off.”
Rob went back to his desk and picked up a
book. “Okay.”
M.J. talked Freddie to the door, hoping
that somehow he’d understand her words and cooperate. She’d heard that dogs
could smell fear, so she did her best to mask the willies she was feeling.
M.J. sneezed.
As it turned out, M.J. realized her
anxieties about Freddie were overblown. Her confidence grew. Freddie didn’t nip
at her or bark at her. He didn’t even pay much attention to her as they walked
through Palisades Park. All that the dog remained intent upon was searching for
the perfect place to do his doggie business.
Finally, Freddie seemed to be zeroing in,
circling a particular plot of interest. Moments later, he broke out of that
orbit, took a few steps and found another spot to start yet another circle.
M.J. sneezed again, this time even
harder. “Why is this grass more perfect than that grass? Can you explain this
to me?” Her eyes started to itch the way they had when she’d once attempted to
rescue a puppy.
Suddenly, seeing another Meter Mobile
motor by, M.J. checked back to make sure that her parked one was still going
unnoticed, knowing her break time was over. She clicked her fingers at the dallying dog. “Time to deploy, Freddie.
Let’s go.”
♥
♥ ♥
Business was booming at the Doo-Wop Dinette. Kate
had to hustle to keep up, but that was fine with her because it made it less
obvious that she was doing her best to avoid any sort of meaningful contact
with Dustin.
Kate knew that, eventually, she’d have to
figure out how to be in the same room with Dustin again. After all they waited
tables together in addition to being part of the same acting class. That was
it, she thought. She’d make it an acting assignment to herself. She’d act like
she was over him. She’d feign being perfectly fine.
Kate picked up an order and scooted to
the side to avoid crashing into Dustin. Frustratingly, he mirrored her move.
Again, she awkwardly tried to get out of his way, but his countermove put him
right smack into her path again. Finally, he stood still, allowing her to get
by. Nothing about this was going to be easy.
Reesa accepted a floral delivery at the
register as Kate passed by to serve a cheeseburger and fries to a man. Kate set
a lunch salad—no croutons, with a light vinaigrette on the side—before his
female lunch companion. Croutons were one thing, but why it was that women
denied themselves anything beyond rabbit food was lost on Kate at that moment.
There was no ring on the woman’s finger. She was starving herself for him, Kate
supposed. She could only hope that this particular man would prove to be worth
it.
Kate caught herself. Despite how
challenging it was, she didn’t want to get bitter. She didn’t want to give up
hope on all men just because of what she was going through. Of course, it
didn’t help to overhear Dustin’s nearby table of coquettes, flirting with him
relentlessly as he took their order.
“Gotta be from Arizona,” one said. “All
the cute guys are from Arizona.”
Dustin preened. “No, but you’re warm. You
like your chicken grilled, right?”
“You remember everything, don’t you?”
Not to be outdone, another interjected.
“My turn. New Mexico.”
Dustin reared back playfully. “Ow!
Sizzling now, Baby.”
Kate inwardly imploded as the girls
reacted with delight.
Yet another girl toyed, “Yeah, you give
me your number, I’ll show you some sizzle.”
“Gotta guess it, or no number,” Dustin
replied.
Kate strode by the table, reflexively
intervening. “He’s from Colorado. And believe me, I’ve already got his number.”
As Kate skulked back behind the counter, she wondered if her face looked as
scarlet as it felt. Unmercifully, the flirts continued.
“Colorado! That’s what I was going to
say!”
“Shut up!” another teased.
Kate pretended not to mind.
Dustin egged the girls on. “No, no, gotta
guess it. You’ll just have to come back
Rob went back to his desk and picked up a
book. “Okay.”
M.J. talked Freddie to the door, hoping
that somehow he’d understand her words and cooperate. She’d heard that dogs
could smell fear, so she did her best to mask the willies she was feeling.
M.J. sneezed.
As it turned out, M.J. realized her
anxieties about Freddie were overblown. Her confidence grew. Freddie didn’t nip
at her or bark at her. He didn’t even pay much attention to her as they walked
through Palisades Park. All that the dog remained intent upon was searching for
the perfect place to do his doggie business.
Finally, Freddie seemed to be zeroing in,
circling a particular plot of interest. Moments later, he broke out of that
orbit, took a few steps and found another spot to start yet another circle.
M.J. sneezed again, this time even
harder. “Why is this grass more perfect than that grass? Can you explain this
to me?” Her eyes started to itch the way they had when she’d once attempted to
rescue a puppy.
Suddenly, seeing another Meter Mobile
motor by, M.J. checked back to make sure that her parked one was still going
unnoticed, knowing her break time was over. She clicked her fingers at the dallying dog. “Time to deploy, Freddie.
Let’s go.”
♥
♥ ♥
Business was booming at the Doo-Wop Dinette. Kate
had to hustle to keep up, but that was fine with her because it made it less
obvious that she was doing her best to avoid any sort of meaningful contact
with Dustin.
Kate knew that, eventually, she’d have to
figure out how to be in the same room with Dustin again. After all they waited
tables together in addition to being part of the same acting class. That was
it, she thought. She’d make it an acting assignment to herself. She’d act like
she was over him. She’d feign being perfectly fine.
Kate picked up an order and scooted to
the side to avoid crashing into Dustin. Frustratingly, he mirrored her move.
Again, she awkwardly tried to get out of his way, but his countermove put him
right smack into her path again. Finally, he stood still, allowing her to get
by. Nothing about this was going to be easy.
Reesa accepted a floral delivery at the
register as Kate passed by to serve a cheeseburger and fries to a man. Kate set
a lunch salad—no croutons, with a light vinaigrette on the side—before his
female lunch companion. Croutons were one thing, but why it was that women
denied themselves anything beyond rabbit food was lost on Kate at that moment.
There was no ring on the woman’s finger. She was starving herself for him, Kate
supposed. She could only hope that this particular man would prove to be worth
it.
Kate caught herself. Despite how
challenging it was, she didn’t want to get bitter. She didn’t want to give up
hope on all men just because of what she was going through. Of course, it
didn’t help to overhear Dustin’s nearby table of coquettes, flirting with him
relentlessly as he took their order.
“Gotta be from Arizona,” one said. “All
the cute guys are from Arizona.”
Dustin preened. “No, but you’re warm. You
like your chicken grilled, right?”
“You remember everything, don’t you?”
Not to be outdone, another interjected.
“My turn. New Mexico.”
Dustin reared back playfully. “Ow!
Sizzling now, Baby.”
Kate inwardly imploded as the girls
reacted with delight.
Yet another girl toyed, “Yeah, you give
me your number, I’ll show you some sizzle.”
“Gotta guess it, or no number,” Dustin
replied.
Kate strode by the table, reflexively
intervening. “He’s from Colorado. And believe me, I’ve already got his number.”
As Kate skulked back behind the counter, she wondered if her face looked as
scarlet as it felt. Unmercifully, the flirts continued.
“Colorado! That’s what I was going to
say!”
“Shut up!” another teased.
Kate pretended not to mind.
Dustin egged the girls on. “No, no, gotta
guess it. You’ll just have to come back
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