I Come Undone

Damian

Crushing defeat doesn't encapsulate how I feel when I walk out of Harvest, having eaten the world’s worst chicken burger and been served by a stoic, unfeeling robot waitress in her late forties or early fifties. Angel was nowhere to be found, and now I feel like I ate a lead brick. Safe to say, my mood for the rest of the day may be touchy.

I drove to the restaurant today, not wanting to get myself sweaty in the scorching heat, but more so because I was trying to get here quickly. It never occurred to me that Angel would have a day off or work a different shift. I can’t eat this food again in my attempts to run into her by trial and error, though. Her warnings are necessary to survive a meal at Harvest.

My bloated stomach and I walk back toward my SUV, parked a few hundred metres away, when I see a small woman with an adorable American bully puppy crouched in an alleyway. The woman is talking to the dog, which makes me chuckle. My laughter must be louder than I intended because the woman looks up and I’m drawn in by intense dark eyes.

“Angel?”

“Oh, hi… I’m sorry, I never got your name.”

Before I can reply, the dog pops up and jumps up at my legs.

“Genie. Get down,” Angel scolds, making me halt my plan to pet the sweet little thing.

“Genie?” The dog looks at me with a tilted head, still resting her front paws on my thigh. Her expression makes me laugh because she has an obvious smile and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

“I’m so sorry. She knows better, I swear.”

“No, don’t be. I’m flattered she likes me.” I look up at Angel and take in her casual appearance. She’s obviously not coming into work with her dog in tow. I shake my head to stop myself from raking over her body with my eyes. “Damian. My name is Damian Taylor. I’m sorry it took me so long to say that. Terrible manners.”

She chuckles, and it’s the first time I’ve heard her laugh. Hopefully not the last because that sound is like a sweet melody I want to hear on repeat.

“In all fairness, it’s not common practice for customers to introduce themselves to their server by name.”

“True. Still, I normally have better manners.” My stomach gurgles, and I pray she didn’t hear that.

“You and Genie both. She’s getting your suit dirty. I’m so sorry.”

I shake off her comment, unbothered by a little dirt. “What are you doing crouched in an alley?”

Her facial features twist, making her nose wrinkle. “We’re in an alley because I’m an idiot. That’s the short answer.”

“What’s the long answer?”

“Genie and I were supposed to spend my day off with my sister. She lives a few kilometres from me and it’s too hard to get a cab or a ride-share with a dog, so we always walk. But it’s too hot, and Genie has given up.”

The heavens have parted and placed an angel before me. I gesture to my SUV. “Hop in. I’ll give you two a ride.”

“Damian, no offence, but I don’t even know you. Just because you took my advice and ordered a salad doesn’t mean we have some sort of connection that’s going to make me hop in a car with you.”

“You would have gotten in a car with a stranger if you could take a cab or a ride-share. At least you know my name.”

She stands silent for a moment. “True, but still…”

“Take a picture of me and send it to your sister. Tell her if you go missing between here and there, I’m suspect number one.”

She chuckles again. “Fine. But don’t try anything funny because I have my attack dog.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I stare into her eyes, not wanting to look away.

She holds her phone up to take a photo, so I pull a silly face. It feels both juvenile and natural with her because I’m rewarded by her laugh again. She sends off a text before asking, “So, where’s your car?”

“Here.” I nod toward the SUV that I know I already gestured to.

Her lips form a perfect O. “That’s your car? I thought you were just showing off. I can’t put my dog in there.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’s a dog—one who sheds and slobbers… a lot. And that’s a… that.”

My face forms a hybrid only described as smirking confusion. “A Range Rover?”

“I don’t know what it is, but it looks expensive, and I can’t afford to have your car detailed and dry-clean your suit. I appreciate the offer, but we’ll be fine.”

“Get in the car, Angel.” Before she can argue any more, I scoop up the exhausted dog from the sidewalk and struggle to open the back door to place her on the seat. She immediately flops on the cool leather, panting. “Well, are you coming? Or am I just going to dognap Genie?”

