Fight

by Nicole Dykes

  I stare back at this prick. “That day is not today.” I push his hand off my backside and stand up straight.

  I’m startled and nearly spill the hot coffee when a hand touches my shoulder. I turn around to tell this new person to fuck off but freeze when I see it’s a distinguished looking man, dressed in a pressed, black suit and tie.

  His sandy blond hair is tousled, but styled perfectly, and his jaw is strong, cut and defined. He’s gorgeous. And I freeze, waiting for him to speak first.

  “I was wondering if you could help me, miss?”

  I stare at him like a complete fool. Why the hell is he in this place? “Um…” I look back at the table and then back at the handsome stranger. “Yes, of course.”

  I walk with him away from the table and his touch is light on my shoulder when he leans in, smelling like fine cologne, crisp and clean. “I’m sorry. I don’t need anything, but I didn’t like the way he was touching you. He didn’t seem like a friend.”

  I gawk at him, my jaw dropped. Is this guy for real? “Um,” I tuck my brown hair behind my ear. “Thank you. He’s definitely not a friend.”

  He removes his hand from the back of my shoulder and I actually almost miss it. I didn’t realize how much I craved a kind touch. “I’m glad I didn’t overstep.”

  His smile is white and just as beautiful as the rest of him, but he reeks of money which still begs the question of why he’s here. “Can I get you anything though? I am a waitress after all.”

  He chuckles like that was a joke and shakes his head. “No, thank you.” He points out the window at a shiny black car, that should not be parked here. Way too nice. “I hit a pothole coming back from a meeting and I’m just waiting for AAA.”

  Now that makes sense.

  “Oh…” I smile, and I think the muscles in my face actually ache from not being used lately. “I understand. Well, if you would like some hot sludge disguised as coffee, please let me know.”

  He laughs again and it seems effortless, which seems odd to me. He’s so well put together, years of grooming and the best that money can buy evident, but he seems happy. I thought the rich were supposed to be miserable?

  I guess that’s just another lie the less fortunate are told.

  “I would like something actually.” He pulls his cellphone from his pocket and I eye it suspiciously. “Your number?”

  I stare at him in utter confusion now. “What?”

  He just smiles and says again, “Your number.” He speaks slower, but it’s done in a teasing way. “I’d love to take you out for dinner sometime. Soon.”

  I just continue to gape at him like a total idiot. What would a guy like this want from me?

  My eyes drift over to the booth.

  Sex.

  My body.

  That’s all he would want. I can hear their warnings in my head.

  “Why?”

  Now he just looks amused, and his mouth turns into a crooked grin that’s endearing. “I have a good feeling about you.” He places his hand over his chest. “I guess I should introduce myself first though. I’m Aiden Sharpe. And you are?”

  I swallow, trying to wet my parched throat. “Shaw Hayes.”

  “That’s beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever met a Shaw before, and I do business with a lot of people.”

  “How old are you?” I just can’t seem to keep my questions in my head.

  “Thirty-four. Why? How old are you?”

  Okay, this will scare him off. “Eighteen. And I’m a month away from graduating high school.”

  He doesn’t flinch. “I had pegged you for college age, but I guess I was close. As long as you’re legally an adult, I don’t see a problem.”

  Is he for real?

  “I don’t really have time to go out for dinner.”

  “You don’t get any days off?”

  He’s persistent and I can feel all the grimy eyes from the table from earlier on us. “Not really. And the earliest I’m off all week is Thursday and I still don’t get off work until ten.”

  “So ten on Thursday. Sounds good to me.”

  This can’t be real. It feels all too romantic comedy for me. That’s not my fate.

  “I…ummm…” He hands me a business card from his pocket.

  “That’s my office number, but they can reach me. If you can’t make our date, let them know, but I hope you can. I’ll be here at ten on Thursday.”

  I study the slick business card in my hand, solid black with gray letters. “Okay.”

