Page 9 of Wasted Memories
About twenty-five minutes later after finishing my end of the night duties, I headed outside into the brisk Washington air. The slight breeze blew the stray hairs that had made their way out of my ponytail throughout the day into my face and I swiped at them.
Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I dialed Jett. After five rings, it went to voicemail. Heaving a sigh, I sat down on the cement step outside the back of the restaurant.
I hoped he hadn’t fallen asleep. I knew his phone was on because it rang when I dialed, which at least meant his phone wasn’t dead. I could walk home, but my feet were throbbing and it being dark out didn’t make me feel good about walking alone. Though Oldport was a particularly safe town, I didn’t want to risk it. I’d give it a few minutes to see if he’d call back. If he didn’t, I’d call Stella.
There was movement in my peripheral vision, but I wasn’t in the mood to engage with anyone, so I kept my gaze trained on my phone. Whoever it was could keep on walking.
“Do you need a ride?” an unfortunately now familiar voice asked.
Angling my head up, I made eye contact with Wesley.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I have a ride.”
Looking back down at my phone, I tried to make it obvious I wasn’t in the mood for small talk. I wasn’t going to get in a strangers vehicle anyway, especially this late at night.
Noticing he wasn’t going anywhere, I looked up at him again.
He made a show of looking around. “Don’t look like that’s the case, darlin’.”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “He’s on the way. Why? Were you planning on taking me home on some trusty steed?” I glanced at his boots, then back to his face.
He was crazy if he thought I’d actually get in a car with him. For all I knew, he was some predator on the run. What was stopping him from abducting me? Nothing, and I didn’t plan on making an appearance on one of those true crime shows all the mothers in this town watched.
He grinned, letting out a low chuckle under his breath. “Don’t have a horse.”
“Then why are you wearing boots?” I gestured to his feet.
“Am I not allowed to wear boots?”
“I don’t see the point in wearing them if you don’t have- you know what, never mind. I have a ride. You can go on with your night.”
My phone buzzed in my hand.Finally. I answered Jett’s call on the first ring.
“Hey baby, what’s up?” Was he serious? He should’ve known why I was calling. He’s the one who offered to pick me up after work.
“Can you come get me?” I realized I was bouncing my leg and forced it to stop, glancing over at Wesley. He was staring right at me, arms crossed over his chest. Well, he knew I was lying now.
“Where you at? Stella’s?”
“I told you I picked up a double today. I’m at the Tavern.” I looked away from Wesley and stood up, turning my back on him.
“On my way, baby.”
I hung up the phone and slid it back in my pocket.If he said anything-
“Sounds to me like you didn’t have a ride, Emerson.”
Asshole.
Spinning around, I pinned him with a glare. “How the hell do you know my name?”
He gestured to the name tag still pinned to my shirt. I pulled it off and shoved it in my pocket. This is exactly why waitresses shouldn’t have to wear the damn things.
“It’s not polite to stare at a woman’s chest, Wesley,” I said in the hopes of catching him off guard.
He chuckled, his gaze falling to the ground before he met my eyes again. “Got it off my card, huh?”
Frustrated with this entire conversation, I went to walk around him to head to the front of the restaurant so I could see when Jett pulled up.
