Page 87 of Total Ship Show

“Mmm, well many days I’m waitressing at this popular diner called The Skillet and some days it’s downright grueling…”

My head snaps up and my body jerks so hard I nearly fall out of my seat. “The Skillet! She waitresses at this place called The Skillet!”

Kim winks. “Well, there you go. Show up at The Skillet and surprise her. And if for some reason she’s not there, someone there has to know her.”

I’m already whipping out my phone and searching for flights to L.A. “Tonight. I can take the redeye right after my shift.”

“Perfect.” Kim nods. “Then you can sleep a few hours and be clean and ready to see her. Diners are popular in the morning so that’s a perfect time to go.”

“I’m gonna get my beaver, Koh!” I fist bump my best friend.

Kohen laughs. “You’re gonna get your beaver, indeed. Proud of you, my friend.”

* * *

There it is.

The Skillet Diner.

She could be in there.

Hopefully she’s in there.

I stand staring at the building trying to imagine what Adrienne looks like in her waitressing uniform. Her hair is probably tied up in a bun so it’s out of her way. I bet she looks sexy as hell.

Will she cry when she sees me?

Will she turn me away?

No. She wouldn’t.

Not when I say what I need to say.

With a huge bouquet of flowers in hand, I swing open the door to the diner and step inside the frenzy of breakfast time. The sound of food hitting hot skillets in the open kitchen is paired with the smell of coffee and bacon. Just about every booth in the joint is filled and waitresses are fluttering around the dining room filling empty mugs and serving food with harried smiles.

So, imagine my surprise when most of the dining room chaos stops when I walk in the door holding a large bouquet of roses and look around, clearly searching for someone in particular.

“Good morning, sir. Is it just you or are you meeting someone?” An older waitress asks me.

A quick glance around the room, but I don’t see anyone who looks like Adrienne. “Uh, I’m actually here for someone. I’m looking for Adrienne. Adrienne Hart?”

The woman smiles and gives me a once-over, my bouquet of flowers included. “She ain’t here, sweetheart.”

I fidget on my feet. “Oh. Uh, alright. Do you happen to know where I might find her? It’s kind of important.”

The woman opens her mouth to respond but a voice comes from the booth behind her.

“I know where she is, Aris.”

The waitress moves out of the way, revealing a man and a woman seated in the booth smirking at me.

“I’m sorry. How do you know my name?”

“I’m Dove,” she says, and gestures to the man across the table. “And this is Joaquin. Adrienne is our best friend, and also my roommate.”

My face falls. “And she’s not here with you? Fuck. I really messed things up.”

Dove’s eyes narrow. “Did you really fly all the way here from Seattle to surprise her?”

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