Page 2 of Love Triangle
We’re laying on the ground, me on top of Cliff, when the most beautiful legs I’ve ever seen step next to me. I turn my face up, delighting in every inch of bare skin I see as I do, until the edge of a pair of pink shorts appears. Above the shorts there is a pink apron and then a white blouse. And above that a downturned face with a very pink frown.
“Get the hell off of me, Trig.” Cliff shoves me and my mind returns to the situation at hand.
Rolling off of the other man, I make my way to my feet. Cliff is up quickly, brushing himself off and inspecting for dust or dirt or who knows what. The woman is still standing there in her sweet little outfit, holding a pad of paper and a pencil. Her mouth is turned down into a frown, yes, but her sapphire-blue eyes sparkle with mirth.
“You know there’s no need to fight for a table, right? I’ve got plenty of space.” She gestures with one hand tipped in ruby-red nails to the empty dining room. “I haven’t even officially announced the opening. You’re my first customers.”
“Sorry, ma’am. I just tripped on the rug. Kind of a klutz.” I nervously scratch the back of my neck as I turn to Cliff. “Sorry to you, too. Didn’t mean to knock you down.”
“No harm done,” he mumbles, looking in the direction of the dining room, which happens to not be in the same direction as my face.
“Oh shoot, it’s my fault if it was the rug,” interjects the woman as she smooths out the bump. “Why don’t each of you pick a table and I’ll bring you whatever you want for free as my apology. Is that alright?”
“That would be great!” I grin.
“Thank you, that’s very kind,” says Cliff before he heads to the table near the front window, farthest from the door. It’s the same general position he takes at the café across the street, the same position he’s taken every time he’s gone there since he was a kid.
We’ve both lived in this town our whole lives. Since the town is very, very small we can’t help but know each other and just about everything there is to knowabouteach other. If I know his favorite seating position it’s not a surprise, it’s just a fact of life. Another fun fact: he can’t stand me. Since I’ve already upset him once today, I won’t do it again by sitting too close. I take a table far away from him and wait for the waitress.
Chapter Three – Crystal
Well, shoot. I didn’t plan on my first two customers winding up in a tangled heap on the floor. What a gosh darn mess. Hopefully this isn’t a bad omen. I really, really don’t need any more bad luck. I put everything I have into this place so everything has to go just right.
I fill up their glasses with ice and water and set them on a tray. Next, I pat my apron pocket to make sure my pad and pencil are in there.All there.Putting two paper-wrapped straws and two menus on my tray, I take a deep breath.Here we go.
With a big ol’ smile on my face, I head out from behind the glass counter. My ponytail bounces behind me and my hips sway side to side in my short, pink shorts. I make my way to the grumpier of the two men first. It’s always better to get the grumpy ones taken care of sooner rather than later.
“Your water, sir,” I tell him as I set the cold drink and a straw down on the bright pink table. “My name’s Crystal. Here’s your menu.”
“I don’t need a menu.” He sits very straight, his whole body very much wooden in posture. “I would like a slice of traditional apple pie and a cup of black coffee. I’m assuming you have that, of course.”
“Oh, sure! What good would a pie shop be without apple pie and coffee?” I take the menu back and set it on my tray. “I’ll have that up shortly, hon.”
“Thank you, Crystal,” he says primly. Though it’s not by any means meant to be, the way he says my name sounds pretty darn sexy. I can’t place why, it’s just something about him that makes me want to scurry to do what he says.Yum.
I bounce on my new white sneakers over to the next man to take his order. He still looks quite rumpled from the fall, though I have to wonder if maybe he doesn’t always look a little messy. He kind of has that “tornado of a human” feeling about him. I set down his water, straw, and menu.
“Hi there! I’m Crystal. Here’s your water and your menu. Why don’t you take a minute to decide what you’d like, and I’ll be right back.”
“Actually, I’m in a bit of a hurry so why don’t you just bring me whatever you think is best that’s also fast. I teach high school, and the kids always end up throwing things at each other if I’m late. Every single time. Usually food. So messy.” He fusses with the edges of his shirt sleeves as he grimaces at the thought of the apparent food fights that take place in his absence.
“Alright then, as long as you don’t have any allergies, I’ll bring you something special.” I laugh. “Be right back.”
Well, that one was pretty darn cute, too. If the men in this town are all this good looking, I’m in serious trouble. Shoot, it only takes one to make trouble. I know that all too well.
Sighing at that thought, I set down my tray on the back counter and wash my hands before getting to work slicing up some pie. I get the apple for the grumpy one and decide on some strawberry rhubarb for the rumpled one. The rhubarb will be a bit fun because he could either love it or hate it, there’s rarely an in between reaction with people and I’d like to see his. I pour some coffee and set it all on my tray, then I adjust my apron, wash my hands again, and head back out.
“Apple pie and black coffee for you.” I set the dishes in front of the first man as he sits ramrod straight, hands flat on the edge of the table in front of him. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“That will be all.” He nods dismissively. I feel a blush come to my cheeks.
“Yes, sir. Let me know if ya need anything,” I say with a smile as I walk away with an unnecessary sway to my hips.Anything is right.
The man on the other side is fussing with something on his phone when I walk up, and he doesn’t notice me at first. I softly clear my throat to get his attention. He startles, dropping his phone and knocking his water over. The water spills over the edge of the table onto the black and white checkered floor.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry,” he says in a panic as he picks up the cup, getting the cuffs of his shirt wet in the process. “I was looking up something about the Poincaré Conjecture and then I somehow ended up on the Wikipedia page of Pierre-Simon Laplace and I…am going to continue babbling if I don’t stop now. If you hand me a mop, I can clean this up.”
“I’ll get it, don’t worry. This pie needs to be eaten and you’re the man to do it. Any ol’ person can do the mopping. Why don’t ya scoot to the next table over, one that doesn’t have a flood under it, alright sweetie?” I wink at him to make him feel a little more comfortable and I can see his tense shoulders visibly relax.
