Page 15 of Comeback
I didn’t know what to do. Bayfield was idyllic, but the town was quickly starting to feel like a pit of quicksand … would Ieverbe able to leave? I was extremely grateful for Nicole and Jeff’s hospitality, but if things kept trending in thisdirection, I’d never be able to stand on my own two feet and leave their house.
I’d just finished my work and taken off my waitress apron when one of the young hostesses popped into the wait station and tapped me on the shoulder. “Hey, Emma?”
“Yeah?”
“Some guy just came up and asked to sit in your section. I told him you were basically wrapped up for the day, but he wanted me to tell you he was here anyway. What do you want me to do?”
Dread filled my belly.
“What’s he look like?” I asked.
“Cute,” she said without missing a beat. “Is he your boyfriend?”
“No. No way.”
“So what should I tell him—get lost?”
That was tempting … but I still owed him, didn’t I? I couldn’t just rescind the offer because Nicole had told me he likes to sleep around. I knew I had to keep my distance, though.
“Go ahead and sit him,” I said, putting my apron back on and tying it with a sigh.
After taking a few minutes to clear my mind and ready myself, I swung by his table.
I had to admit, he looked nice. Hard hunks of muscle bulged beneath his dress shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, showing off his impossibly thick forearms. He’d left the ballcap at home and his wavy, lush hair was neatly styled.
“Hello, Jack,” I said, placing a menu in front of him.
He smiled when he saw me. The first few buttons of his shirt were left undone, giving a glimpse at the chiseled inner edges of his hairy pecs. “Hey, Emma. I was hoping you’d still be here.”
“You’re my last table of the day,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Oh. Shit.” His spine straightened. “Hey, if it’s too much trouble, we can do this another day.”
He saw right through my passive aggression. I felt bad.
“Sorry. That was rude.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “It hasn’t been a great day, honestly.”
“Same.” Jack pushed his menu aside. “Let’s not do this, then.”
“Really? But I owe you.”
He stood. “Nah. Don’t mention it.”
I reached into my apron pouch, pulled out a handful of singles, and counted them out. “Here. Take this, so we’re even.”
Jack shook his head, refusing to take the cash. “I don’t care about the money.”
“But I just want to pay you back,” I said.
And be done with this,I added in my head.
“Tell you what,” Jack said. “If you reallywant to make it up to me, you’ll let me take you somewhere else and buy you dinner.”
I laughed—I knew what was he angling for. He wanted to buy me dinner, then he’d feel like he was entitled to somethingmore,and I’d be caught in his trap. And if I didn’t give him what he wanted, he’d make a big scene ranting about how I was afucking bitch, like every other crazy man when they get rejected.
“I don’t know,” I said, demurring. “I don’t see how that would possibly make us even.”
He shifted his weight and switched tactics. “Honestly, I just wanted to see you.”
