Page 3 of The Unlucky Waitress

I turn to him, already glaring. But then I take a minute, before any argument can come out of my mouth. Because it’s not just any man standing beside me. He’s all chiseled jaw and brooding brow, and even in his immaculate designer suit I can tell that he’s ripped.

I shake my head to get rid of that particular thought. “It’s her wedding day,” I retort. “I think it’s safe to assume she’s happy about it.”

He can barely contain his derisive laugh. “The wedding industry as a whole is nothing more than a series of gimmicks put together by jewelers, designers, caterers, you name it–all looking to make a quick buck.”

I purse my lips tightly and take a breath. A know-it-all who thinks being born into money makes him an instant expert on everything. I wish I didn’t know his type, but unfortunately I do.

“That’s a pretty bleak way of looking at what’s easily one of the most romantically significant days of-”

“Romantic?” he scoffs. “You’re telling me it’s romantic to pay thousands of dollars on a dress you’ll only wear once. On food that you’ll only eat a fraction of. On-”

“I’m saying that it’s worth it,” I interrupt him.

“If love were actually a thing, then yeah. Maybe I’d agree with you.” He folds up a newspaper and tucks it under his arm before slipping the news guy a crisp hundred dollar note. “Keep the change.”

The guy excitedly expresses his gratitude but the arrogant asshole doesn’t even acknowledge him.

“Most people end up taking out loans just to cover it all, to impress people who end up gossiping about them anyway,” he says, looking at me with a smug grin.

“Well that’s a miserable worldview.” I’m so irritated that I return the magazine to its holder.

In the short time he’s been standing here, he’s managed to ruin the moment completely. Looking at the cover of the bridal magazine, she suddenly doesn’t look all that happy anymore.

“Miserable,” he considers my words for a moment, the corner of his mouth tilting up in a half smile.

He’s handsome, alright. There’s no denying that. With thick, dark lashes and smoldering dark eyes that keep me transfixed. I can’t look away even if I wanted to.

“I’d hardly call it miserable,” he says then. “In fact, I’m quite happy with the world.”

This time his face breaks into an actual smile and I find myself thinking how perfect he’d look on a cover of his own. I’m sure he feels the same way, and that thought is what finally brings me to my senses.

“She’s definitely a lot happier than you are,” I mutter.

He looks at the bride then back at me knowingly. “It’s the sunflowers isn’t it?” he asks, reaching for my earrings, but stopping just short of touching me.

My cheeks blaze under the rush of heat his proximity causes, and I stand speechless with my mouth dry and the smell of his cologne filling my nostrils. This man I have just met and would probably never see again irritates me, but I can’t deny his dominating presence.

He straightens and fixes his silk tie. “That wedding will end in divorce, 50% of all marriages do. All I’m saying is, it’s an expensive ride - marriage, the wedding, the subsequent split.”

He flashes me a charming wink and then saunters off, not bothering to look back.

“What a jerk,” I whisper under my breath.

“Nah, he’s okay,” the news guy smiles. “Take the magazine if you want. It's already paid for.”

But I’ve already forgotten about the blushing bride. This time it’s the mysterious stranger I can’t tear my eyes from.

2

Ethan

“Seriously though, Ed, everything around love has been commercialized. Meaning has been manufactured and sold. Why not love itself?” I ask, throwing my arms up.

I’ve been trying to convince my friend and business partner, Edward, to join me on my next big venture and as always, he was resistant at first. But even he has to admit in the end that I know what I’m doing. If anyone is going to make him money virtually out of thin air, it’s going to be me.

“You’ve sold me so many outrageous ideas in the past, Ethan, but this one goes too far,” Edward shakes his head laughing as he raises his arm to get a waiter's attention.

“Love is a feeling. You can’t make people feel something they don’t,” he sighs.

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