Page 64 of Take A Number
Dean laughs and takes the seat next to my mother, which might be safer than sitting across from her because he at least doesn’t have to look directly into her eyes too much. I take the chair next to Dean at the end of the table, leaving the space beside me open for Nate.
My palms are sweating so much that I grab the black linen napkin at my seat to wipe them off.
“Norah, why are you so sweaty?” my mother hisses quietly while Dean and my dad continue to lean back in their chairs and talk alcohol behind her.
“It’s hot in here,” I retort, and fan my face. “Don’t you think it’s hot, Carol?”
“I’m actually a little cold,” she replies and I want to roll my eyes. Sand-bagging sonofa—
I notice Dean’s shoulders shaking with silent laughter as he places his hand on top of mine. “Try to relax, pumpkin.” He winks playfully at me.
“Don’t,” I warn with narrowed eyes. “I gave you sugar lips under direct protest. Pumpkin was not a part of our agreement.”
“Rules were made to be broken, Norah.” Dean smiles and sits back in his chair to continue chatting with my father. I hate how easy this is for him.
“Did you all start the party without me?” Nate’s voice echoes behind me and I turn around to see him approaching.
He’s dressed in a gray suit that hugs him perfectly. His pocket square is bright green and I’d swear he’s taking a page out of Dean’s fashion book.
Nate says his hellos to our parents and then comes to stand beside me. “Nice to see you again, old friend.”
He holds his hands out wide and…well, I guess we’re hugging. I stand and accept the embrace, noticing his smell isn’t nearly as enticing as Dean’s. When I pull away, I gesture to Dean and state awkwardly, “The boyfriend.”
Nate laughs like I’m an adorable little child who is just learning to speak for the first time. “Ah yes. Nice to see you again. Dane, was it?”
“Dean,” Dean corrects with a pained smile.
“I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight,” Nate replies while the two forcefully shake hands before sitting down across from each other.
“Where she goes, I go,” Dean says, taking my hand again to give it a squeeze.
“You’re the ole ball and chain in this relationship, huh?”
Dean presses his lips together and opens his mouth to reply, but a waitress appears just in the nick of time. “I see we have some newcomers here now. Can I get you guys some drinks?” She glances from her notepad, and her eyes go wide. “Dean?”
My head snaps from the waitress to Dean, whose eyes are equally wide. “Lala.”
“What are you doing here?” she asks, rubbing her outlined lips together as she shoves her pad and paper into the black apron around her waist. I take a second to quickly look her up and down. Whoever this girl is, she’s extremely young. I’d be surprised if she was over twenty. She’s gorgeous, though. Petite with a unique super-short buzzed haircut. How does she know Dean?
Dean shifts uncomfortably, dropping my hand to adjust his glasses. “I’m…out to eat, I guess. I didn’t know you worked here.”
“New job,” she says with a lift of her shoulders. “I had to quit my job at the salon after I burned my hair at Lynsey’s tiki bar. They didn’t really want a haircut like this at their front desk.”
“I see.” Dean glances nervously at me. “Well, it was nice to see you again.”
His dismissive tone doesn’t go over very well, and she turns her emerald laser eyes on me. “Who are you?”
“Um…I’m Norah,” I reply stiffly and feel my mouth going dry for some ridiculous reason. “I’m sorry, did you say you burned your hair at Lynsey’s tiki bar? Dean’s friend, Lynsey?”
“Drinks,” Dean says with a forced smile and stands from his seat. “I’ll go to the bar. I feel like going to the bar. What can I get you, pal?”
Nate furrows his brow at Dean and points at the waitress before Dean snaps his finger. “You look like a whiskey guy. Norah, I know what you like. We’ll be right back.”
Dean moves behind me and wraps his arm around Lala before ushering her away from the table. She looks confused and glances back at us over her shoulder as Dean hurries her away from us.
“Does that girl have cancer?” Carol asks Nate.
“I think she said she burned her hair.” Nate looks at me curiously. “Do you know, Norah?”
