by Adriana Peck
I look around. No other customers in the parking lot, Don’s just going through the routine in the back of the house. I turn, grab a cup of coffee from the pot as I stand across from Paul. I take a sip, the hot blackness warms me and perks me back up like I’d never thought possible.
“Yeah,” Paul says, chuckling as he watches me perk up instantly. “It’s good. What’d I tell you?”
I shrug. “Not a big drinker of coffee, myself. I don’t drink it that often, save for special occasions.”
Paul’s eyes widen. “No shit.”
“No shit. I never felt like I needed it. I had a bad caffeine addiction in high school, too,” I tell him. “That took me off the stuff for good. Until…” I trail off, remembering my afternoon with Jake, “…now, I guess.”
Paul shrugs. “Never woulda guessed a café waitress doesn’t drink coffee.” He bursts out into laughter, slapping his knee comically. “It’s like a mechanic who doesn’t drive!” he cackles.
I can’t help but laugh at that, too. “You’re probably right,” I say to him.
Don rings the bell, signaling that Paul’s usual egg-salad sandwich is already ready. I pop over to the partition, grabbing the plate as Don and I share a wave hello. I take the plate back over to Paul, sliding it over to him as he digs in without another word.
I sign, grabbing my mug again as I take a sip of coffee, staring out into the parking lot.
Jake must’ve made it back to his truck last night after dropping me off. I don’t remember getting back to bed, to be perfectly honest. I was wiped out, exhausted after such a long day yesterday.
And he dropped me back off at my place, careful to dodge the rumors just like I’d asked. What a gentleman. Seriously.
I never expected Jake Reeves to have such character, of all people. Not after everything I’ve heard about him around town. Not after all the false warnings, the ‘worried’ neighbors heeding me to stay away from him.
Well, I guess I was right about him. At least somewhat, and that’s a start.
As I drink the rest of my coffee, staring out into the empty parking lot, I feel myself ready for the day ahead. I’m ready to face the rumors. The gossip about me and Jake.
Because we have a plan. A plan that’ll end all this nonsense, let us get out of here once and for all.
I’ll finally be free of this town, and that’s all I really want right about now.
◆◆◆
The rest of the day slinks by in a lazy trudge, and the café never has more than three customers inside at once. It’s the picture-perfect definition of a slow day, and Nora calls me to check in on the café later in the afternoon.
“Nancy? You doing okay?” she asks me over the phone.
I look out at the customers, nodding. Darius’s here, reading the paper in the corner like an old man. A couple’s sitting at the bar, sharing a cup of coffee.
“Oh yeah,” I tell Nora. “Today’s slower than slow.”
“Good. I’ll be a little later than five. You’ll have to stay a little later than usual. That okay with you?”
I nod. “Absolutely okay with me.” I could use the extra hour or so. Plus the tips have been steady enough. I’m not complaining. “Take your time, Nora.”
“Good. You seen Jake around town lately?” she asks, changing the subject. I’m not too sure why she’s asking me that, I’m a little hesitant to talk about my love-life with my boss of all people.
“A little. Why?”
“Heard he’s been stirring up trouble. Someone saw him wandering around town late last night, looking suspicious. Hood up, head down low. Walking with purpose. Just wanted to give you a warning, I know you and Jake have been getting close.”
I want to groan, but I resist the temptation. Nora’s probably looking for a scoop on the latest rumor, coming to me first as a ‘concerned boss.’ I don’t buy it, so I play dumb instead.
“Thanks for looking out for me, Nora.”
“Anytime, Nancy.”
When my boss hangs up, I let out the groan I’d held back. Nice of her to warn me about Jake for the hundredth time, just like everyone else wants to do.
But I know the truth. They don’t know him.
He was walking back to his truck last night after dropping me off at my place. He can’t even walk around town without a rumor starting up about him acting suspicious. I’m tired of all of this, I want to be out of this town. It’s like nobody has anything else better going on.
