keep telling myself the slight pang I feel in my stomach is just hunger, not sadness that he ignored me the same way I was ignoring him.
Fatigue sets in well before my shift is over, I’m grateful it’s one of the busier nights. “Have you taken a break at all Laura?” Maggie’s concerned voice catches me as I pass by the bar to get another refill.
“I will soon,” I promise over my shoulder, intending to do just that as soon as I have a second. I need food, I haven’t eaten all day. While I’m used to going hungry occasionally, my body is telling me now isn’t one of those times. It’s near closing time when I put in an order for lasagna with Gus. I’ve been craving it ever since the night I ate with the guys. There are only a few tables left, and all of them have been served their meals so I don’t feel guilty when I drop my plate and my body into the back table, which is usually reserved for rolling napkins and cleaning the plastic menus. I sigh as achiness invades my bones, I thought I was coming down with something last week, but once I slept I seemed be fine. Right now though, I feel like complete crap.
As the first bite melts on my tongue the chime above the door jingles. I close my eyes, savoring the flavor. The ‘seat yourself sign’ is posted, so I have a second before I need to get up. “Hey boys,” Maggie calls, interrupting my reprieve.
“Hey Gran,” Milo returns.
“You guys been busy tonight?” Ollie questions, sliding into the booth across from me. I take a deep breath noticing he looks about as good as I feel. His skin is pale, and his eyes are glassy. He even has a swath of darkness under his eyes. I immediately feel guilty, he must have slept on the couch last night too, not much though by the looks of it.
“Not too busy, are you feeling okay?”
Ollie’s lips thin as I examine him.
“Oh yeah, I’m good.” He looks away from me and pushes himself back in the bench, sitting up a little straighter.
“Well I feel horrid. I was feeling off last week. Nothing too bad, but I think it finally caught up to me. Sorry if I gave you my cold.” Ollie’s hand reaches across the table and he snags my breadstick, taking a big bite from the end. Without thought I reach over and snatch it right back shoving the next bite in my mouth. His lips round in surprise before a chuckle leaves his chest.
He glances up behind me. “Remind me not to steal her food, she’s kinda greedy.” The words are spoken lightly, but I feel a tinge of embarrassment anyway.
“I’m sorry, here.” I try to hand him the breadstick, my eyes on the table. Arm still outstretched, I scoot over when someone bends into the booth next to me.
I feel a hand on my wrist, gently pushing. “Laura, I was just kidding, eat.” Ollie doesn’t sound affronted, he sounds genuine. I peek up at him, and I notice his eyes are brighter and he has a slight flush to his cheeks.
I feel an arm lift and land on the back of the bench behind me. Turning my head, I see Milo, his hair is disheveled and he’s wearing a threadbare green t-shirt. Is he getting sick too?
I swirl my fork in the red sauce on the plate, still hungry, but a little self-conscious to eat when they aren’t. “Eat Laura, we already had dinner,” Milo tells me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. I take a quick look over my shoulder, making sure no one needs anything before scooping up my next bite. Within minutes I’m already feeling better. I need to make sure I’m eating regularly or I really will end up sick.
Ollie jumps up with much more pep in his step as he swaggers up to the counter. I track him as he hops over the bar. “Oliver,” Maggie scolds, catching him in the act as she returns from the kitchen.
Unabashed, Ollie grabs a cloth from the bleach bucket and makes a point of walking all the way around to the booth that was just vacated by an older couple. He drops the damp towel on the table before gathering the mugs and plates left behind, taking them to the kitchen. My cheeks heat, will Maggie think he’s doing my job? I turn