Page 35 of Falling Backwards
“I—no, I remember.”I swallow at the weakness in my throat.“You—you just caught me off-guard.I was in my head and didn’t expect you to….”
As I scramble to get a handle on my mounting discomfort, the lightbulb of logic goes off in my head.
I work in a restaurant.
People come to restaurants when they’re hungry.
He’s not here to bother me.He’s here to eat something.
Okay, duh, Maggie.
I sigh into an apologetic smile, feeling dumb.“I’m sorry.How rude of me not to greet you properly.Are you part of the four o’clock reservation I’m waiting on?”I reach for my iPad.
His hand lands firmly on my wrist.My sharp breath gets lost in him saying, “Oh, you’re not rude at all.You’re awesome.But no, I’m here for a job application, not to eat.”
I really wish he wouldn’t keep touching me.
He’s still talking, but all I can focus on is my quickening pulse and flushing skin—
—and, thankfully, how his hand is gone again after all because he’s gesturing at the restaurant.
A job application,I belatedly repeat to myself, relieved in more than one way.Okay, that works too.
I withdraw into crossed arms and nod along as he mentions how nice Lucent is.I silently remind myself that he’s simply outgoing and touchy-feely.More so than I personally like, but a lot of people act the way he does.I can calm down.He’s not trying to be weird or cross any lines.
And his explanation makes as much sense as him wanting to dine here.He works in food service already, so another restaurant would be a reasonable place to move on to.I was briefly worried he had somehow shown up to seeme, but what a silly fear that was.How would he even have known I work here?I’m certain I’ve never seen him eat here before and I haven’t noticed him loitering outside; judging by his personality, I think he would’ve approached me before now if he’d been around.
“So yeah,” I tune in to him saying, “don’t go telling my boss I’m looking for a new place to work, okay?”He laughs, clearly not realizing I haven’t been paying much attention.
I feel a twinge of guilt.
Me being uninterested in him doesn’t mean there’s anything truly off about him.He’s just some harmless guy.
So I tell him, “No, I won’t talk to your boss, but I do have to let you know we don’t give out paper applications.There’s a page on our website that lists available job positions and gives information on how to show interest.”
He hesitates, almost looking sheepish, before letting out another little laugh.
“Okay.I’ll check the site, then.”He scratches a few fingers into his sandy hair and sends an appreciative glance over me.“Still not a wasted trip, though, since you’re here.”
I groan inwardly.
“By the way,” he goes on, “I gotta tell you how beautiful your smile is.It’ssobeautiful.I don’t know what you were thinking about when I got here, but you looked really happy about it.I’m glad I got to see that.”
Now I barely keep from choking on my own saliva.
Not only are thoughts of Luke trying to resurface, but Kyle’s shower of compliments has my awkwardness rushing back in full force.
He says, “Anyway, today is Halloween.You got any plans?”
I silently thank God for the burst of chatter that comes floating through the front entrance along with a handful of people.I quickly deduce that if Kyle isn’t here to dine, it means they’re my one and only four o’clock reservation.As they head my way, I seize my chance to politely dismiss him.
“Um, thank you,” I tell him, picking up my iPad.“For the compliments, I mean.Enjoy your day, all right?”
He looks disappointed, but he summons a smile as he steps out of the customers’ way.
As I get ready to greet them, my ears catch what sounds like, “I’ll see you soon, Maggie.”
I have to hope not.