“Oh no you don’t. That’s my baby. Where she goes, I go.” Angel opens the passenger door and eases herself in, glancing back at her dog. When I walk around the back of the car and climb into my seat, she continues, “I’m so sorry. She’s drooling everywhere.”

I look over at this woman whose hair is pulled back in a ponytail, but the short hairs around her head have puffed up like a humidified halo. She looks casual in her orangey-pink top and shorts, exposing much of her beautiful tan skin. I have to force myself to look ahead so she doesn’t catch me gawking. Again.

“Don’t worry about it. It cleans up easily.” I raise myself in my seat so I can look back at Genie, perplexed by the weird name. “So, where to?”

“Fort York Boulevard. Honestly, we’re almost there. It will probably be faster to walk.”

“Angel, that’s assuming Genie is willing to walk, and besides, she’s already slobbered all over. Might as well finish what we started.”

“Ugh. I’m so sorry. I’ll pay to have your car cleaned. Lucky for me, I had a good tipper yesterday, so I’ve got some extra cash.” Her face curls up into a crooked grin I can only see from the corner of my eye once I ease into traffic.

I wish we were driving somewhere quiet right now so I could at least sneak a glance at her, but busy city streets don’t allow for casual looks elsewhere. “I’m glad someone acknowledged your stellar skills and showed their appreciation.”

“Well, the rest of the staff sure appreciated the bonus.”

I tap the breaks, because my instinct is to look at her to see if she’s being serious, but then I remember her confession about never telling a lie. I don’t know what her policy is on little white lies or less-than-truthful joking. “What do you mean ‘rest of the staff’?”

“Everyone else working was entitled to their fair share. A thousand dollars was way more than I deserved, and they all work hard too.”

I sit silently for a moment. Not only did she try to give the money back to me, but when I refused, she divided it up with everyone else? That’s the complete opposite reaction to any other person I’ve given money to. As far as I know, anyway.

Before I wrap my head around what she said, we arrive in front of the condo building. It’s about half as tall as mine and is surrounded by other buildings obstructing the view of the water, but it’s a nice place.

I pull to a stop in front of the entrance. “Where did you walk from?” Somehow, that feels like a natural thing to ask.

“I live at College and Palmerston. In the condo complex.”

“That’s quite a hike. What time are you going back home?”

She eyes me while keeping one hand on the door handle. “I’m not sure.”

“Well, take my number. Why don’t you call me when you’re headed home, and I’ll pick you up?” I nod toward the back seat. “She already claimed that as her spot.”

“I… uh… I can’t ask you to do that. It will be cooler later. We’ll wait until after the sun goes down to walk home.”

Oh no, she is not walking home in the dark. Alone. I’m not one to go caveman and beat my chest, but my mother raised me to be a gentleman. “Either you let me pick you up, or I’ll wait here until you leave.”

She furrows her brows at me, and for the first time since I met this woman, she scares me. “Who do you think you are? Was that your plan? Try to pay me off, then give me a ride that you insisted on and now you think I have to follow your orders? Like you own me now?”

“That’s not what I—”

She steps out of the car, then opens the rear door for Genie to jump out. The dog refuses to budge. Air-conditioning is magical.

“Genie, come.”

Before Angel can run off, I throw the car in park and hop out to intercept her. “That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry if I came across that way. You don’t owe me anything, but I’d worry knowing you were walking home alone after dark.”

Her head is inside the back door as she scrambles for Genie’s leash and tries to coax the dog out. “You don’t need to worry about me, Mr. Taylor. I’ve been on my own for a lot of years and I’ve managed just fine.”

Ouch. Mr. Taylor.

“I’m sure you’re very capable. I was trying to be a gentleman.”

Angel straightens and glares at me with renewed intensity. “Maybe next time, try not to sound like such a controlling jackass!”

Genie jumps out of the car, and with a slam of the door, Angel walks through the front doors of the condo building with her stubborn bully trailing behind.