning this for months.” Sam nods his head in agreement. “Why?”
He cocks his head to the side, as if I should know the answer to my own question. His face softens.
“Because I have been wanting to ask you out for so long. I never had the nerve. So, I figured, start small with a cafeteria date.”
