booms, ripping through the moment. We both startle, I even jump back like I was too close to something that was going to get me in trouble. I think I might just have been.
“Glad you could still make it sweetheart. Laura's been doing fine, but I won't turn down the extra help.”
The purpose of his question finally clicks into place, he's working, and he was asking which section he'd be on.
I'm so clueless, what else could this beautiful boy have meant? A nervous giggle almost escapes when I realize how silly I'm being.
Recovering quickly Oliver, or Ollie as Maggie calls him, gives her a megawatt smile before walking over to the counter, where he winks at me.
Now I'm really flustered.
The rest of the night I try to keep my distance, but it seems impossible when we're working together. Every second he's not taking orders or filling drinks, he's right behind me helping with my tables. I don't imagine he's insinuating I'm not capable, in fact he's told me how great I'm doing more than once. After working with him the past few hours, he seems like the sort who has a problem sitting still, he's constantly moving.
By the end of the night I'm pretty beat. Oliver kept me on my proverbial social toes all evening. Throwing random questions at me left and right, I also spent way too much time checking the door every time the bell jingled to see if Dante would show up.
“Well, that's it for me Maggie,” I tell her after finishing mopping the bathrooms. She looks up from behind the counter with a small smile.
“Sounds good Hun.” Oliver comes out from behind the swinging doors that lead to the kitchen. I wasn't sure if he was still here, since I'd been cleaning the bathrooms for a while.
“Perfect timing Ollie, you can give Laura a ride home. I hate that she walks so late at night.”
His eyes jerk over to mine accusingly. “You walk? Why doesn't someone pick you up?”
I'm already dismissing the idea while he's speaking. There's no way I want him knowing I live in an old broken down mobile home.
“That's really okay, I don't mind walking, it's good exercise.” I ignore his question altogether. Oliver snorts and wraps Maggie in a hug, which manages to make the robust woman seem small. She pats his back in an affectionate manor.
“You see Laura home safe Ollie. I'll see you and the boys tomorrow.” Now it's my turn to be ignored.
“Come on little Gray.”
“Huh?” I ask in confusion, while Oliver grabs my arm and tows me out the door. That same electric fuzziness is tingling up and down my arm, distracting me from his soft manhandling as he guides me into his car, and wondering why he called me Gray.
With another brush down my arm, I find myself sitting in the front seat of an older muscle car as Oliver closes the door behind me.
He jumps in the driver seat and cranks the engine, which purrs to life with a throaty growl. I can feel the motor. My hands immediately widen, one reaching for the door, the other for the center console.
Oliver looks over at me when I do. He grabs my hand and rolls his eyes. “This is Dante’s car.” He shakes his head like he's exasperated and his statement should explain everything.
He doesn't let go of my hand for a few seconds, but when he does, he places it on my lap with a small pat.
“Where to?” he asks, while backing out using the mirrors.
Now remembering he's driving me home, I suffer a moment of panic. I don’t even care that he's going to see where I live at this point. I have bigger problems. I need to avoid my mother seeing I'm getting a ride home at all costs. I don't even know the kind of reaction that would prompt from her.
“Um, just down that road a bit, then turn left.” Once we're out of the parking lot I try to get him to drop me off. “This is fine. I can walk from here.” His head whips to the side, scrutinizing me.
“We've gone like ten feet. And there are no houses here, I think I'd know.” Under his breath he adds, “we've been waiting here long enough.”
Again, he confuses me. I can't address that now though. I have other more important things to deal with. “Listen, it's just up the road a little bit, but I need you to promise you’ll drop me