“I don’t know about that Gino, just needed to get out for a little bit.” I couldn’t imagine having to be around this many people and having to interact with them on a daily basis. The thought made me sick to my stomach.
I could just imagine the looks the regular customers would give me if I came back. They all knew about the pregnancy, and well now, there was no baby and I’m sure they had heard the gossip from the other waitresses. I didn’t want their pity.
“Okay, well you look you need to gain a few pounds, at least I could help out with that. What would you like to eat?”
Always so worried about my weight. I swear if Gino had it his way, I would be as round and plump as him. I guess when you were that good of a cook, especially Italian food that tended to happen.
“Nothing, actually.” Even though my rumbling stomach certainly didn’t agree. “Just came in for a drink. Can I get a…um…a cranberry vodka?” Hopefully, he would forget the fact that I wasn’t twenty-one yet. He raised his eyebrows at me in question, but thankfully didn’t say anything, just slid my drink across the counter silently and gave me a small wave before heading back into the kitchen, his personal domain.
I squirmed in the seat, looking around at all of the people who filled the restaurant, crowded together at tables, talking and laughing. I felt alone, a feeling that I had become very familiar with lately.
Everything seemed to hurt and I wasn’t sure how to fill the gaping hole in my chest. Caleb was gone, Ally and Remy were off following the band on tour and Chase...I think Chase might have finally given up on me. Truthfully, I probably deserved it.
Maybe I was more like my mother than I thought. There had to have been a reason she turned out the way she did and it rubbed off onto me too. Her relationship with her mother had basically been nonexistent and she could have cared less about her own kids. That’s exactly what I was doing to Caleb.
I looked down at the glass that sat on the bar in front of me and swirled the contents around before draining it. Yup, I was officially turning into my mother, but at this point I didn’t care. I couldn’t.
“Can I buy you another?” I turned my head at the semi familiar voice and tried to place the guy who was sitting next to me. He had chocolate brown hair that was just long enough it made it unruly and he was gazing back at me like he knew me or something.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” He slid back on his barstool, licking his lips nervously. “I come in all the time, you probably waitressed my table only a few hundred times.”
“Ah, that’s why you look familiar. Sorry, when you’re waitressing in a place like this, all of the faces tend to run together besides a few of the regulars that come in for breakfast.” I turned my body straight again and thanked the bartender when she refilled my drink.
“I thought you didn’t work here anymore. I came in a few times and didn’t see you around. I guess it’s just my luck that you’re here tonight.”
“So, what does that mean you’re stalking me or something? I don’t really believe in luck.” He barked out a short laugh and drummed his fingers lightly on the countertop.
“No, definitely not stalking you. I’ll admit, I use to come in here at least twice a week and would always request your table though. My friends thought I was crazy and would tease the shit out of me for having a crush on you. I’m Grant, by the way.” He stuck out a hand and I awkwardly reached out to shake it. “And I already know you’re Leah. So why’d you stop working here? Did you finish school and get a job?”
“Nope.” I answered back simply. I really wasn’t going to spill my guts to this random person.
“Okay,” he dragged out. “Well, I can leave if you want me to.” He stood up, sliding his barstool back but I reached out an arm to stop him. “No, please stay.” His eyebrows scrunched in confusion, but thankfully he sat back down. I guess any company was good company tonight, even if he was pretty much a complete stranger. He was someone who had no clue what had really been going on in my life lately and I didn’t see pity in his eyes. It was refreshing. “I could use a little bit of company if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” he replied with a grin and sat back down.
We talked for what felt like hours. Well, I guess Grant talked and I listened mainly. The more he talked, the more I remembered him. He used to come in with a group of friends that were constantly hitting on me the whole time I waited on them. Grant had seemed to be the quieter one of the bunch, but I didn’t know if that was a front he was trying to put up at the time or what. Because he hadn’t stopped talking at all tonight.