Page 2 of Saltwater Memories
He turned around, shooting a perturbed glance down at her.
“Uh – yes?”
“Hi – there’s actually a line.” She flashed a smile. “It starts behind me.”
He jerked his shoulder away and turned back around.
Amanda and the lady locked eyes. It seemed that woman was just as angry as Amanda, her mouth hanging open and her eyes narrowed. She nodded, and Amanda nodded back before stepping in front of the man. “Excuse me, you just cut in front of both of us.”
“What’s your problem?”
“I just told you.” Amanda said, staring at him. “I just watched you cut in front of me and this very nice lady here, andthat’smy problem.”
The woman behind the deli counter called out, “Next!”
The man took a step forward, but Amanda wouldn’t budge. She squared her shoulders and crossed her arms, moving in front of him. “I’m sorry, do you not understand how lines work? That lady is next.”
“If you – ”
Amanda ignored him and turned to the woman. “Go ahead, ma’am, you were next.”
The woman smiled and slowly walked toward the counter. Amanda maintained eye contact with the guy, saying nothing else. After staring at him for half a minute, he let out a huff and walked out of the restaurant.
Amanda smiled to herself and got back in line. There was nothing that she hated more than a bully.
Well…that wasn’t true. There was nothing she hated more than a bully that shecouldn’tstand up to.
Guy in a sandwich shop? Sure, no problem!
Person who sent hertothe sandwich shop?
Not a peep.
She stepped up to the counter and placed an order for a caprese sandwich. Amanda was debating the health of the tomatoes when she thought that she heard a familiar voice.
She turned around to see where it was coming from. There was a table near the entrance, up against the large windows. Two guys were sitting there – one she definitely didn’t recognize, and the other had his back turned to her.
She turned around to see that the tomatoes, for better or worse, had already found their way onto the sandwich. Erica would have to deal with it.
Amanda placed an order for a coffee for herself and made sure to pay separately – though Erica always asked for a receipt, she hadn’t gotten around to paying Amanda back in months.
It was usually no more than ten dollars here or there – coffees, lunches and sometimes snacks. Amanda felt petty even bringing it up to her boss, but at this point, Erica’s tab was nearing a hundred dollars!
It was starting to get annoying, especially because Amanda specifically packed her lunch so that she could save money and time when she had to work in the office.
After paying, she stuffed the receipt into her pocket and was almost to the door when the familiar voice rang out again.
“Let me tell you, we’reveryexcited about this opportunity.”
She stopped. Whowasthat? Why did he sound so…
Amanda froze. He sounded familiar because hewasfamiliar. It was the voice of the man that she’d tasered only a few short months ago – Lenny!
Why wasn’t she wearing a scarf or something to hide her face? She stepped to the side, standing at the sugar and milk counter and slowly removing the lid from her coffee.
She turned to get another peek. Though she still couldn’t see his face because his back was to her, the outfit was there – the tracksuit. Oh my goodness –whywas it always a track suit?
He was talking to a younger guy, probably in his twenties, who was professionally dressed in a gray suit.
