“You made it to work after all,” Laike acknowledged.
“Fortunately. Just two?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Luca answered. I could feel his eyes on me.
“This way.”
I was so relieved to have given him my back to watch instead of staring daggers into the side of my face. Their table was only a short distance away, but it gave me time to compose myself,somewhat.
“Here we are, gentleman. What can I get you guys started with to drink?”
“Water,” they both said simultaneously.
“Two waters coming right up,” I told them as I sat their menus down, still avoiding eye contact with Luca.
I scurried across the floor and made my way behind the counter. Ria was making freshly squeezed orange juice when I pulled her to the side to give her the rundown.
“Hey. Can you take the table that just came in? I don’t think I feel so well.”
I didn’t, so it wasn’t a lie. Whenever Luca was involved, I felt foreign in my own skin. It was as if I was having an out-of-body experience. He ignited something within me that had never been discovered before – not by me or anyone else.
“OK. Sure. I’ve seen the thin one in here several times. He tips exceptionally well, so I’m down.”
“Thanks. I’m going to take a second and sit in the waiting room in the restroom. If anyone needs me, tell them that’s where I am.”
“Of course.”
Ria was an angel. She was about her money and didn’t care about much else. She had three children at home counting on her to make it happen so that’s exactly what she did on a daily basis. She was the only employee besides Baisleigh that worked six days a week.
Though I felt slightly guilty for handing Luca and Laike off to someone else, I didn’t have the capacity to wait on them. To be honest, I didn’t even want to see them. Not here. I loved my job, but it might not have looked so appealing to others.
As I pushed the door of the restroom open, my mind returned to my night at the bar. Luca had draped his arms around the prettiest girl with the prettiest skin that drove an even prettier car. That wasn’t me. My fresh start was a bit ugly. I’d chosen the first job that was hiring and where I could make the quickest, easiest money, never considering Luca into my plans. Now that he was here, I was wondering if I looked a bit different in his eyes.
I’ll just stay here until they leave,I thought to myself, sitting in the large waiting room that was inside of the restroom. There were two velvety couches, two accent chairs, four floor mirrors that lined the longest wall, and small vanities in between each of them. Baisleigh had captured the powder room essence really well.
Making myself comfortable, I rested my head on the back of the couch. I was ready to wait out the duo for as long as it took. My sweaty palms rested against the couch’s cushion, keeping them dry and keeping perspiration off my uniform. I closed my eyes and considered what I’d make us all for dinner. Lyric wasn’t much of a cook prior to us joining her, but now we took turns cooking dinner. There was food on our table five to six out of seven days of the week. The other days we went with leftovers.
Five minutes into my stay, I heard the door open and a set of footsteps followed. I prayed Baisleigh hadn’t come to see where I was and why I’d disappeared. Explaining my situation was not the easiest. And, frankly, I didn’t want to. Not to my boss or anyone else.
“I thought we had this conversation, Ever.” His voice startled me. I looked up to find Luca standing before me with his hands clasped in front of him.
“Luca, what are you doing in here?” I looked around to see if I was the only one seeing this – seeing him. He wasn’t supposed to be here.
“I thought I told you about that shit,” coolly, he stated.
“You’re not supposed to be in here,” I rushed out, my eyes roaming the area as if someone was watching us.
“I’m supposed to be wherever the fuck I’m at. What’s your issue?”
“I don’t have one.” I frowned, unsure of what he was referring to.
“Then why haven’t I seen you since I sat down, and why the fuck did our waitress change?”
“Luca, she’s great at her job. Even better than me.”
“Nobody is better than you, Ever. And, fuck her. I want you.”
His words gripped at my chest, squeezing my heart upon impact. I wanted to know how one could be so brutal and so enchanting at once. Luca was utterly and uncompromisingly both.
