Page 20 of Same Difference
The woman stood there frozen, but her eyes softened. “Want to come back tomorrow and discuss it? I think my daughter will want to be a part of the hiring process. We can do an interview.”
Delta just stood there dumbly. “Oh, uh, yeah. What time? I’m available. I can come any time. I will figure it out.” She swallowed hard and curtsied. Curtsied? Good grief!
The guy thanked the cashier,Sheryl, her nametag read.
“Does ten o’clock work for you?” Sheryl asked.
“Yep, absolutely, yes, ten would be perfect. I will be here. No matter what, I’ll be here,” she rushed out excitedly.
Nory was already outside talking on the phone again, and the guy walked past her and held open the door for her.
“Bye bye for now,” she called.
“Be cool,” he murmured as he grinned at her, waiting for Delta to leave as he held the door.
“Yep, being cool.” She turned to say another goodbye but thought better of it and walked out.
“An early congratulations if you land the job,” the man said. “Brian,” he said, offering his hand for a shake.
“Thank you. I mean, thank you isn’t my name. Delta. I’m Delta,” she said, trying to shake his hand as gently as she could so she didn’t crush it in her excited grasp.
“Nice to meet you, werewolf girl,” the guy said, and turned to leave. He hesitated. “Listen, are you seeing anyone?”
“Yes,” she said automatically.
“Pity. He’s a lucky guy I bet. It was fun chatting.” Brian gave her a wink and then checked the road and jogged across the street to get into a shiny black sports car.
“Did you just get asked out?” Nory asked low.
“I don’t know what just happened,” Delta admitted. “I am not ready yet though. I don’t want anything with any man.” There was a lie in her voice. She did have wants. She wanted Nate to be interested in her like Brian had been. A wave of hurt washed through her middle.
Brian pulled out of the parking spot on the street and rolled his window down, waved to her.
She gave a little two fingered wave back, and then she felt something on instinct. Someone was watching her.
Without Brian’s car parked there now, she had a clear view of the restaurant across the street. Copper’s Brewery. There was outdoor seating, and a familiar set of gold eyes was boring into her soul.
Nate.
Nate and her existed like that, frozen, for ten seconds before he offered her a sad smile and a little wave. Before she could wave back though, he nodded to himself and dragged his attention back to the guy across the little table from him. Bridger.
Nate was having lunch with Bridger.
That was wild. They didn’t even like each other.
Nate looked over at her again, looking like he wanted to say something.
“Let’s go,” Nory said from beside her.
Nate was wearing a white T-shirt today and a forest green beanie over his dark hair. He wore his work boots and dark jeans, and he hadn’t shaved still. He had the best facial hair she’d ever seen, and a jawline that got him a lot of attention when they’d been out together. He’d always been clean-shaven since she’d met him, but she actually liked the beard he was growing.
He was the most handsome man she’d ever seen, but she knew that was just her stupid heart latching onto things that didn’t belong to her.
She ripped her attention away and to the ground. “Yeah,” she murmured.
“I didn’t know he was going to be here,” Nory said softly as they walked toward the salon located a few blocks down.
“It’s okay. It just surprised me is all.”