The rest of the afternoon drags on, and Nora’s even later than I’d anticipated. Normally she’d be in at five, I’d be out of here by five after. Today I was expecting her to show up at six, maybe a little after that.
It’s seven-thirty, and there’s no sign of Nora showing up anytime soon.
I groan softly to myself. The café is devoid of customers today, the skies outside turning grey as rainclouds build up overhead. There isn’t anybody out today, nobody’s driving out on the roads outside. Nobody’s calling in to place to-go orders, no tourists poking their heads in today.
What a god-damned boring day.
I prop my elbows up on the counter, sighing as I peer outside into the empty parking lot. There’s my little sedan, there’s Don’s SUV. We’re alone here, and I feel like a stranded survivor of a shipwreck that’s been all but forgotten about.
And then I see it.
A rusted-red pickup truck, pulling into Nora’s parking lot in front of me. Parking right next to my little sedan.
I feel my heart begin to race, I’m excited that he’s come to see me. I hadn’t heard from him all day, no phone calls, no texts. I guess he figured I was working late, and I watch as Jake gets out of his truck, a cone-shaped paper bag in one hand.
He steps into the café dressed in a casual button-down shirt and jeans, his usual grey hoodie now gone for a change. He’s grinning from ear to ear, and he’s holding the paper-bag cone behind his back as he approaches the counter. I can’t help but beam when I see him, and I know he’s the direct cause behind all these butterflies zooming around in my stomach.
“Hey,” I smile.
“Hey,” he grins back.
He takes the paper cone out from behind his back, I can see they’re flowers. Red roses. A few white carnations. I feel my heart skip a beat as my face flushes an even deeper red than the roses. I’m glad we’re alone here in the café, because I know any customers here would take what they’re seeing and run with it to the rumor mill around town. Don’s probably out back, taking one of his infinite smoke breaks, so I know Jake and I can be well and truly alone in the restaurant.
Oh, don’t tempt me like that, fate.
“Jake, you didn’t have to—”
“Oh yeah, I did,” he says, still grinning. He hands the bouquet over to me, and I sniff them as I smile back up at him. “Thought they’d cheer you up. I didn’t hear from you today, so I assumed you were either working late or dead. Glad to know it’s the former and not the latter.”
I giggle. “Well. It’s good to see you, too.”
“Working late today, then?”
I nod, looking around at the empty café. “Nora needed me to stay, handle all the rowdy customers, you know?”
Jake laughs. “I can tell you’ve got your hands full.”
“Yeah. I’m just waiting on Nora to show up. She said she’s running late tonight. No idea what that means if we close in less than a few hours.”
Jake grins, propping his elbows up on the counter as he leans over to me. “Think her and Nigel are…busy?”
I feel my face flushing again. “Shut up,” I say, punching Jake lightly on the shoulder. I inspect the flowers again, looking around the café for a place to put them. I spot an empty vase under the counter, and I fill it up with water from the sink before arranging the flowers inside, setting it on the counter where everyone could see it if there were any customers here. “They’re really pretty, Jake.”
“Thought you could use the pick-me-up. And I thought you and I cou
ld hang out tonight. If you’re ever going to be free, that is.”
I grin at him from behind the counter. “I’d love to hang out. Really. I just have no idea when that’ll be, and I don’t need another late night like last night. I overslept today, got here ten minutes late.”
Jake’s eyes widen momentarily. “I’m sorry about that,” he says. “Sorta was my fault, wasn’t it?”
I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter. If anything, it was mine for not setting more alarms.”
We stand there in silence for a moment, grinning at one another from across the counter. Honestly, I’m just stoked to see him, even more so after he brought me flowers. I never would have expected that from Jake, and I know he’s a sweet guy deep down; underneath that hardened exterior I know Jake means well.
“You want anything? Cup of coffee? Water?”
Jake shrugs. “Take some coffee if you’ve got it.”
I grin. “I’ve got it, alright. Coffee’s on me.”
