Page 4 of Damien
“I’ve got plenty going on in my life with Jules. I don’t need anything more.”
“You’re a single mom, Van. Not dead. Besides, it might do you some good to live on the wild side and do something for yourself for a change.”
She has a point, but I ignore it.
“Let’s get back to work before Jeff lets us have it,” I encourage as I slip Damien’s card into my back pocket for safekeeping. The jury’s still out on whether or not I’ll deliver the card myself. In the meantime, I’ll hang on to it until the end of my shift in case he returns. Then I’ll decide.
By the end of my shift, I’ve run through Tara’s words at least a million times. Each time the bell rang signaling a new customer, my eyes darted to the door in hopes of catching sight of Damien. But no such luck.
Should I deliver his card to him? Or wait until he returns?
Hmmm… decisions… decisions.
As I pull out his card to place it in the register, my mind replays the events of this morning, and I make the snap decision to try to deliver it in person. There was something wrong, and I know I’ll worry if I don’t find out for myself what’s going on. Besides, if I can’t find him, I’ll come back to the diner and put it in the safe.
Since his job site isn’t too far out of my way, I head there after changing into a fresh shirt. I can easily head to class on time afterward. Typically, I use this time to study on campus, but a good deed won’t put me too far behind. Besides, I’ll feel better knowing everything’s okay.
Pulling up to the site, I find Damien’s truck parked haphazardly along the road as if he didn’t have the time to properly park. The front end is closer to the curb, and it stands out as it’s not quite parallel to the road, even though it’s the only one parked there at the moment. Other construction vehicles are parked appropriately in the lot, but nothing else seems out of sorts.
Shoot. Should I have come?
I know I’d want my debit card, but maybe he doesn’t need his as bad. Parking behind his truck, I take a moment to look for Damien before hopping out of my SUV. Across the parking lot is a construction trailer. I’m sure if I went in, I’d find where he is. But am I even allowed to be here?
In for a penny, in for a pound. I didn’t come all this way for nothing.
Taking a fortifying breath, I calm my nerves and open the door to my SUV. Straightening my stance as I walk across the lot, I act as if I’ve been here a million times. When I get to the door of the trailer, I freeze, causing my newfound confidence to dwindle for a moment.
Do I knock or do I just walk in? I swear the last person who went in this building just walked in. It looks more like a school portable than a trailer as I get closer. My high school had one in much older condition where I was forced to take my foreign language.
Before I’m forced to decide, my decision is made for me. The door opens, and Damien walks out, startling me. I wasn’t prepared to come face-to-face with him so quickly.
Shock covers his face as he clearly wasn’t expecting me. Slowly, a grin forms, and his dark-brown eyes crinkle as he takes me in. “To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you again this morning?”
“Uh…” I fumble for the words but eventually, they come to me. “You left in such a hurry. Is everything okay?”
With that, Damien grimaces. “Sorry about that. We had an accident onsite. I may have overreacted as it wasn’t critical, but we had an ambulance on its way, and I felt I needed to be here.”
“Oh, my. I hope everyone’s all right.”
He winces at some memory. “I had a member of my crew trip down some stairs and clearly break his leg.” Damien sucks in a deep breath and shakes his head. “Bones clearly aren’t meant to go that way. It’s company policy to take an ambulance, but I’m sure he’ll recover.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I whisper as I get lost in his eyes, so I don’t miss when his expression turns to concern.
“Did you come all this way just to check on me?”
“Uh… you also left your debit card, and I thought you could use it,” I admit in a shrug, then I reach into my back pocket to retrieve it.
“I guess I was distracted. I’m sure I would’ve figured it out eventually when I went to eat my next meal,” he replies sheepishly. “I’m sure I would’ve remembered… eventually.”
“I’m glad I could save you one less worry,” I admit, remembering the forlorn look on his face with his abrupt departure. “You didn’t need to worry about cancelling your card or anything for it being lost. We all know how much it sucks replacing them.”
“True.” His deep voice carries as he nods in agreement. “I appreciate this.”
Rocking awkwardly from my heels to my toes, I’m not sure what to say or do next. I should just walk away and head to campus, but I’m not ready to leave yet either. I manage a quiet, “You’re welcome,” in response, but I’m still unsure what to do.
“Have you had lunch yet?” Damien grins.
“I ate at the diner while on my last break. I have class in an hour, but I thought I’d drop this by first.”