  “I can’t wait, Shaw.” He nods out the window at the AAA vehicle. “It seems my rescue is here.” He glances at the table of hoodlums and then back at me. “Are you going to be okay?”

  He looks genuinely worried and again, I don’t understand where this man came from. “I’ll be fine. My friend insists on picking me up from work when I work nights.”

  He smiles at that. “Good friend.”

  I nod and he gives me a wave before he walks out the front door.

  A hundred bucks says I never see him again.

  Fuck, I should have asked someone else to pick Shaw up tonight. Hopefully it’s dark enough in the car that she won’t notice my swollen face or my fucked up hands.

  Shaw pulls open the door and climbs inside my shitty car, pulling the seatbelt over her chest and clicking it in place. She’s smiling which is good to see.

  “Good day?”

  She’s still pissed off at me I’m sure. Last week with our little pissy fit in school not ending well has left her giving me the cold shoulder since then.

  “It actually was.”

  I start driving toward her house. “Good.”

  And I mean it, I want her to have only good days.

  She sighs deeply and I can feel her eyes on my face. “You’re beat up again.” Her voice is a disappointed whisper.

  “Shaw…”

  She brushes me off. “Just be careful. Whatever you’re doing.”

  I hate not being honest with her. But I know she’ll be pissed the fuck off and disappointed. I can’t handle it.

  “I am.” She’s chewing on the inside of her cheek. I can see it out of my peripheral vision. She’s nervous about something. Probably me. “What happened today?”

  I can feel her smile and it almost, almost makes me feel happy. “I think I got asked out on a date.”

  What the fuck?

  I pull up to her house and park. “A date?”

  She nods her head. “Yeah. It was the craziest thing, almost out of a movie. So strange.”

  “What are you talking about, Shaw? Who asked you out?”

  “This guy in a suit with actual business cards and a Mercedes.”

  What the hell was a guy like that doing in the diner? “Did you hit your head or something?”

  She actually laughs at that and shoves my chest playfully. The spot she pushes tingles with the contact, but it’s brief.

  “No, asshole. He was real. I doubt he’s actually going to pick me up Thursday night, but that’s what he said. He had a pothole issue and was waiting for AAA.”

  “Fucker can’t even change a tire?”

  “Be nice.” She rolls her eyes at me, but she’s smiling. Shaw is smiling again. And it’s beautiful even if some prick in a suit caused it. “He was…. I don’t know how to describe him. It did seem like a dream.” She shakes off the goofy look she was sporting talking about this guy and waves her hand. “But I’m sure he won’t ever think about me again.”

  “That’s crazy, Shaw. If he asked you out, he’s thinking about you.” If you meet Shaw, no matter how briefly, you’re thinking about her constantly.

  She tries to wave me off again. “He’s thirty-four and like… rich, Carter. What the hell would he want with me?”

  I hate how little she thinks of herself. Dane would know how to make her feel like the goddess she is right now, but I just shrug like the asshole I am. “Your pussy would be my best guess. I would say he’s going to show up.”

  Now
her smile drops and I mentally kick myself.

  “Thanks, Carter.”

  “Sorry. I thought we always do the honesty thing.”

  “Yeah…. So anyway you might be off the hook to pick me up on Thursday.”

  I hate the burning, sick feeling twisting inside me, but I force a smile that I’m sure looks more like a grimace. “Okay, just let me know.”

  “Are you coming in?”

  I shake my head. I haven’t been able to sleep in her bed lately. It’s too hard to resist her now that I’ve been inside her. Everything is always just too fucking hard. “I have some shit I need to do. I’ll be back in the morning.”

  I see the sadness cross over her pretty face, but she nods. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Say something better, asshole.

  She climbs out of my car, but before she closes the door I look up at her. “You deserve to be happy, Shaw. I hope this guy really is your dream come true.”

