Page 30 of Break My Heart
‘You didn’t like me.’
He looks away. ‘Yeah, I guess you’re right.’
We sit in silence for a moment. It’s peaceful being out here by the lake, feeling the warm sun, seeing it reflect off the water. It reminds me of being at camp. They’d wake us up at dawn every morning for breakfast, then we’d go out by the lake for whatever activities the camp counselors had planned.
That was the only summer I went to camp. I didn’t want to go. My dad made me. It was the summer after my mom died. My dad said camp would be good for me, that I needed to be out in the fresh air instead of moping around the house. But the real reason was that he had to go back overseas and didn’t know what else to do with me. My grandpa was having health problems that year and couldn’t handle an energetic seven-year-old.
‘Let’s go to Maury’s for breakfast.’ I stand up. ‘I’ll meet you there.’
I walk off and hear Sawyer behind me. ‘You better not ditch me.’
‘I won’t. A deal’s a deal.’ I get in my truck and head to the restaurant.
‘Booth or a table?’ the hostess asks, looking at Sawyer and me like she’s trying to figure out why we’re together. She was at G’s last week with her boyfriend so she knows who I am, and everyone in town knows Sawyer. I hope she doesn’t think we’re on a date. That’s just what I need, to have the town making up stories about Sawyer and me. I want to be known as a business owner, not Sawyer’s girlfriend, but in a town this size and the way people gossip, I could totally see that rumor starting.
‘Table,’ I say to the girl. ‘This is a business meeting.’
‘Right this way.’ She takes us to a square table near the back of the restaurant. ‘Enjoy your breakfast.’
‘Thank you.’ I sit down.
Sawyer sits across from me and smiles. ‘Business meeting?’
‘I didn’t want her thinking it was something else.’
‘Like what?’
‘A date. She was looking at us like we’re a couple.’
‘I didn’t think so. I don’t usually take my date to breakfast.’
‘Unless you spent the night with her.’
He laughs. ‘Oh, so now we spent the night together? Do you always make this many assumptions about what people are thinking?’
‘No, but she was definitely giving us a look, like she wondered what our story was.’
Sawyer glances at the hostess as she seats an older couple at a booth. ‘That’s Lisa. She went to school with Brody. The look she gave us is how she looks at everyone. It didn’t mean anything.’
I pick up the menu, feeling embarrassed and wishing I hadn’t said anything. ‘So what’s good here? Any recommendations?’
‘You haven’t been here?’
‘I came on a Saturday a few weeks ago but it was really busy so I left.’
‘Yeah, everyone comes here on Saturday morning but usually not this early. People start showing up around nine. I’d suggest the farmer’s breakfast. It has a little of everything.’
I find it on the menu. ‘Eggs, bacon, hash browns, and pancakes? I can’t eat that much.’
‘Just eat what you can.’
‘I’ll just order the pancakes.’ I close my menu and set it down.
‘Hey, Sawyer,’ the waitress says as she stops at our table, her order pad already out. ‘The usual?’
‘Yeah, and add a couple more eggs.’ He smiles at me. ‘I just did a workout. Need to refuel.’
‘And for you?’ the waitress says to me.
