much as a friendly smile.
I climb the small set of wood steps to the restaurant and ask the waitress for a menu, declining the offer for a table. I was right; the place is filling up rather quickly. I order the eight ounce tenderloin with a lobster tail and mixed green salad to go. The waitress quickly enters my order while I take a seat on the bench to rest my leg, and watch Norm chase something in the water.
The sun is casting beautiful orange hues across the calm water and for a moment, I feel at peace. Water does that to me. Since I was a kid, being near the water was always something that would make me feel calm.
My peaceful moment doesn’t last as long as I’d hoped when I notice my dog taking off at a run toward the opposite side of the restaurant.
“Norma, stay!” I yell in the deepest I mean business voice I can manage.
She never takes off, especially when we’re in public. She slows down and wags her tail, still staring straight ahead. I go to remove my ass from the bench to bring her back when I see Ryder round the corner. He bends down to pet her while searching left and right, almost nervously. That is if a thirty seven-year-old man who’s probably killed people for a living has the ability to look nervous. That’s the only way I can explain the expression on his face, unless it’s confusion, not nervousness.
Maybe he’s thinking, ‘what the hell is my hermit neighbor doing out of her house, in public no less.’
His eyes eventually land on mine and I give him a small tip up of my lips and chin, until I see a woman round the corner behind him. The same look is still plastered on his face until Ginger loops an arm through his and begins her trek toward the restaurant.
I recognize her from the bonfire Ryder had almost a month ago and she’s dressed much the same as last time. If her heels were clear, someone could easily assume to stick a one dollar bill in the side of her underwear- which are currently doubling as shorts at the moment.
They get closer and his eyes don't leave mine. I hear her mutter something about the smell of a wet dog, but I’m not paying attention to her. I’m too busy staring at him in his button down shirt and jeans that are probably complimenting that beautiful behind of his.
The woman whips her ginger mop over her shoulder and prances toward the restaurant entrance, slightly wobbling on her fuck-me heels that weren’t meant for the uneven boardwalk. She grabs a hold of his arm for support.
“This is why I suggested using the front entrance Ryder, I’m going to ruin my shoes or break my damn ankle!” she whines, but he’s not paying any attention to her.
His eyes are still glued on mine and I refuse to be the first one to look away. Not that I believe I have any sort of claim on him, I absolutely do not. I won’t deny it stings a little to see him out with another woman, but I’m not naive enough to think that a man such as himself goes to bed alone every night. I certainly haven’t invited him into mine, so he’s bound to find what he needs elsewhere.
He comes to a halt at the bottom of the steps. I tip my chin toward him while Norm sits her ass beside his feet, waiting for more attention.
“Why is that dog following us everywhere? It probably has rabies.”
She complains while grabbing onto the railing, trotting up the steps without him. Her focus settles on me and then back behind her to see why her date hasn’t caught up with her quick enough, only to find his eyes glued to mine.
Ryder assesses me with a long look before speaking. He almost looks guilty even though we both know he has no reason to. His date has a body to kill for. So long as she doesn't speak when they get in bed tonight I’m sure he’ll go to sleep with a smile on his face.
Our friendship has been purely platonic regardless of the sexual tension that always invades our space. I refuse to feel ill or act rude
I climb the small set of wood steps to the restaurant and ask the waitress for a menu, declining the offer for a table. I was right; the place is filling up rather quickly. I order the eight ounce tenderloin with a lobster tail and mixed green salad to go. The waitress quickly enters my order while I take a seat on the bench to rest my leg, and watch Norm chase something in the water.
The sun is casting beautiful orange hues across the calm water and for a moment, I feel at peace. Water does that to me. Since I was a kid, being near the water was always something that would make me feel calm.
My peaceful moment doesn’t last as long as I’d hoped when I notice my dog taking off at a run toward the opposite side of the restaurant.
“Norma, stay!” I yell in the deepest I mean business voice I can manage.
She never takes off, especially when we’re in public. She slows down and wags her tail, still staring straight ahead. I go to remove my ass from the bench to bring her back when I see Ryder round the corner. He bends down to pet her while searching left and right, almost nervously. That is if a thirty seven-year-old man who’s probably killed people for a living has the ability to look nervous. That’s the only way I can explain the expression on his face, unless it’s confusion, not nervousness.
Maybe he’s thinking, ‘what the hell is my hermit neighbor doing out of her house, in public no less.’
His eyes eventually land on mine and I give him a small tip up of my lips and chin, until I see a woman round the corner behind him. The same look is still plastered on his face until Ginger loops an arm through his and begins her trek toward the restaurant.
I recognize her from the bonfire Ryder had almost a month ago and she’s dressed much the same as last time. If her heels were clear, someone could easily assume to stick a one dollar bill in the side of her underwear- which are currently doubling as shorts at the moment.
They get closer and his eyes don't leave mine. I hear her mutter something about the smell of a wet dog, but I’m not paying attention to her. I’m too busy staring at him in his button down shirt and jeans that are probably complimenting that beautiful behind of his.
The woman whips her ginger mop over her shoulder and prances toward the restaurant entrance, slightly wobbling on her fuck-me heels that weren’t meant for the uneven boardwalk. She grabs a hold of his arm for support.
“This is why I suggested using the front entrance Ryder, I’m going to ruin my shoes or break my damn ankle!” she whines, but he’s not paying any attention to her.
His eyes are still glued on mine and I refuse to be the first one to look away. Not that I believe I have any sort of claim on him, I absolutely do not. I won’t deny it stings a little to see him out with another woman, but I’m not naive enough to think that a man such as himself goes to bed alone every night. I certainly haven’t invited him into mine, so he’s bound to find what he needs elsewhere.
He comes to a halt at the bottom of the steps. I tip my chin toward him while Norm sits her ass beside his feet, waiting for more attention.
“Why is that dog following us everywhere? It probably has rabies.”
She complains while grabbing onto the railing, trotting up the steps without him. Her focus settles on me and then back behind her to see why her date hasn’t caught up with her quick enough, only to find his eyes glued to mine.
Ryder assesses me with a long look before speaking. He almost looks guilty even though we both know he has no reason to. His date has a body to kill for. So long as she doesn't speak when they get in bed tonight I’m sure he’ll go to sleep with a smile on his face.
Our friendship has been purely platonic regardless of the sexual tension that always invades our space. I refuse to feel ill or act rude