Page 36 of Lily
Chapter 9
"Is that your new man?" Darla leaned in close to Lily. They were standing at the order window, and Lily jumped in surprise at Darla's sneak appearance.
"What?" she asked, a hand going to her chest. Her heart felt like it was going a mile a minute. "Where did you even come from?"
"I just clocked in," Darla replied, raising an eyebrow at Lily. "Why do you look like you saw a ghost?"
"Because you scared the living daylights out of me just popping up like that!" Lily swatted her coworker. "Next time, give me a warning, yeah?"
Darla rolled her eyes. "Warnings slow things down. Now answer the question, princess. Is that your new man?" The older woman jerked her chin behind her to where Sam was sitting. He had brought her to work and stayed to catch up on his own work while she finished her shift.
"You don't have to stay here. You'll be bored," she'd told him.
"I could never be bored with you to look at, sweet girl." Sam had caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles and had settled into the corner booth in her section. That had been three hours ago, and Lily still couldn't believe that Sam wanted to be here while she worked.
"Hello, Earth to Lily. Answer the question. That your new man?"
"Yes. Yes, that's my new man."
Darla's face brightened. "He's a looker, kiddo. You did good."
Lily's order was placed in front of her, and she picked up the plates. "Oh, yeah?"
"Oh, yeah, real good. I'm proud."
Lily blushed and ducked her head. It made her happy to hear that Sam had Darla's stamp of approval even if it was just for his looks. "Thank you. That means a lot." She hip bumped Darla on her way past to take her orders to their tables.
She was just setting the plates down when she heard her name called out. "Lily! Hey!"
She turned to see Ashley entering the diner with an excited wave. "Where's your section?" she asked.
"This wall here." Lily gestured to the few empty tables on her side of the diner. It was just after lunch so thankfully the diner wasn't slammed, which meant she could actually talk to Ashley. From the woman's face, she had things to say. She snatched a menu and hurried over to the table Ashley chose.
"What's up?" Lily asked, handing her the menu.
"I have so much to tell you!"
"Is it good news?" Lily asked hopefully.
"The best!" Ashley cried, clapping her hands excitedly. "Sit down."
"I can't sit; I'm working," Lily reminded her.
Ashley pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Oh yeah."
"But if I pretend to take your order, then we can talk," Lily pointed out, and Ashley brightened up once more.
"Great plan, because I saw Sam over there, and I was going to say that it's not fair if you get to talk to him and not me."
Lily ginned. "I made him pretend to take a really long time to order too, so it's even."
"Okay, that makes it all right, I guess." Ashley made a show of picking up her menu and considering it. She peeked over her menu at Lily. "I have big news for you."
"Big news?" Lily took out her pad for orders and gave her friend a curious look. "What kind of news?"
Ashley shook her menu. "The biggest."
She couldn't help but smile at the excitement on Ashley's face. "Okay, spill. What's the big news?"
