accepted. To Carly it
was their first date.
But she didn’t keep her end of the
deal. Because this was Carly. And it was about Ryan. The guy she’d been pining
over all year (even though she had a boyfriend for most of it).
She had called me right after their
“date” gushing, “Ryan follows you home from work— every night.”
Well, I only work Saturday nights.
So, there was no “every” night. There was at the most every “Saturday” night.
But I doubted that was true—that he even did it that often (since he’s a
busy guy, spreading his sunshine and everything). Still, hearing that—it
had sent a jet of warmth through me, especially when she said why he did it.
She gushed, “He does it just to
make sure you get home safely. Isn’t that sweet?”
It was sweet. But you have to know Ryan. He’s sweet … but so not at the same time. I mean, we have a
past. Obviously. Since now he’s claiming he needs “closure.” (Roll your eyes at
that, because what he needs is a punch in the stomach. The dude has known me
since we were four. My mom was his cleaning lady—well, his mom’s cleaning
lady. But I used to come with her to work since it was cheaper than daycare.
His mom would have me entertain Ryan while my mom worked. It left him thinking
I’m his possession. Even now, apparently. FOUR years after I told him to take a hike.
CHAPTER 4
So, to summarize: Last weekend when
Carly called me about Ryan she had gushed on and on about him—about how
romantic it was that he follows me home (on occasion). “I wish he followed me,”
she had moaned all dreamy-like.
Which is why when I saw Ryan come
into the restaurant tonight I gave him a second look—instead of hiding from
him like I usually do.
I mean, he comes to the restaurant
a lot . But I never, ever wait on him.
Ever. Though he requests my table, every time. But I always switch with another waitress. They’re always happy to switch
with me. Well, when it’s Ryan I’m avoiding. Ryan is a huge tipper—and
yummy eye-candy. Though he’s always with a girl when he comes in … which is why
I never wait on him. And you’d think he’d get the hint. Though yeah, I’m pretty
sure he does. He only does it—requests me—to ruffle my feathers.
That’s probably the only reason he chooses our restaurant in the first
place—to bug me. Though maybe not. I work at “The Cheesecake Castle.”
It’s popular.
So, he might just like the food.
The bugging me might just be a nice bonus.
Anyway, I’ve worked at the Castle
over a year now. It’s close to my house, so I can walk there.
When Ryan came into the restaurant
tonight, I remembered how Carly had gushed about him, and since I’d just
learned he follows me home (on occasion), I figured he might do me a favor.
Maybe. Anyway, I thought I might as well give it a shot. But he was with a girl
(of course), so I couldn’t ask him my favor—not in front of her—so
I followed him to the restroom.
When he did his weird
counter-proposal to my offer—you know, me having to spend time with
him—once I heard the obnoxious plan, I tilted my head at him. “Why do you
have to always be like this to me?”
He played dumb, though he knew what
I was talking about (I’ll give you a glaring example later). He jutted his
chin, “What do I do to you?”
“Force me to endure you.”
He breathed out a laugh. “Some
girls enjoy me.”
“Right. Carly would. And that girl
you’re with out there in the restaurant probably does, right? So why bother me?
That girl looks like a model.”
He grinned at that. “She looks like
you.”
Then he conceded. “She used to be a
model.”
“Right. Well, she makes me suspect
you don’t need closure.”
He grinned weakly. “And yet I do.”
His eyes stared into mine. “As much
as I’m enjoying this, you playing with body in the bathroom—I really do
need to use it. Both actually—the bathroom, and my body part that you got
all excited. But
was their first date.
But she didn’t keep her end of the
deal. Because this was Carly. And it was about Ryan. The guy she’d been pining
over all year (even though she had a boyfriend for most of it).
She had called me right after their
“date” gushing, “Ryan follows you home from work— every night.”
Well, I only work Saturday nights.
So, there was no “every” night. There was at the most every “Saturday” night.
But I doubted that was true—that he even did it that often (since he’s a
busy guy, spreading his sunshine and everything). Still, hearing that—it
had sent a jet of warmth through me, especially when she said why he did it.
She gushed, “He does it just to
make sure you get home safely. Isn’t that sweet?”
It was sweet. But you have to know Ryan. He’s sweet … but so not at the same time. I mean, we have a
past. Obviously. Since now he’s claiming he needs “closure.” (Roll your eyes at
that, because what he needs is a punch in the stomach. The dude has known me
since we were four. My mom was his cleaning lady—well, his mom’s cleaning
lady. But I used to come with her to work since it was cheaper than daycare.
His mom would have me entertain Ryan while my mom worked. It left him thinking
I’m his possession. Even now, apparently. FOUR years after I told him to take a hike.
CHAPTER 4
So, to summarize: Last weekend when
Carly called me about Ryan she had gushed on and on about him—about how
romantic it was that he follows me home (on occasion). “I wish he followed me,”
she had moaned all dreamy-like.
Which is why when I saw Ryan come
into the restaurant tonight I gave him a second look—instead of hiding from
him like I usually do.
I mean, he comes to the restaurant
a lot . But I never, ever wait on him.
Ever. Though he requests my table, every time. But I always switch with another waitress. They’re always happy to switch
with me. Well, when it’s Ryan I’m avoiding. Ryan is a huge tipper—and
yummy eye-candy. Though he’s always with a girl when he comes in … which is why
I never wait on him. And you’d think he’d get the hint. Though yeah, I’m pretty
sure he does. He only does it—requests me—to ruffle my feathers.
That’s probably the only reason he chooses our restaurant in the first
place—to bug me. Though maybe not. I work at “The Cheesecake Castle.”
It’s popular.
So, he might just like the food.
The bugging me might just be a nice bonus.
Anyway, I’ve worked at the Castle
over a year now. It’s close to my house, so I can walk there.
When Ryan came into the restaurant
tonight, I remembered how Carly had gushed about him, and since I’d just
learned he follows me home (on occasion), I figured he might do me a favor.
Maybe. Anyway, I thought I might as well give it a shot. But he was with a girl
(of course), so I couldn’t ask him my favor—not in front of her—so
I followed him to the restroom.
When he did his weird
counter-proposal to my offer—you know, me having to spend time with
him—once I heard the obnoxious plan, I tilted my head at him. “Why do you
have to always be like this to me?”
He played dumb, though he knew what
I was talking about (I’ll give you a glaring example later). He jutted his
chin, “What do I do to you?”
“Force me to endure you.”
He breathed out a laugh. “Some
girls enjoy me.”
“Right. Carly would. And that girl
you’re with out there in the restaurant probably does, right? So why bother me?
That girl looks like a model.”
He grinned at that. “She looks like
you.”
Then he conceded. “She used to be a
model.”
“Right. Well, she makes me suspect
you don’t need closure.”
He grinned weakly. “And yet I do.”
His eyes stared into mine. “As much
as I’m enjoying this, you playing with body in the bathroom—I really do
need to use it. Both actually—the bathroom, and my body part that you got
all excited. But
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