Page 38 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

Under the table, my leg bounces. All I want to do is slide out of my side of the booth and join her on hers, wrap my arm around her, and never let her go. Before I rise from my seat, Mary Lou returns to our table with a row of plates lining her arm and another in her hand. Someone can only perform that juggling act with years of experience. She places the omelet in front of Eve, whose eyes widen as if she didn’t realize her omelet would be the size of a newborn baby. Mary Lou places a plate of the extra crispy bacon next to it. Then she sets a stack of pancakes with bananas in front of me. After Mary Lou leaves to help the next table, both of us continue to stare in disbelief.

I break the silence. “That’s like a two-pound omelet. Are you going to be able to eat all that?”

Her eyes slowly drift to mine. “You underestimate my love of diner food. I will leave here with an omelet baby in my belly.” She rubs her stomach and wiggles her eyebrows. “But I’m having serious food envy over your pancakes.”

I love that regardless of the situation, she’s always herself. I’ve been with women who conform to be someone they think I want, but not Eve. You get what you see. With her fork, she slices into the corner of her omelet and stabs it with the tines. She shoves the giant bite into her mouth and chews. Her eyes roll back as she sinks into the booth.

“Where has this been all my life?” She presses the napkin against her lips.

I drizzle the maple syrup over the top of my pancakes before cutting off a chunk and putting it in my mouth.

Eve goes in for another bite. “If I didn’t start a photography studio, I would have wanted to run a diner. But I’m a terrible cook. I once caught a pot of water on fire.”

“That takes talent.” I nod between bites. “How would you run a diner then?”

She laughs. “Oh, I wouldn’t be in the kitchen. I’d be like Mary Lou.” She nods at Mary Lou as she chats with customers. “I’d be in the dining room, charming the customers and telling others what to do.”

“Well, you’d certainly be good at that. But did you know ninety percent of restaurants fail within the first year?” I cut a chunk of my pancakes off, stab a slice of banana, and shove it into my mouth.

“Apparently, so do photography studios, so it sounds right up my alley.” She shrugs before taking a sip of her coffee. She grabs a piece of bacon and stops halfway to her mouth. “I’ll trade you this strip of bacon for a bite of your pancakes with a slice of banana.”

I laugh. “No deal. These pancakes are like gold. I share with no one.”

“Okay. Two strips of bacon.” She plucks another piece off her plate, waving the salt-cured pork in the air. “And half a sausage link.”

Shit. The bacon does smell good. “You drive a hard bargain, but deal.”

She smiles triumphantly as we exchange food. I take a bite of bacon while she chews a mouthful of fluffy pancakes and my last slice of banana.

When she swallows, she rests her chin on her hand. “Tell me, Lach, how is a guy like you single?”

I take a drink of my orange juice, needing a few seconds to figure out how I answer. Do I give her the real, honest answer or the fabricated one?

“Is it because you haven’t found the one or something like that?”

“I haven’t had a desire to find the one. Relationships always end in heartbreak. Why go through all the trouble?”

She rests her elbows on the table. “Sure, some do, but not all of them. Look at your coworkers. Rylee found Trey, and Dessa reunited with Garrett.”

“They’re the outliers. Also, each of them went through a lot of shit before they found each other. I want to avoid the shit. I’ve had enough heartbreak in my life.” My body stiffens. The last sentence just tumbled out. It’s not something I readily talk about. Eve doesn’t need to know how fucked up my life has been. Hoping to keep her from asking any other questions, I add, “I’m very content with where I’m at right now.”

Her lips press together as she contemplates my answer. “But is content really happiness?”

I shrug. “For me it is.”

Her gaze drops to her plate of food as she nods.

Clearly, it’s not the answer she’s looking for, but it’s the only one I have. The closest thing I’ve found to happiness is when I started working at Porter’s. Jake welcomed me into his small, tight-knit family that later included Rylee and Dessa, eventually Nora, Garrett, and Trey. I owe everything to Jake, and I’m sure fantasizing about his little sister isn’t what he had in mind.

TWENTY-ONE

CAPTURE THE PERFECT MOMENT

Eve

I thought this could be different. Maybe something would develop between me and Lach. Obviously, he isn’t looking for a serious relationship. Another Dead End sign flashes in front of me. But he seemed so excited, practically bouncing on his feet, when I said I was moving. Perhaps I’m overanalyzing this. I just left a relationship where I was the other woman. Granted, I know I’m not the other woman in this relationship or fling, but I felt a connection. I should just have fun while it lasts so I don’t set myself up for heartbreak.

We continue eating our breakfast in silence. After a few bites, I set down my fork. A wave of nausea crashes into me. I lean back and rest my hand on my stomach.

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