"Love you, too. I'll try to stay awake until you get home."
"Don't forget grandma is picking you up from school today. Keep a lookout for her."
"I know." He pushes open the door, closing it with a thud, before dashing down the sidewalk.
I pull out of the school, heading back home to get ready for breakfast with Carlos. Does this count as our first date in the ruse? Or is it just a get to know you situation?
My phone rings. At the same time, a clap of thunder fills the sky, and I jump. Please let me get home before this storm comes at me full speed.
I press the answer button on my phone and Kate's voice comes through the speakers. She doesn't even give me a chance to say hello.
"With this freak storm happening, we're moving the set up to a different time. We'll head over there around three."
"Okay." Damn, this means I won't get home until way later. At this point, I'll ask Mom if David can have a sleepover at her house. There's no use her staying there half the night when I'll be dropping him off with her again in the morning.
"Are you driving?"
"Yeah, I just dropped David off and I’m going home to change before I meet Carlos."
"Wait, back up. You're meeting Carlos?" I didn't mention all the details when I went to work yesterday. Mostly because I didn't know I was going to agree to it until I was on the phone with him.
"Yes, we're having breakfast."
"Okay. Call me on video when you get home. We have to pick the perfect outfit." This is why I didn't want to mention anything.
"I need to go." The rain is coming down harder, and it's hard to focus on derailing the conversation and driving.
"Be careful and don't forget to call me." She hangs up and I continue my drive. With the storm coming in strong, maybe I should cancel. I don't want to get back out in this.
10
Carlos
I run into the restaurant.My clothes are dripping wet. It wasn't raining in my area when I left the house, but from the water covering the streets, it looks like it's been coming down hard here for a while.
Hopefully Caroline still shows up. Not that I would blame her if she didn't. It's horrible out there. I grab my phone out of my pocket and glance at the screen. No missed calls or messages. That's a good sign.
There's a sign up to seat ourselves. The restaurant isn't full. Most people have gone off to work or back home. Only a few tables have someone occupying them, and I find one in the back where it's relatively deserted.
Before I'm seated, a waitress bustles over. "What can I get you to drink?"
Talk about fast service. Some of our waitstaff could learn a thing or two. Though it would be nice if I could get situated before she came over. "Coffee for now. I'm waiting for someone."
"Okay," she beams, "I'll get that right out."
She bounces off to the counter and makes my coffee. My eyes are on the windows and door, waiting to see if I can spot Caroline get out of her car. A car pulls into one of the parking spots. I've never seen her car, so I can't be sure if it's her.
The door opens, and an umbrella pops out over the top of it.
Damn. I still can't see who it is. They close the door behind them and start walking toward the restaurant. It's not a slow walk either if I had to describe it, it's closer to a jog. And I don't blame whoever it is because the rain is coming down harder than it was when I got here.
Their steps slow as they get to the door and open it. A cool breeze comes in as they close their umbrella outside the door, and shake off some of the water droplets.
Then she turns and my heart stops. She actually came. For a second I was really worried I was going to be stood up. Not only because of the weather, but because she may have come to her senses and realized this is a harebrained idea, and it'll never work.
She looks up and around the restaurant, no doubt looking for me. A few of the patrons glance in her direction, but go back to their meals. I waved my hand in the air to get her attention, and she makes her way to me.
The closer she gets, the more nervous I become. When she's a few steps from the table, I stand up and walk around to the other side, pulling out the chair.