Nova

by Delia Delaney

  “Okay, here’s my offer, and you guys can agree to it or not. I’ll tell you my age, and I’ll make the choice between the money or the date, but first each of you have to tell me your ages and what you’re studying in school or what you do for a living. If you actually have a job,” I added.

  “Oh, you’re a feisty one,” Brock smiled.

  I shrugged.

  “Hmm, it’s a two-question interview, boys. She wants to know what her options are. Should we agree to it?” They took a few seconds to consider it and then Brock said, “Sure, we’ll play. I’ll go first.” With a cheesy smile he said, “I’m Brock, I’m twenty-two, and I’m studying law at USC.”

  Hmm, wanting to be a lawyer? Not a big surprise.

  “Will? You’re up, buddy,” he said.

  “Uh, I’m also twenty-two, and I’m a history major at Davis.”

  Nash shrugged and said, “I’m twenty-one and I’m in animation.”

  I tried not to react because I pictured him drawing the Simpsons.

  “Austin?” Brock motioned. “Which career would you like to share?”

  He paused for a few seconds before he replied. “I’m twenty-three and, uh, I’m in business.”

  Two of the guys chuckled and I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to take that. Maybe “business” meant something I didn’t want to hear.

  “So?” Brock smiled at me. “Now it’s your turn.”

  I took a moment before I replied, “Well, I’m twenty-two.”

  There were various reactions for several seconds—apparently it had been quite a debate—and three of them slid money across the table to Austin. But I was kind of surprised that he didn’t really have much of a reaction at all. He didn’t even touch the money, and took a drink of his water instead.

  “Well, I’d better get back to work guys. Please give me your orders, if you still plan on staying.”

  Thankfully they did order, and when I finally left the table, I had to take a deep but silent breath of air.

  “Holy cow, spend much time at table ten?” Robin whispered.

  I didn’t really feel like responding, so I just gave the order to Roger and busied myself with another table.

  We got pretty busy after that—two separate groups of six came in—and I only gave table ten the necessary amount of attention. Robin was cashing them out as I breezed by, and just when I thought the coast was clear, someone caught my arm.

  It was Austin, and without saying anything he put two fifty-dollar bills in my hand. I didn’t know what to say. Maybe I was waiting for Brock to make some sort of response for the group, but he kind of seemed a little…subdued. Nobody said a single word until they were about out the door and Austin said, “See you, Nova.”

  I stood there for a few seconds, feeling a bit stupefied.

  “Why the frowny face?” Robin asked. “One of them say something mean, sweetie?”

  “No, they just… I don’t know. I’ll explain it to you later.”

  So I did go over the whole situation with Robin when we had a few minutes, from the bet to all four guys leaving me with the money.

  “So you actually wanted to go out with him?” she asked. “Then just say so, Nova.”

  “No, I just… I don’t know why I’m a little confused. Maybe they were disappointed with the outcome. I think it was Brock that wanted the date—you know, the forward one that asked me for my number last time? Maybe the whole thing was just about him hoping the odds were in his favor.”

  “So who won the bet?”

  “Austin.”

  “Uh…which one is that again?”

  “He was sitting in the far corner again. The guy in the black shirt with the baseball hat on.”

  She started to laugh, and it made me really confused. Insecure at the same time since I thought she was laughing because she felt the guy was a wad or something.

  “What’s so funny? He’s not that bad. He’s actually pretty cute. Kind of quiet, but really cute.”

  “I know.”

  I gave her a peculiar look.

  “Nova, he’s been in here before. Without his buddies. He comes in here by himself.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, I’ve seen him two other times. The last two Fridays for lunch.”

  “I was working the last two Fridays.”

  She laughed again. “I know; that’s why I think it’s funny. You didn’t even recognize him without his friends.”

  I had to take a moment to think it over, wondering what it was supposed to mean. “Well…where did he sit?”

  “Two,” she replied, nodding to the opposite end of the café.

  I took instant insult to it, feeling like he purposely chose to have a different waitress. But table six motioned for more coffee, so I grabbed the pot to keep my thoughts occupied.

  Chapter Three

  “Nova, try not to screw it up this time,” Levi teased me.

  I laughed and gave him a playful shove. “Be nice. This is only my second time.”

  “You’re doing fine.”

  He sat back on the park bench and crossed his arms over his chest while I readjusted the camera lens. Another kid at the skate park took his position at the top of the half pipe, and I anticipated his movement. I took a shot just as he completed a backside 360.

  I looked over the shot on the LCD screen and showed it to Levi.

  “Not bad,” he nodded. “Try it again and anticipate just a second sooner.”

  The same kid was still working the half pipe, so as he began an airwalk grab, I snapped the picture.

  Levi looked it over and smiled. “Nice. Now you’re ready to be my assistant.”

  I chuckled and shook my head. “I’ll need more time getting to know your camera.”

  “Mm, it’s not hard. You can always cheat and switch it to auto.” He flipped a switch on the camera and handed it back to me with a smile.

  I cast him a scowl before I raised the camera to the half pipe again and took an easy picture. “Did you just want me to fail first?” I asked him.

