Page 17 of Letters From Avery
“He said he was going to the bank, I think.”
“Cool, when he gets back would you just tell him I’ll catch him tonight at home?”
I took a piss and scrubbed my greasy hands and arms in the bathroom sink with gritty shop soap before pulling a clean shirt over my head and splashing some cool water on my face. After stepping into a fresh pair of jeans, I stuffed my dirty jumpsuit into the hamper just outside the bathroom door.
It took much less time to drive to June’s than it had taken on the subway. I was hoping to be there towards the end of Avery’s shift. I had convinced myself that I had enough courage to properly introduce myself this time and tell him who I was. I wasn’t going to bitch out like last time. Hopefully, if all went well, he would let me take him somewhere after he’d finished working.
Like a date. My first date.
The place was packed when I walked in. It was much busier than the last two times I had been there. I had come to see Avery again the day before yesterday, but he wasn’t working. So I just ordered a club sandwich and went about my way. I did manage to get logged into my old Facebook account, but there was no one on it that I gave a shit about. I tried to look up Avery, but I couldn’t find him.
The counter was full, so I found my way over to one of the few empty booths along the side of the restaurant. There were two servers at different tables, but I couldn’t see Avery anywhere. I hoped he didn’t have split days off, or something silly like that. The air was scented with bacon grease and the sweetness of maple syrup, and the noise of the customers was a dim, indistinct roar just under my notice. I hadn’t eaten, and my stomach was rumbling, but my brain was laser-focused. I wasn’t at June’s for food; not really. There was something that I wanted much more than pancakes, and I was praying he put in an appearance.
Shortly after I sat down in the booth, Avery appeared from the swinging kitchen door. God, if he wasn’t the most gorgeous thing in the room. He was wearing a yellow knit beanie with some of his hair peeking out at the nape of his neck. He wore skinny blue jeans underneath his tie-on apron that disappeared into classic red and white high-tops. He wore a red and white three-quarter sleeve baseball-style shirt. He looked good in red. It brought out the gold in his eyes.
I must have done something to curry favor with the universe because Avery spotted me and smiled. He grabbed a menu off the counter and walked right over to my table. I was nervous I had sat in one of the other server’s sections and I wouldn’t get to talk to Avery at all, but my fears were dispelled.
“Welcome back.” Avery greeted me with a friendly smile.
“Thanks. I like it here,” I replied stupidly, as if this mediocre and very dated diner was Disneyland or something. (Although, there was definitely an attraction here that I wanted to ride.)
Avery laughed. “Well, if you want to get the full experience, I think we’re hiring.”
“Would I get to see your adorable face every day?”
Avery’s eyes widened, and a deep blush spread down his neck as he quickly looked away.
I can’t believe I said that.
“Sorry,” I stammered. “That was maybe inappropriate.”
Avery looked back. “It’s okay.” He smiled, but didn’t meet my eye. “Coffee?”
“Actually, if I could have a soda, that would be great.”
“Coke?”
I nodded, and Avery turned and walked away.
“Wanna take it easy, lover boy?” I chastised myself quietly. “Don’t make him think you are some kind of creep.”
I was better prepared for Avery’s return and had my lunch order on the tip of my tongue—a patty melt with fries, add a tomato slice. The diner was extremely busy, and I didn’t want to give him anytrouble by monopolizing his time when other people were depending on him. I really wanted us to have a chance to talk, though.
I decided I would just eat really slowly in hopes the place would die down enough to get a chance to catch his attention. He blushed when I called him pretty… or did I sayadorable? Either way, that had to be a good sign, right?
I’d sit here till closing if I had to.
It took about 15 minutes for him to bring out my lunch. He briskly asked if I needed anything else and then was on his way back to the kitchen. I hoped he was just really busy, and I hadn’t weirded him out with my comment.
I’m apparently bad at flirting. Note taken.
In fairness to myself, it’s not as if I ever had any real practice. I wasn’t even out before I went to prison. And I certainly wasn't flirting with anyone in prison, nor announcing my sexuality in any way whatsoever. There were very few people bigger than me, so I doubt it would have been an issue, but the last thing I wanted was to catch extra time for fighting. My philosophy was to keep my head low and my business private. A good strategy for prison, but I’d not really had any opportunity to hone my social skills. Especially not when it came to cute-as-a-bug waiters.
The patty melt was okay, but kind of greasy. I finished it, but decided to stick with a regular burger in thefuture. I was trailing my last fry through a blob of ketchup when I noticed that the diner had, in fact, slowed down a bit. Some of the tables had cleared out, and, with fewer voices echoing around the space, I was actually able to hear the radio playing softly in the background.
“Sorry it’s been a little crazy today. I hope you’re not late getting back to work or anything,” Avery said as he laid the bill face down on the edge of the table.
I smiled. “Not at all. I was actually finished for the day.”
