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“You’re telling me. Next thing I know, you’ll be telling me that I
might want to order from the kids’ menu, seeing as how I’m
gaining weight.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to say anything,” she said with a pointed
glance at his midsection. He laughed again, and when he looked
at her she saw an appreciative gleam in his eye, reminding her
that he found her attractive.
“I think we’re ready to order now,” he said.
“What can I get you?”
Alex ordered for them and Katie jotted it down. She held his gaze
for a moment before leaving the table and dropping the order off
in the kitchen. As she continued to work the tables in her station—
as quickly as people left, they were replaced—she found excuses
to swing by Alex’s table. She refilled their waters and their teas,
she removed the basket when they were done with the hush
puppies, and she brought Josh a new fork after his had dropped
on the floor. She chatted easily with Alex and the kids, enjoying
every moment, and eventually brought them their dinners.
Later, when they were through, she cleared the table and dropped
off the check. By then, the sun was getting lower and Kristen had
begun to yawn, and if anything, the restaurant had gotten busier.
She had time for only a quick good-bye as the kids scrambled
down the stairs, but when Alex hesitated, she had the sense that
he was about to ask her out. She wasn’t sure how she was going to
handle it, but before he could get the words out, one of her
customers spilled a beer. The customer stood quickly from the
table, bumping it, and two more glasses toppled over. Alex
stepped back, the moment broken, knowing she had to go.
“See you soon,” he said, waving as he trailed after his kids.
The following day, Katie pushed open the door to the store only
half an hour after opening.