Page 3 of Final Girl

She can’t stay in the shadows forever.

Everyone makes mistakes and when she does. I’ll be waiting.

Chapter Three

“Girl, could you be more obvious?” Sally places a menu in front of me on the table, even though she knows I always order the same thing. And it isn’t like that menu has been updated in the past twenty years. Their weekly specials run on the same schedule.

“What?” I tuck a stray lock of my hair behind my ear as my glasses slide down my nose. I press the black thick rims back up the slope of my nose and hope the embarrassment staining my cheeks isn’t noticeable. “I don’t get what you mean.”

“Come off it. Every single day you come in and sit at the same table, at the same time, knowing that at any moment Pike is going to come through that door to grab his to go order. Hoping that this time will be the day he notices you pining after him.”

“I have an assigned lunch hour, and this happens to be the closest place that has a decent rating from the health department.” I don’t have to explain myself to Sally of all people but I do it anyway. I’m a people pleaser by nature. I can’t help myself. It is my biggest character flaw.

“Don’t get defensive, but if you want a man like that to notice you,” she takes a dramatic pause, “then…”

“What?”

“Let down that hair and show some cleavage. Maybe wear some contacts. Play hard to get. Men want what they think they will never have. Make him chase you.”

“Thanks for the tip. I’ll have a water with two lemons. A grilled chicken sandwich. Light mayo. Sweet potato fries.”

“Don’t get mad at me.”

“I’m not mad.”

“Dels. I know you. You’re this sweet, good girl. I am only trying to help get you laid.”

“I don’t need to get laid. I need you to do your job and place my order with Carl.”

“Fine. You don’t want my help. Whatever, virgin.”

“Ouch,” I mutter as she struts away, swinging her hips. The bell over the door rings and in walks Pike in his dark blue patrol uniform. There’s just something about a man in uniform, but especially Pike. He looks deadly with his gun on his hip. My pulse races through my veins as I study him over the brim of the menu that Sally forgot to take with her. It doesn’t matter though. His eyes are trained on the way her uniform hugs her curves. The way her ass sways when she walks like she might hypnotize him with the fluid movement.

I’ve known Sally since seventh grade. I’ve always felt as if she hated me. Maybe I’m just reading too much into it? There are days where she tries to be polite, but then it comes off as if she’s being rude as all heck. My bestie always told me to never pay attention to Sally, but sometimes it’s hard, when I’m aware she’s the type of woman that men go for. Confident, gorgeous, experienced, basically every guy’s dream. Me? I’m just the mousy girl next door. The shy librarian. The virgin. Most guys don’t want an inexperienced virgin.

They want the porn star experience. Not someone who has never even looked at a dick in real life let alone touched one.

The door to the diner opens again, and I glance up and smile. Talia, my best friend, strolls in rocking a pair of knee-high combat boots and shorts so short I blush for her. I wish I was as confident as she is. She does whatever she wants, wears what she wants, and doesn’t give a flying fig about anyone’s opinion.

Shaking my head, I wait for her to bounce over to me. “What’s up, hot stuff?” she grins as she takes the seat across from me in my usual booth, or should I say, our usual booth. “I have a secret,” she singsongs to me.

I groan. Great, her secrets are usually about some guy she’s been seeing, or random gossip around town. Usually, the secrets she reveals to me, I am already aware, but play dumb so she doesn’t feel bad. I overhear a lot at work.

I don’t like to kill her vibe, as she calls it.

“Don’t groan at me. This is good shit.”

Pouting, I give in to her shenanigans. “Fine, spill.”

“Someone has the hots for you.”

I snort and roll my eyes. “Yeah, okay Tali, sure. You already get into the booze this morning?”

Narrowing her eyes at me, she gives me a glare that has me trying not to laugh. “Girl, don’t even. Trust me. You’ll want to hear this. I have news about my brother.”

“What’s Pike got to do with me?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. You’ve always had a thing for my brother, and you’ve always thought he never paid you any attention, but bitch, please. Not only am I the best friend, I’m also the best sister in the world. And he came to me this morning, asking to join us for lunch. This only means one thing and one thing only.”