I head over to the machine, grab Jake a clean mug as I pour him a cup, sliding it over to him once I’ve returned.
He take a sip, grinning as he looks up at me.
“Good?” I ask.
He grins. “The best.”
We smile at each other in perfect silence for a moment. I’ve never been more content, honestly. Now if every customer could come in bringing me red roses, that’d be a fantastic change of pace from the usual.
Of course, the moment’s cut short when Nora walks through the front door. She’s clearly in a hurry, her makeup’s smudged, her hair’s not yet been done. Her purse is clutched tight to her chest, and she power walks past the counter in a flurry.
“Nora,” I say, greeting my boss as she scurries past us. “You doing alright?”
“Fine, Nancy. Someone who’s not me better be paying for Jake’s coffee,” she says as she darts into the bathroom.
I look back at Jake, shrugging.
“It’s on me,” I say, reaching into my pocket as I take out a couple of bucks, put them into the register with a ka-ching. “As a thank-you for the flowers.”
Jake grins, takes another drink of his coffee. “You want to get out of here, then?”
“As soon as Nora’s ready to take over, yeah.”
“I’ve been excited to see you,” Jake whispers up to me. I feel the butterflies start to wake up in my stomach, I can feel my heart working overtime.
“Yeah? Why’s that?”
“I’ve been wanting to take you somewhere. This spot I’ve had in mind for a while.”
“You gonna tell me where it is?” I ask playfully, checking behind me to make sure Nora’s still in the bathroom.
Jake shakes his head. “I’d rather just show you. If that’s alright with you.”
“Yeah. It’s cool.”
“Cool.”
He takes another sip from his mug as I look down into those coffee-colored eyes of his. They’re charming, irresistible. I’m finding it nearly impossible to look away; unfortunately, my attention’s yanked back to the present when I hear Nora barging out of the bathroom angrily.
“You sure everything’s fine?” I ask my boss. Her makeup’s in order, her raven-colored hair’s been brushed and put into a lazy ponytail. Nora stops in front of the counter, places her hands on her hips as her stare rips into Jake like daggers.
“I don’t like you coming in here,” she says to him flatly.
Jake looks back at her nonchalantly, shrugging as he takes the last sip of his coffee.
“Fine,” he says. “Then I’ll leave.”
He stands up, pulls a few bucks out of his pocket and hands them to me. “That’s for the coffee,” he says, looking at Nora. “Nancy was nice enough to pay, but I’d rather you take my money. Unless you don’t like my green coming in here either.”
Nora stares at Jake, unmoving as he leaves the money on the counter, giving me a carefree wink. And with that, Jake turns around, leaving the café without another word.
Nora shakes her head, stepping around to get herself behind the counter. She looks at me as she shakes her head again, tsking quietly to herself.
“What’s the matter?” I ask again, careful not to lose my temper with my boss.
“That boy's the matter,” she says, angry as ever. “I don’t like him coming here. Bothering you when you’re trying to work.”
“He’s not bothering me—” I start to say, but Nora cuts me off as she gets close to my face, only inches away.
“He. Is. Bothering you,” she says matter-of-factly. “That boy is nothing but trouble. Starting fights ever since he was a kid. The rumors are nothing but true, Nancy, and I’m tired of beating around the bush with your feelings. Nigel was the same type of trouble back then, and I consider myself luckier than any woman on earth that he was able to change his ways. I don’t consider Jake nearly on that same level.”
She takes a breath, steps back from me.
I turn, I can see Jake getting into his truck as he starts the engine. I hope he doesn’t leave without me, but I wouldn’t blame him if he never wanted to see me again after that crap from Nora.
“Nancy, I’m glad you came back the other day. After that Jake got into the fight at the grocer. I was worried you’d do something stupid, try to run off with him. But you came back, and I thought all that nonsense was behind us. Clearly I was wrong.”
