Page 12 of 518 Hope Ave
“Just order the bacon and eggs with some avocado on the side, sir. Then you can’t go wrong.”
“I want waffles. Why don’t you have protein waffles?”
“Because we’re a regular diner. If you’re not going to order now, I do have other customers to serve,” I say, impatience seeping into my voice like poison.
“Just give me a minute! Jeez, Cherry Falls has some fucking terrible service.” He looks back to his menu, smirking. "Fucking unbelievable!"
I glance over to the bar and catch the eye of Caroline, who immediately comes over, eyes full of sympathy. "I got this. Go serve the others,” she murmurs into my ear as she pulls her notepad from her apron. “Hey, kids, how can I help you?”
I quickly back away before they could pester me any further and run over to the other customer. The rest of the night continues in a blur of me running around the diner, glancing at the clock and wishing for the night to be over. My gut sinks deeper and deeper as time passes.
Nine-thirty becomes ten-thirty becomes midnight.
Fuck, Quinn, I’m so sorry...
11
Quinn
"If you need anything, you'll let me know, yeah?" Sarah says softly before squeezing my shoulder and going back to her office.
"Yeah, I will," I murmur absently before going back to what I was doing. Or at leasttryingto do.
I stare at the stack of papers in front of me, take a deep breath, flip the stack, and take a look at the top-most document. Sponsorship forms, here, bills, over there, letter, letter,angryletter. I sigh softly and put the letter on the stack for the principal. Another day, another parent insisting that their child is an absolute angel and that it must be theotherkid that's actually horrible. Another letter with empty threats of pulling their kid out. Gosh, I really hope that I don't become like this when I have kids.
If I ever find a man to have kids with... my mind whispers, and my heart squeezes in total pain. I spent the entire weekend licking my wounds after Ezra stood me up. I turned off my cell and went somewhere I could be alone to just think. I had zero interest in company after all my hopes of falling in love with a tall, dark, and handsome book lover were dashed in a single evening. I’ve never felt so foolish in all my life.
As I stand to take the stack of sorted mail to the principal, a throat clears, and I look up to find Ezra holding a bouquet of wildflowers.
“Ah…” I freeze in my tracks, unsure of what to say or even what’s happening.
"Hey, Quinn," he starts, giving me a small smile that would have me melting on any other day, but today I’m still a little raw.
"Mr. Taylor," I reply coolly.
He flinches at the frost. "Yeah, I deserved that," he says before sighing. “Will you at least accept these along with my heartfelt apology?” He holds the handpicked bouquet out to me, and I eye it suspiciously.
“That depends. Are you going to tell me what happened?”
“Work. Amelia called in sick, and I had to cover her shift. The diner was packed, and there was this table of assholes from Syn City, and I basically had no time to even breathe, plus I didn't have your number," he rambles before he stops himself and takes a breath. "But that’s no excuse for not finding a way to let you know. I should have done better, and I'm sorry for any hurt I caused." He looks into my eyes and once again holds out the bouquet. A smile tips up his mouth when I reach out and take it.
“I’m sorry too,” I admit, looking at the flowers he’s picked for me—daisies, tulips, and a couple of roses mixed with buttercups. It must have taken him an age to gather these. “I should have tried harder to contact you too. I was just…feeling foolish, and then I kind of just shut down.”
He leans his forearms on the reception counter. "For what it’s worth, I went over to your house as soon as I had time to spare to explain myself, but you weren't there all weekend."
“I…” I want to tell him what I went through, how much he hurt me, and how foolish I felt because I thought I was being too pushy, too forward. I want to tell him I thought he only agreed to the date because Cora insisted. I want to tell him that I'd convinced myself he actually wasn't interested in me at all. "I went to Rosewood Ranch over the weekend to get some fresh air and clear my head." I stick with the bare facts instead, knowing that none of that was really his fault. It was just my brain seeking validation for the things I thought about myself, the fears I have when it comes to finding someone who’ll love me. It’s hard to trust when you’ve never been someone’s first choice.
“And how’d that thinking go for you?”
I finger the daisies with the tip of my finger. “I think I came back more confused.”
“I’m sorry.” I look back up at him and find a struggle in his eyes, the emotion he’s displaying tells me he means every word he’s said to me today. "And I know I’m in no position to ask this. But if you’re willing, could we perhaps try again?"
“Try again?” My heartbeat kicks up a notch, hope blooming once again.
"Starting from scratch—a proper first date," he says with a grin. "Maybe I could take you out this time?"
“I think I’d really like that, Ez,” I say, earning myself a brilliant smile and a firm date. This time, we even exchange numbers.
