Page 3 of Damien
“Sounds good.” I go through the motions of pulling out my wallet and handing her my card before she can return.
As she runs the card, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
My good mood disperses in an instant when I read the words, and my blood turns to ice.
Mal: There’s been an accident at the site. Called 911. Waiting on their arrival now.
Fuck, I need to be there.
Without another thought, I’m on my feet and rushing out the door.
2
Vanessa
As I turnfrom running Damien’s card, I see his face morph from jovial to downright dread. His fork clanks against his plate as he jumps to his feet. Before my mind can register to return his card, he’s already out the door.
I rush to the door to follow him, but he’s already dashed across the parking lot and jumping in his truck. When I step out onto the stoop, he’s backing out and long gone before I can flag him down.
This isn’t the first time a customer has left their card, but clearly something’s wrong. Immediately, I’m paralyzed with fear as I’m brought back to the day I lost my parents. No one deserves a tragedy like that.
“Everything okay?” Tara asks as she meets me at the door. “Did he skip out on the bill?”
Shaking my head, I sigh. “No. There must be some emergency because he left his card in my hands. I couldn’t even flag him down in the parking lot.”
“I’m sure there’s some explanation. Though the good news is he’ll be back.”
“Yeah,” I slowly say as I stare in the direction he fled.
“Do you know where to find him?” Tara asks, raising her eyebrows, as if I should know what’s going on in that crazy head of hers.
“Uh… I know where he works,” I admit but still don’t get why she’s staring at me as if I should be following her train of thought. Tara’s notorious for doing this. Half the time, I don’t have a freaking clue what she’s thinking.
This only earns me an eye roll. “Well… you could leave the card here and wait for his return or…” she trails off, and her eyes widen, expecting me to finish her thought for her.
“Or?” I prompt, clearly not following.
“Or…” she exaggerates for my benefit as if I’m slow on the uptake this morning. When I don’t respond, she shakes her head exasperatedly. “Or… you could deliver it to him.”
“Uh… why would I do that?” My words come out almost defensive.
“Oh, I don’t know…” she practically singsongs. “Maybe because he’s been coming here and flirting with you for the past month or so.”
I scoff, “He does not.”
“Uh… have you ever noticed he only sits in your section? He doesn’t talk to me the way he does you, and his eyes certainly don’t follow anyone else around the way he does with you.”
Rolling my eyes, I can’t help but laugh. “Tara, I’ve always known you’ve had a wild imagination, but I think you’ve lost it this time. Damien doesn’t do any of those things.”
“Oh, but he does.” She smirks. “Just ask Jeff. He gets a front row show from the kitchen.”
Walking back to the coffee maker, I shake my head. “You’re delusional.” But before she can prove her point and make this a public spectacle, I change the subject. “What’s going on with you and that guy you met in here a few weeks ago? I’ve seen you on campus together. Did something come of it?”
“Oh, Keaton?” She waggles her brows as a huge grin splits her face. “Things are going good. I’m so glad I took him up on his offer of a date. We hit it off that first night and have been seeing each other since. Maybe you should try it some time, Van.”
“Date Keaton?” I say obtusely. “I’m pretty sure he’s taken by the look on that face of yours.”
Tara sighs heavily. “It wouldn’t hurt you to date, you know.”