“Nora, what difference does it make?” I want to holler at my boss, but I keep my tone down. I don’t want to freak out any potential incoming customers, should they bother to show up today. “Why do you care if I’m with him?”
“Because I expected better from you,” Nora says, shaking her head as she grabs the sanitizer bucket from under the counter. She brings the bucket up, wringing the cloth out angrily as she stares at the wall behind me.
“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you,” I say to her. I turn around without another word, grabbing my purse and coat as I step out from behind the counter and head to the front door. I can see Jake’s still waiting for me outside. The faint rumble of his truck stirs in the background as I hear my every step echoing on the tile floor.
Nora says something to me just before I’ve reached the front door.
“Nancy, if you get into that car with that boy, you’re done here. For good.”
I turn around slowly, unable to believe what I’d just heard.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me. I see you go off with Jake, you don’t have a job here anymore.”
For God’s sake. I’m sick of this, I’m sick of all of this. The subtext, the commands, the deep-seated resentment against me and Jake that everyone seems to want to put up. Even my boss won’t cut me any slack.
“Nora, why are you doing this to me?”
She shakes her head for the millionth time today as she starts wiping down the counter where Jake was just sitting.
“It’s for your own good, Nancy. This whole town agrees with me. I’m doing you a favor, girl. Try to appreciate it when someone does something nice for you.”
I take another look outside. Jake’s still waiting for me.
I don’t have to take this anymore. I’ve got money saved in the bank, I can find another job. What I can’t do is tolerate this nonsense for a second longer.
I turn back to Nora, my mind completely made up.
“Guess you better start looking for someone to run your café for you.”
And with that, I turn and leave her café for good, pushing angrily out the door as the bell jingles above me for the last time ever.
When I reach Jake’s truck, I knock on his window as he gives me a friendly wave. I step around to the passenger’s side, getting in without a word. I fold my arms, frustrated as I stare straight ahead into the adjacent empty lot across the street.
“How’d it go in there?” he asks carefully.
I laugh. “I just quit my job, actually.”
Jake’s eyes widen. “Did you really?”
“Uh
-huh. She told me if I left with you I wouldn’t have a job anymore.”
“So. You wanna get out of here, then?”
I nod. Jake puts the truck in reverse without another word, puts his arm around my seat as he starts to back up. “Wait,” he says. “What about your car? You think leaving it here is a good idea?”
I shrug, my words curt and exact. “I doubt Nora would have it towed. That’d just cause more problems for her than it’s worth. So no. I don’t really care about the car. We’ll come get it when we come get it.”
Jake nods without another word, putting his arm back around my seat as we pull away from Nora’s Café once and for all.
◆◆◆
We drive all through town, past Main Street and up around the bends that take us outside of town. For a moment I’m thinking we’re about to get on the same highway as last night, but I know Jake has a destination in mind for us. We pass by the old highway, taking a side-road into the forest just outside of town. The trees stretch high above us, the grey skies threaten to rain on us at any second.
“Where are we going?” I ask as Jake turns up a hill, rounding a corner of trees.
“This old spot my Dad used to take me,” he says. “We all used to come here. Me, Chance, Jay. Of course, Jay’s been gone for years, and Chance couldn’t give two shits about our childhood even if it killed him. So it’s just kinda my spot now, I guess.”
Jake pulls his truck to a clearing, and now I understand why he brought me here.
It’s an open field, a large lake in the center surrounded by waist-high wildgrass that goes on until it reaches a tree line a football field’s length away. There’s nobody else here as far as the eye can see; I know we’re all alone here. Tall grass sways in the breeze around the body of water, a single bench sits out on the edge of the lake. I can just make out a dock that juts out halfway into the lake as the trees around us give way, surrounding the clearing with nature’s green curtain.
“What do you think?” Jake asks.
I smile, taking in the scenery around us as I grin with wonder. “I can see why you brought me here. Looks like the perfect getaway.”
“It can be our little secret now,” Jake grins, and I look over to see his eyes twinkling.
