Page 67 of Without You

“Because I don’t just give my phone number out to strangers or go on dates with them!”

“Aren’t people usually strangers until they have a first date?” he counters.

Okay, he has a point there. But still… he saw me walking in Benton and maybe that makes me paranoid, but it’s a little nerve-wracking. My parents drilled into me from childhood to be alert and not trust just anyone, no matter how good looking they are. And now that I’ve gotten a better look at Elijah, he is quite handsome. Brody’s still better, though.

“Let’s start over.” Rather than extend his hand for me to shake, he gives me a little wave. “Hi. My name is Elijah. I’d love to walk into that café here with you and have a cup of coffee or maybe a whole meal of food, if you have time for that and are willing to give it to me. It looks fairly busy and we’ll be surrounded by people. It’ll be safe.”

Shifting my focus from being nervous about him seeing me in Benton to chalking it up to coincidence, I look at him closely, trying to get a better read on this stranger who helped fix my tire out of the goodness of his heart, even going as far as to lend me a spare tire. That’s… what a nice person does. Right? Surely he’s not a complete whacko who would chop me up into bits and pieces, right? There’s also something oddly familiar about him that I can’t put my finger on — like I’ve seen him before. Maybe whenever he saw me yesterday, I happened to see him also and just don’t remember it.

“Just a coffee. Or a Coke. Maybe tea? Whatever your preference is.”

I sigh and look at my phone checking the time. It’s not like I had a timeline for the day, but I really wanted to get back home so I could work at Daddy’s insurance office for a bit. I had purposely taken no clients today because I wasn’t sure how long I would be gone. I’m hungry, and honestly a little curious about this stranger so figure I might as well give in. “Fine.” I lift a finger and point it at him. “But I’m paying for yours because I need to thank you and I know that’s not nearly enough payback for what you did for me, but it’s a start.”

“I’ll take what I can get.” His grin is victorious and it annoys me.

I grab my purse out of the front seat and we lock up our cars before going inside the café. There’s a sign that tells its customers we can sit where we’d like so we do. Right in the center of the café where everyone can see us. Because I’m still not completely convinced he’s not going to kidnap me, peel off my face, and wear it as a mask. Man, I need to get a handle on my imagination.

Awkwardness settles in as we sit at the table. A waitress comes over and hands us each a menu and tells us she’ll be right back to take our order.

“You said you were in Benton on business?” I ask, trying to make conversation as I look through the food items. Ooh, they have a big breakfast menu. Maybe this was a good idea after all. I’m pretty hungry, like usual.

“Yeah.” He nods then twists his lips like that’s not the right answer. “Well, kind of. I was sent there to check something out for the company.”

“Ahh. Very mysterious.”

He wiggles his eyebrows up and down and leans on the table. “Tell me about yourself. Have you lived in Benton your whole life?”

“No, not exactly. I lived there when I was in high school, moved away, and eventually made my way back.”

“Couldn’t stay away, huh?”

“Guess not,” I say. I don’t get into the reason why I’m back in Benton, even though I’m happy I am. If I hadn’t moved back, Brody and I wouldn’t be together now.

“What can I get you two?” a server asks, standing next to our table.

Elijah points at me to go first. “Are you still serving breakfast?”

“All day.”

“Awesome. I’ll take a Denver omelet. Coffee to drink, please.”

“Hash browns, pancakes, or toast on the side?”

“Hash browns, please.”

She nods and writes down the order. “And for you?”

“I’ll do the ultimate skillet and a side of pancakes. Coffee also.”

“Comin’ right up. And I’ll be right back with your coffee. Do y’all want cream or sugar?”

“Both for me, please. Thanks,” I tell her and Elijah shakes his head.

She leaves and Elijah turns his attention back to me.

“I don’t blame you, you know? Benton seems like a great town. I’ve always lived in a bigger city and I feel like I missed out.”

“I’m not sure you missed out. I think there’s good and bad in both. When I moved away from Benton, I lived in Knoxville. It was great to live somewhere that had a little more action and things to do. More restaurants and actual food delivery for more than just pizza.”

---