Page 72 of The Perfect Spiral
I wasn’t accustomed to this kind of attention.
The restaurant was cozy, small but inviting. Family photos lined the red brick walls, suggesting it was a family-owned establishment.
My attention was drawn back to the waitress, who was now lightly touching Knox’s arm as she read off the menu. I looked up to find him staring at me. A pulse of energy shot through my body, causing my heart to skip a beat.
The pulse echoed in my ears, so loud I was sure he could hear it too. I quickly downed the drink she’d brought over earlier, hoping to quench the sudden dryness in my throat.
I glanced back down at the menu, feeling like I’d read it a hundred times since we’d arrived. Couldn’t we just order already?
“You ready, baby doll?” Knox seemed to read my mind. I snapped my head up to meet his heated gaze and offered an awkward smile, nodding slightly.
“I’ll have the sizzler pizza,” he said.
“Sure you can, Mr. Carter,” the waitress replied flirtatiously.
“Can I have the pasta pesto?” I asked.
“Kay.” That was all I got? He received a flirty wink and a “Sureyou can, Mr. Carter,” and all I got was a “Kay”?
I’d had enough. I was tired of being ignored all day. This was why I didn’t like going out with Knox—I was always pushed to the side and forgotten. I didn’t need this.
I began to swirl the straw in my water, the ice clinking against the sides of the glass.
“Hi, I hope I’m not interrupting something. But I was wondering if I could get your autograph and maybe a quick picture?” A tall blonde girl in shorts and a shirt approached our table. Really?
Was there anyone else who wanted to flirt with him? I just wanted to go home. I shouldn’t have agreed to help him.
“Sure,” he said, standing up to sign her autograph.
When he handed back the pen, she passed her phone to me. “Do you mind?”
I forced a tight smile and took her phone, snapping a picture of the two of them.
“Thanks! It’s nice to meet you. You’re much taller in person...” I tuned out the rest of her conversation. I didn’t want to be here anymore. This was just too much.
He sat back down a few minutes later, a napkin with her number scrawled on it in his hand.
I continued to swirl my ice around the glass, hoping to distract myself. I pulled my legs up onto the chair in the booth we were occupying and crossed them over.
Leaning back against the chair, I began to play with the hem of my top. I felt so uncomfortable.
His pizza arrived ten minutes later and was placed in front of him. The waitress refilled his water and completely ignored me.
My heart felt like it was sinking into my stomach.
I know it might seem like I was overreacting, but being ignored because you’re with someone who is seen as a god while you feel like a piece of trash doesn’t feel good.
In fact, it feels like a constant kick to the gut.
He watched me as we waited for my food to arrive, but I told him to go ahead and eat. My pasta and shrimp couldn’t be far behind. How long could it possibly take to cook?
Five minutes passed, then ten, then fifteen. He’d nearly finished his pizza, and I was still waiting for my food. The waitress returned to check on us.
He nodded, and I finally spoke up, my hunger and frustration getting the better of me.
“Um, excuse me. I was wondering how much longer it’ll take for my food to come out?” I asked, my tone slightly bitter.
For the first time since I’d sat down, she looked at me, and the realization dawned on her face. She finally understood that I’d been sitting here for quite a while.