  “No,” he chuckled. “I just wanted you to learn the real way. Almost anyone can take a picture these days with all the fancy cameras there are, but to actually learn photography skills is more beneficial. Next time we can try out some vintage cameras.”

  “That sounds like a plan.”

  We went back to photographing the skate park, and while I took a phone call, Levi wandered toward the group of kids to talk to them. One of the boys was his younger cousin, Gray, and the other four were Gray’s friends.

  The call was from work. Phoebe was sick and went home early. Ava was out of town for the day, and Becca had her little boys to watch, so the only feasible option was calling me in early. Normally I wouldn’t have cared to fill in—the other ladies had done it for me before—but I was actually having a really good time with Levi at the park and I didn’t want to leave.

  But… “Yeah, I’ll be there,” I told Robin. I glanced at my watch that read twelve-fifteen. “Just give me about twenty minutes.”

  “Thank you, Nova. I’m already swamped right now as it is—lunch rush—so hurry!” she pleaded before she hung up.

  I joined Levi at the half pipe and with a frown said, “I have to go into work early. I’m sorry.”

  “Oh.”

  “Um, do you mind taking me there and I’ll just get a ride home later?”

  “No, that’s fine.” He said departing words to the boys at the ramp and then headed back to the bench. He grabbed his camera bag and put the camera away as we walked to his truck.

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  “Oh, don’t worry about it. I had a good time.”

  He smiled at me, and it made me smile back.

  “So did I,” I told him. “I really don’t want to leave but… I guess I’ll have to make it up to you.”

  “Yep, you will,” he said, taking my hand as we walked.

  Then I started thinking about the fact that we’d seen each other a few time
s now. Once he stopped by the diner to take my break with me, another time he came over to my house for an hour to quiz me for a test I had the next day, and then here we were at the park enjoying the nice spring day before I headed into work. But I guess the pressure had kind of built on me because I knew that a kiss was bound to come pretty soon, and I knew I wanted him to kiss me at that point because I really did like him.

  It seemed as if he could read my mind, because when we stopped at his truck and he set his camera inside, he turned to me and asked, “Is it okay to kiss you? I mean I really want to, but if it’s not something you’re comfortable with then I won’t. But I just feel like we’ve got a connection, you know? And maybe it’s just me, but…”

  He stopped when I wrapped my arms around his waist and stepped closer to him. It took him a moment to realize that was my answer, and after he concluded the pause with a smile, he leaned down and kissed me.

  Friday brought me another surprise. I had the morning shift that day, and Robin came in around one-thirty to work an extra fill-in because Becca had to cut out early.

  Robin had just taken over Becca’s tables when she came across me at the register and whispered, “He’s back, huh? Did he ask you out yet?” I gave her a blank stare and she gaped at me. “You still didn’t recognize him?” she chuckled. She motioned across the room with a nod of her head. “Table two.”

  I glanced across the room and settled my eyes on the guy sitting by himself, looking over some papers in between glancing out the window. Then he looked across the room and our eyes met. I was frozen for a second, not sure of what I was supposed to do. I was still a little confused about the last time he’d been in and I wasn’t sure what to think.

  He actually gave me a tiny smile, more of a smirk from the corner of his mouth, and then he returned his attention to the papers in front of him.

  I think I growled out loud because Robin chuckled and said, “He gets under your skin, huh? I thought it was the other guy that was annoying? You know, the big talker.”

  I sighed. “I don’t know. I’m not sure what to think.”

  “Well I think you should go talk to him. You’re done in fifteen, Nova. Just lose the apron and join him at his table.”

  “What if he gets up and leaves?”

  “Nova…” She gave me a very stern look. “I love you honey, but you’re being really retarded right now. Excuse my language because I shouldn’t use that word, so don’t be a dumbass.”

  I smiled, but before I could respond, she left for table five with a fresh pot of coffee in her hand.

  A customer arrived to pay his tab, and I was temporarily distracted, but after I completed the transaction, I glanced across the room to find that same pair of eyes looking my way, and then the tiny little smirk that followed.

  Okay. I’m being really insecure about this, right? I’ll just go over there, have a casual conversation with him, and see where it takes me.

  Not that hard.

  I hung up my apron in the back just as Phoebe arrived. After I clocked out, I found myself straightening up in the bathroom. There was nothing I could do about the cherry pie stain on the corner of my sleeve, but I could at least touch up my hair and makeup, right?

  In realizing why I was trying to strengthen my appearance, I became a little embarrassed. I knew that I was actually attracted to this guy, and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. That’s what it had to do with all along. I knew he was the guy I wanted to win the bet, and then he’d completely snubbed me by paying the money instead of going out on a date with me. Yes, that offended me, and yes, it had wounded my confidence. However, he was here, in the café. And according to Robin, he comes in somewhat regularly. Why? Obviously not to have me as a waitress so…why?

  My curiosity got the better of me, and on a last second whim, I took a deep breath and marched myself out to the dining room to finally talk to him.

  He was already gone.

  Saturday was my day off, so after checking things off of my list that morning—jog, clean out my car, follow-up call to a veterinary clinic in Thousand Oaks, and trip to the grocery store—I headed over to the nursing home to spend some time with my grandpa. I almost felt like I was interrupting his day since he was in the middle of a pretty intense poker game with a few of his buddies, but he insisted I sit down with him anyway.

