“Hi, my name is Abby, and I’ll be your server,” she rattles off her introduction with nothing but boredom. “What can I get you?” she asks while chewing a piece of gum. A pencil and small notepad in her hand.
“Two breakfast platters, sweet tea, and coffee for both of us,” Ryder orders.
“You got it, big boy,” she says with a wink and grabs the menus from the table. “I like a man who orders for his woman.”
I expect Ryder to correct her, but he just nods without even looking up at her. He is scanning the restaurant instead, probably looking for threats. Maybe he just didn’t hear her.
I watch Abby walk off in her too tight, too short dress. Apparently, she is not one of the people intimidated by Ryder. Actually, I get the opposite vibe. I think she is attracted to him.
My hunch is confirmed when she comes back with our drinks. She sets the coffees and teas down, then wipes an imaginary dirty spot off the table. It happens to be across the table on Ryder’s side, so she has to reach over and lean into him, giving him a full view of her very voluptuous cleavage.
My mind immediately goes to the women at the club, half-naked, and throwing themselves at the men. I always wonder where they find those kinds of women. I guess at diners like this one.
She leaves, and I catch a smirk plastered all over Ryder’s face.
“Are you jealous, little owl?”
“No,” I half-lie. Okay, maybe I am jealous. She is confident, fearless, and obviously Ryder’s type. “I might be a little,” I admit.
“Jealously looks kind of good on you. I’ll try to make you jealous more often in the future.” He leans back in his seat and keeps looking around the restaurant.
I don’t read too much into his statement, but I can’t help trying to analyze it. Does he mean he wants to keep me aroundin the future?
Abby, our server, brings our food out not much later. Again, she shamelessly flirts with Ryder, batting her eyelashes and leaning over every chance she gets. Even knowing that he does it on purpose now, anger rises inside of me. I don’t want him to flirt with her, or anyone, joking or not.
“Stop pouting,” Ryder says halfway through the meal. “You’re looking at me like I’m about to go fuck her in the bathroom.”
“For all I know you would.” I shrug.
“I wouldn’t. I haven’t had sex with anyone since the day you walked into the bar.”
I stare at him, studying his face while he keeps eating. He is not lying, at least I don’t think. I was sure he must have had sex after I left. I’ve been actually suppressing that thought.
“Why not?”
“I didn’t want to.” Ryder shoves another piece of bacon in his mouth, then reaches across the table and grabs another one from my plate. “Plus, I was too busy stalking you.”
Next time Abby comes back to clear our plates, Ryder completely ignores her. He doesn’t even answer when she asks if we are ready for the check.
“Yes, we’re ready,” I tell her.
“Will that be together or separate?”
“Together,” Ryder growls, making Abby jump a bit.
She scurries off, and Ryder gets up. Pulling two twenty-dollar bills from his pocket, he throws them on the table and starts walking out. I get out of the booth and follow him like the lost puppy I am.
“Now that you’ve eaten, do you know where to go next?”
“Today is Sunday,” he says, like I should know what that means. “Day of rest,” he explains.
We pull out of the parking lot and head back on the highway. I don’t know where we are going, but we are heading away from town.
Still exhausted from last night, I get comfortable and doze off a little.
A while later, I am jolted awake when the truck comes to a stop. Disoriented, I look around. We’re at another hotel, but this one is the exact opposite of the one we stayed in last night. It’s nice, really nice.
“What are we doing here?”