Chapter Twelve

Later that morning, I drove Aunt Rose to the diner. It seemed a waste of gas for both of us to drive. Besides, I enjoyed her company.

“Did you stay out all night?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“I was concerned. You should have called.”

I wasn’t used to clocking my comings and goings. I glanced at her sideways, but only one look told me she was sincere.

“Sorry, Aunt Rose. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“May I ask who you were with?”

“Scarlett Jones.”

Aunt Rose smiled softly. “She’s a sweet girl. Too bad she’s leaving today.”

“Not anymore. At least not today.” Not ever, I prayed. I’d go with her if she let me. I’d make a life with her, because in her arms, I felt at home for the first time.

“I see. This just happened?”

“Yep, just like that.”

“She’s a very nice girl.”

“Does that mean you don’t think I’m a nice boy?”

“Not at all. You are a very nice young man.” She turned toward the window, but I could see her smile in the glass reflection. Aunt Rose approved.

“Thanks, that means a lot.” And it did mean something to earn her approval.

She started talking about groceries and the diner, signaling the end to our conversation, but the smile never wavered.

Russ greeted me with a range of choice emotions as displayed by his sneers and scowls. If they passed out awards for most passive-aggressive, he’d be a serious contender.

The breakfast rush kept us busy. I was on my own today. I spilled coffee on myself. I messed up orders. I forgot the crayons for the kids. I dropped a plate. Russ called me out on all of it no matter how minor. During the lull between breakfast and lunch, I confronted him in the storage room.

“What’s your problem? You’ve been riding my ass all day.”

“You’re my problem, New Guy. You’re terrible at this. I had a feeling you would be. What is it? Serving other people beneath you?”

“I don’t know what I did to give you that impression. I will improve. But that’s not your real issue, is it?”

He gritted his teeth, jabbing his finger against my chest. “It’s a shitty thing to do. You monopolized her time.”

I kept my hands up, trying not to escalate the situation. “Good news, man, she’s not leaving.”

He took a few steps back, the anger in his expression fading into surprise. “Why?”

“She’s sticking around for a while to see where things are going between us.”

He returned a cynical chuckle, fisting his hands through his hair. “Fucking figures.”

I took a deep breath and lowered my voice. “I get it, Russ. You like her. You hate me, but I’m not the enemy. There is no battle here, except for the one in your head.”

“You’re wrong, man.”

“You seriously want to fight me? What are we, twelve? She can choose.” I patted my chest. “I’d say I’m sorry about last night, but that would be the biggest lie I’ve ever told. But I will say, I get how much this sucks for you, and for that, I am sorry.”

His jaw tightened, the vein on his neck pulsing. I readied myself in case he came at me.

Don’t make me hurt you, Russ. Scarlett would not appreciate it.

“I don’t like her. I love her. I fucking love her, you asshole.”

“Did you ever tell her?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t have to. She knew. I always thought we’d have more time. As kids, she was just one of the guys, tossing the football or fishing with us. And then one day she wasn’t. I waited, so patient, for her to see me the same way I saw her.” His fists clenched and unclenched.

“And then that dickhead, Vance, started working here. Tommy and I told her he wasn’t good enough for her, but she looked at him like she looks at that damn cat, like something to save. When they broke up, I told myself to be patient again, but then she says she’s moving to Nashville. And then you come along.”

“Yeah, then I came along.”

“Is she some little island ass you want to check off your fuck wish list?”

I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and slammed him against the wall. “Get one thing straight. You don’t know me. I will not disrespect her. And I won’t let you, either.” You don’t know us, I wanted to say, but that didn’t make sense.

To his credit, he didn’t wince or flinch or even act surprised. “Don’t plan on my blessing. I love Scarlett, so I’m gonna watch you real close.”

I patted his chest. “You do whatever you need to, but for fuck’s sake, stop with the dramatic, passive-aggressive shit.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I kept looking for her, expecting she might stop in, but she didn’t. A deep dread settled heavily in my gut. Trying to keep my focus on work, I improved with every table, actually feeling like I might be earning my tips.

After we closed, Russell left without saying good-bye and Scarlett never showed. I ate Aunt Rose’s meatloaf while watching Bob dance with her to Todd Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me.” Bob spun Aunt Rose around, and when he dipped her, he said, “Way to go, champ.”

Yep, romantic guy, that Bob.