Page 191 of Devil's Bargain

THIRTY-THREE

Four years later.

“Will that be all?” I smile at the young woman in front of me, who nods and looks back at the heavy sheets of rain outside.

I place the pad in my lap and wheel myself over to the counter.

George, the very merry and overweight chef, smiles at me. “You’re beautiful as ever today, April!”

He says this to me every day.

I rip out the sheet and hand him the order. “Can you get me one of the chocolate cupcakes, please?”

“Anything for you!”

The same waitress who offered me a cupcake when I first came to this diner four years ago pops her gum and smiles at me. “Ready for another four hours of George trying to make us all smile with his cheesy comments?”

“As if he has to try!” I grin as he hands me the cupcake on a plate. “I never stop smiling when I’m here.”

Placing the cupcake in my lap, I wheel back over to where the young girl sits. I know a troubled mind when I see one. “Here.”

She tears her gaze away from the window and looks at me with curious eyes. “I didn’t order a cupcake.”

“I know, but eat it. It’ll make you feel better. Trust me. The chocolate cupcake here has saved me countless times.”

The girl eyes my wheelchair but chooses not to comment. She removes the wrapping and sinks her teeth into the chocolatey goodness. “Oh my god!” she moans around a mouthful.

I beam. “Good, right?”

She’s got crumbs of chocolate on her lips. “Best cupcake I’ve ever had!”

My face breaks out in a smile. “Never fails to soothe the soul!”

The girl watches me for a moment before taking another bite.

“Boy trouble?”

She nods, covering her mouth with a hand as she says, “Isn’t it always?”

I hum in agreement and glance at the TV above the counter. The football game is on. Not just any game.

Rick’s game.

We didn’t speak again after I was discharged from the hospital. The pain was too much for him to handle. He lost his dad that night, his family fell apart, and he couldn’t get over the shame of what his father did to me. “Don’t I know it.”

She follows my line of sight. “Are you a football fan?”

A strand of blonde hair escapes my ponytail as I drag my eyes away and shake my head. “No.” I look through the window at the heavy rain and dark sky. A thunderstorm is inbound. “I’ll let you enjoy your cupcake in peace.”

Nancy smiles as I wheel my way back to help her fill the condiments. “Are you up for a movie at my place tonight?”

“I would love to, but I can’t. I need to be up early tomorrow, remember?”

“That’s right! Another date with the physical therapist.” She winks.

I roll my eyes. “It’s not a date.”

“But you think he’s cute.”

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