Bound by Radiant Shadows

Chapter 5: Joyride Episode

Since it was nearly lunchtime, we decided to run to the diner to get our paychecks and grab a bite to eat, hoping it would settle Tammy’s stomach. When we got to the restaurant, I started to feel dizzy and took an audible breath. Tammy looked at me concerned. "I think I am still a bit hungover," I said. It's strange though, I felt perfectly fine before, I thought to myself. We got out of the car and walked to the diner. The closer we got to the door, the sicker I felt. I tried tp downplay how I was feeling. I wanted to ensure she got something to eat since she had a rough night. The diner wasn't as full as yesterday, so we went straight to the back office.

Harry the corpulent manager was sitting back in his wooden office chair. Harry was in his early 60’s balding and almost always angry. Tammy approached him in her usual sing-song manner "Good morning hair-bear" Tammy beamed even though it was half past noon. He grunted at her with his head down looking over the recipes from the night before. This was a positive response in Harry's mind. He briefly turned his eyes away from his receipt and looked at me annoyed, "I heard you were late yesterday, Lynette." He spat. Here we go, I thought. Usually, Harry doesn't concern himself with the front end, leaving most of the responsibility to Tammy, but, he has a special distaste for me, and the feeling was mutual. "I'm sorry Harry, my alarm didn't go off" I groveled but, I wasn't feeling like a fight today. "Hump" he scoffed. "Tammy likes you, but if you let it happen again, I'll have to let you go. I can't have unreliable waitresses." He rolled his eyes, leaned back, and handed me and Tammy two envelopes with our checks. Thank you, I mumbled, unable to feign my demeanor. Harry grunted in response.

"You know Harry, I'm hungry. Do you mind if I grab some food?" Tammy asked. Almost flirty, Harry’s disposition immediately changed at the opportunity to please Tammy. Honestly, I don't know what magic she has over him, but it works every time. "Sure sweetheart, get whatever you want, just bring me the receipt when you're done," he said with a rare smile. He glared at me, making it evident that he didn’t want to pay for my meal. Tammy just ignored him. Thank you, hair-bear, you're the best manager ever, she beamed. Harry laughed, "We can't have that getting around, everyone will be begging for free meals." He glared at me when he said that.

After our conversation with Harry, we ordered two cheeseburgers, fries, and soda. Dark soda has always been my vice. Harry always moans about us going through Dr. Pepper so fast. So far, I don't think he's caught on to me sneaking a cup or two home. “Why is it that Harry spoils you so much?” I asked Tammy bluntly. She looked a little uncomfortable, which made me feel bad about bringing it up, but I was genuinely curious. They have always seemed to have a close friendship and I never understood how Tammy could never understand it.

She just sighed and leaned forward in the booth. Harry understands my situation, you know he was a single father for years after his wife died.” I told her I didn't know anything about that, and she explained that after she and her husband split up, Harry offered her the job there and was a confidant when dealing with her ex and her children. There was a soft side to Harry that I didn't know and, honestly, I felt jealous that I wasn't that friend for her. “I’m sorry I wasn't there for you”, I admitted. She looked at me confused, "Lyne, you were as good as you could be, around that time you had enough going on.” She was right, my sister was going through treatment around the same time. Even if it's with Harry, I’m glad that she had someone who could be there for her.

Kayla, the younger waitress in the diner, brought the food to our booth. She leaned down and whispered, "So, have you seen the hottie in my section?" Tammy craned her neck trying to catch a glimpse. Kayla continued, "he seems like he's not from around here, I've bet you I can get his number". She winked and sauntered off to check on the stranger's table. Kayla was an infamous flirt. Even though she was barely 18 and prided herself on picking up older men. When she walked away, Tammy whispered to me, "I overheard her telling a poor guy that she was 25 years old last week, that girl is going to get herself in trouble someday." While Tammy and I were eating and gossiping, I noticed Kayla out of the corner of my eye looking more and more sour with every pass of our table. Who is this guy that's putting her in such a sour mood? I looked behind me, curiosity getting the best of me.

Sitting in the back corner booth sat the same guy from before, tall and muscular as before. The Tattoos on his arms were covered by a jacket, but you could still see the pieces creeping up his collar. and his platinum blond hair was covered by a baseball cap and he was sitting facing my direction. His ice-blue eyes caught mine.

I quickly turned around and looked at Tammy. Tammy’s eyes widened, “What's wrong?” she said instantly. I told her about seeing the same guy at the diner the day before and at the bar, “Do you think it's a coincidence?” I asked. She thought for a minute then said, “You know Lyne, it's a small town, he must just like the food here.” Tammy attempted to crane her neck to get a good look. She raised her eyebrows. "Dang, how did I miss that?" That man is a god. I took a breath and closed my eyes. I felt like I was going to get sick. “I’m more worried about you even though you look sick,” she said.

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I woke up in the back office of the diner with my head pounding. How did I get here? Tammy stood over me fanning me and someone placed a wet rag on my forehead. My head was spinning as I tried to sit up. Tammy said she was going to grab some water. I heard a deep voice behind her. “You should sit up slowly”. I looked up, and it was the guy from the booth. "I'm Zane," he said.

Before I could say anything, Tammy flew back into the office and handed me a glass of water rattling about how scared and worried she was. She took a breath to refocus her energy, "how are you feeling she said?" "Okay, I guess, what happened?" I torpidly asked. Tammy reverted to the mommy voice I'd heard her use on her boys many times before. "Sweetheart, you fainted; you scared the lights out of me. If it wasn't for Zane carrying you in here, I would have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off" at the mention of the new stranger, she looked up at Zane and almost blushed. I raised my eyebrows at Zane, but he didn't seem to notice Tammy, he was intently staring at me. "Are you okay", he kneeled level to my face, causing the blood to rise to my cheeks.

He seemed genuine and not at all scary like I had thought before. I smiled reassuringly, "Uh, I think I'll be okay, thank you." I spoke. He was so close to me, that I could smell his cologne. It smelled so fresh and sweet even in my lightheaded state it activated the butterflies in my stomach. "I've worked twelve 13-hour busy shifts with you, and I've never seen you faint before," Tammy interjected. "That's fair I've never fainted before," I said while rubbing my temples. This only increased her concern for me. "I should take you home," she said. “If you give me a few minutes, I’ll be fine.” I tried to reassure her, but she wasn't having any of it. Tammy insisted that I not drive. Knowing her when she gets determined, I relented and agreed to a ride home.

At that point, Harry went into his office to shoo us out. She looked up at Zane and turned on her charm. "Zane, do you mind following me and Lynette home, I don't think she should be driving, and I would like a ride home too?" I inwardly rolled my eyes and stood up. "Tammy, I'm fine there no need to fuss," I argued. She scoffed and looked up at Zane. Zane shrugged, “No problem.” It looked almost like he was holding back a chuckle at Tammy’s bossiness.

Tammy then ushered me out to Zane's truck. I stopped at the door. "Wait... No!” I said, realizing what she was thinking. “You are not driving my car?" I said maybe a little firmly. Tammy flipped the keys in her hand she took from my purse while I passed out and said, “Ms. Lynette today seems to be the day for joyrides..." I rolled my eyes. And swung open the old pickup door. "Tammy I will be watching you!" She rolled her eyes "I won't hurt your precious baby."