  I hate the words that just came out of my mouth, but I don’t hate the smile passing over her full lips. “Thank you, Carter. Me too, but I would say it’s a long shot.”

  She believes in love. She really does. I was afraid she was losing that, but tonight I saw that dreamy look in her eyes she used to get talking about those sappy movies she likes. And it fucking kills me that it’s some other asshole she’s dreaming about, but she should be happy. Dane would want her happy.

  My chest aches when she closes the door and walks to her house, her back to me.

  She believes in love and this guy could too.

  The diner has been so busy today, and I make the rounds to refill drinks and pick up the shitty tips off the table. I’m surprised when I see my mom come through the front door. She isn’t in her uniform anymore which is good because she only left here a couple of hours ago.

  “Mom, what are you doing here?” I’m ready to tell her to get her ass home and rest as she approaches me with a big smile on her face.

  “I wanted to give you something before your date.”

  I smile at that, looking around the crowded diner, but she takes the coffee pot I was holding and directs me behind the counter.

  I follow and she places the pot of coffee back in its place before pulling out a beautiful gold necklace.

  I stare at it. “Where did you get that?”

  She signals for me to turn away from her and I do, lifting my hair on instinct. She slips the cold metal around my neck stating, “Your dad.”

  “What?” I whirl around after it’s fastened and feel for the heart on the chain. “My dad?”

  She sighs heavily. She never talks about him. “Yes. I’ve had it hidden away, afraid I might pawn it, but I wanted you to have it tonight.”

  My fingers still remain on the heart. My mom was excited for me when I told her about the handsome stranger that asked me out. I could see the normal concern there too, but still… she said she trusts my judgement.

  For whatever reason.

  “He probably won’t show.”

  She waves me off and kisses my cheek. “He’d be a fool not to.”

  “I’m nervous, mom.”

  She just smiles easily, like she already knew that and places her hands on my shoulders. “It’s just a date. It doesn’t have to mean anything at all, but it would be good to see you date and do something normal for once.”

  I scrunch my nose up at that. “What do you mean normal? I’m normal.”

  She laughs and pulls me into a big hug, “No, sweetie. You’re far from normal. Really, you’re exceptional. You’ve been an adult for so long that I just want to see you be eighteen.”

  My chest aches, feeling her guilt deeply. I know she thinks I was robbed of a childhood, but I wouldn’t trade having her as a mother for all the money in the world. “I love you, mom.”

  I can feel her warm smile. “I love you too.”

  She squeezes me tightly and then lets me go. “You better go get ready. It’s almost ten.” She looks around. “I can finish up the last ten minutes of your shift.”

  “Mom…”

  “Go.” She gives me that look--the one I know not to argue with.

  “Okay.” I laugh and go grab the bag I brought with clothes to change into before going into the bathroom.

  No matter what I do, it’s going to be tough getting ready in the diner bathroom, but hell he asked me out wearing my uniform. Anything has to be better than this.

  I check my phone quickly, seeing that no one has sent a message or called, and I place my phone on the counter. Carter didn’t check on me.

  Why would he? I told him I would call if I needed him.

  I quickly grab the clothes out of my bag that I packed. It’s not like I had many options, and I have no idea where this guy is planning on taking me, but I’m certain I don’t have the correct attire.

  I pull on my best pair of jeans and then a tank top. I do my best to apply makeup using the dirty mirror in the bathroom, and try like hell to brush my hair out with my fingers and toss it to get a sexy tousled look, but I’m afraid I’ve only pulled off the hot mess look instead.

  I take a deep breath and spray my favorite perfume on my wrists before walking out to the counter seeing my mom talking to Aiden.

  My heart rate quickens as I approach them. Aiden looks handsome and so damn put together in a three piece suit. He stands from the bar and his eyes scan over me. I apologize immediately, “I’m so sorry. I’m so underdressed.”

  He flashes me a kind, white smile. “It’s no problem. I’m probably overdressed.”

