heard her getting ready, she sung to herself the whole time. I doubted she even knew she was singing. She just sounded happy, almost carefree.
I got a snack to go with my beer, to give me some energy to run on. Then she was in the living room again, wearing her tight black skirt and white shirt.
She looked great, really good. “You look beautiful. You’ll knock ‘em dead.”
It was the first time I’d commented on her looks and instantly a pleased expression crossed her face, implying she was glad I thought her pretty. I wondered for a moment if I’d made an error, if I’d been misleading her by being nice, and she was taking this all the wrong way. But then she smiled that easy happy smile of earlier and winked at me. “Thanks. Looking beautiful is what I do best. I do try.”
She turned away briskly after she said it, grabbed the coat I’d bought her off the peg, and walked out, lifting a hand before she went out the door, shouting, “Bye, see you later.”
God, was that the same Rachel Shears I’d found on a bridge, freezing, shaking, and silent, only two days earlier.
Lindy said I’d changed. But I hadn’t changed as quickly as that.
I finished my beer and snack then went to put my sweats on. I was going to go for a long run. I could get my thoughts in order when I ran. No matter what was going on in my life, everything seemed to slip into perspective when I was running.
~
When I walked into the restaurant, I saw Rachel leaning over the counter talking to some guy. She was smiling broadly, and laughing a lot. The guy was laughing too. Then he handed over a note, and wished her goodnight, before walking away.
Well, she’d told me earlier being beautiful was what she did best, but she hadn’t ever tried that sort of charm on me, not yet anyway.
She caught sight of me and her smile went from a fake, exaggerated expression to what looked like a real pleased-to-see-you smile.
I nodded and she hurried around the counter.
“Where’d you like to sit, sir? Here by the window?”
Ah, so we were playing strangers. She probably didn’t like to admit she had a friend dining here on her first night.
“Did you have a good run?” she whispered as she drew out a chair for me. “You smell nice.”
I looked up at her as I sat. “I had a shower, and yeah, thanks, I had a good run.” My answer sounded husky but I was enjoying the conspiratorial feeling.
“I’ll fetch you a menu,” she said more loudly.
“Thanks, and I’ll have a beer.”
“Okay, coming right up, sir.”
She made me laugh. She was overacting this great waitress stuff, but she’d obviously done waitressing before. That was the third thing I knew about her.
In a few moments she was back with my beer and a menu. “I’ll be back in a moment to take your order. I’ve just got to serve those people first.” She spoke in a more normal voice this time, and gave me a be-patient smile.
I’m sure anyone watching would notice that smile implied she knew me.
The thing was though, she didn’t really know me, and I didn’t know her at all.
I sipped my beer from the bottle and watched her serve. My blood was still humming from my run. I felt energized and good. Running always made me feel good, and I’d run for miles tonight.
She was back over to me in a few minutes.
“Have you decided what you’d like?”
“Yeah, a bacon and cheese burger, with fries and salad.”
“A feast. Still, you can get away with it, there’s no fat on you.”
“Like you…”
“I know, I’m skinny by nature, I can’t put any weight on no matter what I eat. I gave up any hope of curvaceous years ago.”
I laughed wondering how we’d gotten back on to each other’s appearances. I was attracted to her, but she was one of those women you’d have to be blind not to be attracted by.
“It’s on me by the way. I’ve already earned enough tips.”
“You don’t have to––”
“No, I do, you’ve done enough for me the last couple of days.”
“Well, thanks then.”
“Welcome. I’ll go put your order in.”
She disappeared into the kitchen and then came out again a couple of minutes later. I had nothing else to do while I waited, so I found my eyes following her about the room as she took orders and then delivered meals.
She looked completely calm, happy even, I’d never have guessed the state I’d found her in two nights before, if I didn’t know it had happened. It had happened though. She couldn’t be as confident and happy on the inside as she appeared on the outside tonight.
She brought my burger over.
“It looks good, thanks.”
“I hope you enjoy it.”
She disappeared again, while I ate, but popped back after a little while, to ask if it was okay––in that trying-to-please waitress way.
It was good though, really succulent and filling, and with my adrenaline still in hyper-drive from my run, I felt my body absorbing and burning off the calories in a gluttonous rush.
Once I’d eaten I called her over to order another beer. She came across with a big grin on her face. She looked like she was really enjoying herself.
“Did you like it?”
“Yeah, it was great. Can I have another beer?”
“Sure I’ll get you one.”
It was with me in a moment, and she hovered for a little bit as no one else was waiting.
“It’s a good place isn’t it,” she commented.
“Yeah.”
“Have you eaten here before?”
“No, I don’t normally go out in the evening, other than to run.”
“Oh, do you know what you are, Jason Macinlay?”
“No.”
“Old before your time … You need to get some excitement in your life and have a little fun. You know far too much about caring for people, and nothing about enjoying life.”
She was probably right. I smiled.
“I’m