  “You’re my lucky charm, Noves,” he said, still deep in concentration. He slid two cards across the table and the dealer slid two back to him from the deck.

  “That’s kind of odd, Gramps, because I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen you win.”

  “Oh, phooey!” he scoffed, shaking his head. “It’s April Fool’s Day… Maybe something exciting will happen.”

  I smiled and watched the hand be played out. Grandpa did end up losing, but he didn’t say anything about it as we walked outside to the courtyard.

  I guess I couldn’t say he lived in a nursing home. It was assisted living, and if you actually called it a nursing home he’d get all bent out of shape. “I can take a dump in the toilet just as well as you can,” he’d grumble. “Well, sometimes,” he would add with a funny smile. That was my Grandpa Clark—somewhat of a cantankerous outer shell, but just a sweet old man on the inside. The crankiness is just his form of being playful.

  “So what’s happening at the café?” he asked as we sat down in a couple of chairs. His favorite spot was by the water fountain, so after he did his customary finger poke in the cold water, he settled his attention on me.

  “Oh, not much. Josiah burned his hand again the other day. I had to cook for a few minutes until he had it taken care of. I hate cooking.”

  He chuckled. “Your pretty face needs to be seen out front,” he said with a nod. “So speaking of men and dating…”

  I laughed and shook my head. It was my grandpa’s wish to see me find “a nice young man that treated me like a queen.”

  “You’ve got yourself a young whippersnapper courting you, huh?”

  “Levi?”

  “Yes, that’s what I hear.”

  “Yeah… Well, we’re not really dating just yet.”

  “You gave him forewarning, did ya? You need to stop putting up that wall, Nova. Sure you’re a busy girl, but quit using it to detach yourself from having a serious relationship with someone.”

  My grandpa was not just another grandparent that seemed to be lost in his own dating era—Gramps was pretty up-to-date with the world—but the main reason he was so easy to talk to was because he knew so much about me. He’d always taken the time to figure me out.

  “He kissed me yesterday,” I told him casually.

  “Oh, yeah? Well that’s some progress. Did ya like it?” he asked in somewhat of a gruff but teasing tone.

  I chuckled and said, “Yeah Gramps, I did.”

  He slightly nodded. “I almost knocked your grandma’s teeth out the first time I kissed her,” he said.

  I laughed out loud. “You were that clumsy?”

  “No, I was just that damn nervous.”

  “What did Grandma do?”

  “Well, at first she just looked at me with that “What the hell?” look she had. You know, right?”

  I nodded.

  “But then she couldn’t resist my apology for being such a stupid fool.”

  “And?”

  “And then she was all over me,” he grinned.

  I had to laugh again as I looped my arm through his. “I don’t think Grandma could have resisted you if she tried,” I told him.

  “Well,” he kind of shrugged, “I mean she tried to on occasion. It really lit her on fire when she couldn’t lock me out of the house entirely because I crawled through the tiny bathroom window—it didn’t latch properly.”

  “My mom told me that story,” I smiled. “Grandma was mad because you could fit through the window and she couldn’t.”

  “That might have upset her more than what we were actually fighting about,” he joked.

  “And what was that?
I’m not sure I know that part of it.”

  “Well, I had promised her I’d be home by five that night. I think Clover and Meryl were only four and six at the time, and we were going to take them to see Santa at the department store. I would have been home early, but then a couple of the guys invited me to head to the tracks for a race. Just one race. So…I went, knowing that I’d be at least a half hour late. But I was sure I could sweet talk your grandma into forgiving me, so I decided to just do it and apologize for it later.

  “Well, I not only lost my money on the race, but your grandma had locked me out of the house.” He shook his head and sighed. “It wasn’t that I was late that night; it was the fact that I had promised her I would be home, and I took her for granted. And I let the girls down. It was a stupid mistake, and I’ll never forget how I felt when I saw her comforting them that night, trying to make it all better.” He looked at me and squeezed my hand. “We’re a dumb species, us men. But we’re nothing without our women. Your grandma put up with a lot of my stupidity, but hopefully she knew how much I loved her. And because of her patience and tolerance, she made me a better man over the years. I owe a lot to that woman.”

  “Aw, Grandma’s in heaven right now, nodding her agreement saying, ‘You got that right, mister.’ ”

  He chuckled. “I’m sure she is. Now, back to you, my fiery little Supernova. Tell me about Levi.”

  So we talked about Levi for a few minutes, and then, because I’d told my grandpa the story of those four guys in the diner and my interactions with them, I decided to share the most recent news about the saga. He was truly intrigued.

  “So now you can’t wait until he comes in again,” he smiled.

  I rolled my eyes but said, “I doubt it. Maybe now that he knows I’ve recognized him there, his anonymity has been compromised.”

  “He wants to talk to you, Noves. Don’t be a dummy.”

  “Thanks Grandpa.”

  He shrugged. “Well, it’s pretty obvious if you ask me.”

  “So what if he does come in again. What if I do go talk to him, maybe he does ask me out…”