  I try to steady my breaths, but I feel intimidated. My mom grabs my hand and I look over at her. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

  “Thanks, mom.”

  She turns to Aiden. “It was nice to meet you.”

  He smiles at her and it’s kind. “It was wonderful to meet you, Pam. I hope I’ll see you again in the near future.”

  Her smile widens and I clock out before letting Aiden escort me out to his car. When I climb in, I can’t help but look at the brand new car in awe. I’ve never been in a car this nice or this new. I mean the radio has a screen on it and when he puts the car in reverse, there’s a camera.

  “So I thought we would go to one of my favorite restaurants.”

  I look down at my outfit and tuck my hair behind my ear. “I won’t humiliate you, will I?” Maybe I should have borrowed a dress from my mom.

  He laughs at that, a hearty rumble from his chest. “No, of course not. I know the owner anyway. We’ll have a private section.”

  I try to calm my nerves but as he pulls up to the Country Club Plaza, my heart rate only speeds up. He hands his car off to a total stranger and we go inside a chic looking restaurant and are escorted to the back with our own private patio.

  “Wow.” I look around astounded knowing this dinner is going to cost a pretty penny.

  “The food is wonderful here.”

  “I bet.” I look at the menu and notice there are no prices. I wipe my sweaty palms off on my jeans as I try to decipher the over the top menu.

  He studies me and I feel like a child. “I can order for you if you’d like.”

  I look up at him and nod, closing the menu. “Yes, please.”

  The waiter comes over, apologizing for our two minute wait profusely and Aiden orders for us both before handing off the menus.

  The waiter leaves and it’s just me and Aiden now. “So, Shaw… I half expected you to cancel.”

  I take a sip of my water and smirk over at him. “You don’t seem like a man that’s used to hearing no.”

  He chuckles at that. “No. I’m not. Still, even I was a little nervous.”

  He really is good looking in a way I never thought I would be attracted to. His hands are smooth, like they’ve never seen a day of hard labor and his suit is tailored to fit him perfectly. “I didn’t think you would show.”

  He raises one perfectly manicured eyebrow. “I asked you out, why wouldn’t I show up?”
/>   I look down subconsciously. Because I’m me and he’s him. I don’t fit into his world at all. I just shrug my shoulders, still looking down. “I just wasn’t sure.”

  I’m surprised when I feel his hand on my chin tilting it up. “I saw something in you.” My eyes meet his. “I wanted to get to know you.”

  Oh wow, his eyes are beautiful. Hazel I think. Sparkling with a fire beneath them. “You did?”

  His lips turn up in a smile at that and he releases me, settling back into his seat. “Yes. I did and I do. You said you’re graduating soon.”

  I nod, “Yes. At the end of May.”

  They bring our food out, but it doesn’t stop the conversation. “And after?”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m not sure honestly.”

  He looks concerned now. “Not college?”

  Shame heats my cheeks. “I don’t think I can afford it.”

  “But you would go if you could?”

  This feels intimate for a first date. Prodding, but I know the whole point of a first date is to get to know the person. I mean, I think it is. “Yes, of course.”

  “Never say never.” He smiles at me and I nod even if there’s a sharp pain inside thinking about Dane. How he made me apply to schools. How I was accepted, but never followed through.

  Because there’s no way I could pay.

  “What do you do?”

  I think that’s the natural progression, right? I’m really bad at this. “I work at an investment firm not too far from here.”

  Money. He works in money.

  I nod my head like I know what that kind of work entails and pick at the food on my plate. It smells and looks delicious, but I’m almost afraid to taste it.

  Girls like me should not allow ourselves even a glimpse into a life like this.

  I don’t think this is going well enough for him to want to do it again.

  “So, what about scholarships for college?”

  Jesus, we’re still on this? I shake my head. Oh well, might as well put the final knife in this date. “My grades weren’t good enough for scholarships. I work full-time at the diner and have for a while.”