Page 10 of The Book Signing

The waitress nods, making a note of the order as she says, “Of course, not a problem,” before turning away. As I think about what I want to eat, my peripheral vision sends me an alarm bellbecause I see another waitress walking over to my table. Not alone.

“You have got to be shitting me.” I rub my temples, shoulders tense as I watch them get closer to my table.

Mr. Annoying stops and quirks his eyes at me, then looks at the waitress and says, “Uh, sorry, but I think there has been a mistake. I booked a table for one. This table is taken.”

The waitress frowns and looks down at her tablet. “Sorry, there must have been a booking error. Did you book online?”

He rubs his neck and nods, giving me a sign he’s getting frustrated. The waitress then turns to me and asks, “Did you book online too?”

Shaking my head, I put the menu down. “No, I called reception.”

The waitress nods and then makes an apologetic face and looks back at Mr. Annoying.

“I’m sorry, it must have been an error either online or by whomever made the booking over the phone. I can see that the booking system shows both of you booked for this table.”

He sighs and says, “Okay, is there any other table I can sit at?”

She shakes her head and says, “Sorry, we’re fully booked. This was the last table available.”

I can’t help but smirk and return to reading the menu.

Man, I’d hate to be in his situation. I hope he isn’t hangry.

I can hear her apologize, and him just ‘mming’, making it awkward for me because they are discussing this right at my table.

“As much as I would love to sit here with this fine woman here, clearly there was an error which happens. But could you at least tell me if there is another place to eat here?”

Nope, this is the only one. I already checked.

“This is the central restaurant here. If you want to eat elsewhere, you will need to travel outside the resort. I can ask Reception if you would like to book a taxi?” The waitress offers, look slightly flustered.

I glance at him and see he is struggling to remain friendly and calm. It’s obvious he knows it’s not her fault, and that she is trying her best to be accommodating and apologetic.

The elephant in the room grows as I notice him glance at me and then back at her.

Oh, fuck it.

“Look, don’t worry. You can sit here.” I gesture to the chair opposite me.

The waitress looks relieved, but it’s his raised eyebrows with the look of disbelief that makes mewant to laugh. “Unless you’d rather go somewhere else?”

He shakes his head and looks over at the waitress, pulling out a chair. “I’ll eat here. Thanks for your help.”

The waitress nods, hands him a menu and disappears, likely glad that he didn’t blow up at her for the error.

“You’re welcome,” I say, then pick up my menu and continue to read. My eyes land on my favorite–chicken parmigiana.

Oh, and sweet potato chips. Yummy!

“Oh, the chicken parma looks great,” Mr. Annoying says, perking up from the earlier dilemma.

“Seriously?” I say to him through gritted teeth.

He puts down the menu and when he looks up at me; I watch as he furrows his brows. “Why the long face? Did I say something wrong?”

I take a deep breath and exhale. “No, you didn’t. Sorry.”

Mr. Annoying nods and peruses the drinks menu before he puts it down and looks up at me and says, “Thanks letting me sit with you,” then looks at my menu and adds, “Although with the speed you returned to reading the menu, I have afeeling silence is what you prefer. Is it just me or are you always so engaged with menus?”

---