Her First Love

Ch 3

When Susan woke up around 10, the couch was empty with a note beside her bedside table. 

Thank you for helping me last night. 

How about dinner tonight?  On me. 

Zack

P.S. sorry for being a jerk. 

Susan smiled after reading the message, remembering Robbie’s advice, she decided to give Zack a chance by having dinner with him tonight. Getting excited about the day, Susan got dressed, wearing her morning work clothes. Might as well work since she was already here, Susan decided. She headed downstairs ready to be whoever she needed to be. 

Sometimes she waitressed, sometimes she managed the counter, and other times she made coffee, leaving the manager’s job to Fiona despite being the owner. Susan was so lost in her work that she didn’t even notice it was already 6. She felt tired but happy, just ready to go home and sleep. As she was putting her clothes back on, she felt the note in the back pocket of her jeans. She had forgotten about the dinner and she had no idea how to contact Zack either since he hadn’t left a number. Feeling dismayed, Susan decided to let Fiona know she was going home and to tell Zack she will meet him tomorrow for dinner. She also told Fiona to give him her number just in case and only if he asked. 

Susan left the coffee house with only sleep in mind. She had lunch so wasn’t too hungry right now, maybe around midnight. With her crazy schedule, she ate when she was hungry not when it was time. 

She had just stepped out of a hot shower when her phone rang. Putting on a robe, she saw the call was from an unknown number, maybe it’s Zack, she wondered. Susan picked up the call and was greeted by a lady about buying her products. Since she opened up the business, she had been getting a lot of calls to buy products from different companies. She bought some too if the product was right. However, this time she was too tired to deal with anyone, giving the lady her office number to call tomorrow. Susan finished her night rituals before turning in for the night. All of a sudden her phone went off.

Susan glanced at the clock and was angry to know that she had only slept 2 hours. She picked up the phone ready to kick someone’s ass for calling her at 9. This time she was greeted by the voice of a man. It took some time for her to recognize it as Zack's voice.

“Hey, do you know what time it is?” started Susan angrily.

“Hey, sorry again, I was just calling about the dinner. Like the jackass I am, I forgot to give you my number or take your number. If today is a bad day, we can do it tomorrow.” replied Zack genuinely sorry. 

“Zack, is that you?” 

“Only if you won’t get mad.” Susan laughed at his nervousness. 

“I am home right now. I was too tired from working the double shift that I just want to sleep right now. As for dinner, I usually eat late since I work a crazy schedule.” 

“Oh, ok. What time would be good for you then?” Zack questioned sounding hopeful. 

As if to scare him, Susan replied “After midnight, most times.” 

“Wow, that's too late for anyone but I can understand” Zack sounded dejected. 

“How about I meet you tomorrow, I will keep my schedule free for dinner tomorrow, say around 6. Is that ok?” 

“That sounds good but what will you be eating tonight?”

“Not sure, haven't checked the fridge yet. I have to do the groceries too so probably whatever I can find.” 

“Hmm, ok. Will see you tomorrow then?” Zack's sudden change made Susan wonder if she was doing the right thing by having dinner with him. One minute he was concerned and the next he was not. Susan just replied bye before going back to sleep only to be woken 3 hours later at midnight by the ringing of her doorbell. 

She got up confused as to who would ring her bell at this hour. Although she might live in a nice neighborhood, courtesy of her bar turning huge profits, a girl should always be careful anytime in this day and age. That’s why she kept a stick in her bedroom closet. 

As she walked to her door, she gripped her stick tightly before peeping through the door’s hole and was surprised to see Zack. She had never given him her address but looks like someone had, probably Robbie. She was going to kill him if she is still alive by tomorrow. She saw Zack’s hands were behind him, hiding something. Maybe he is here to kill me, now Robbie is definitely dead, Susan swore before calling out to Zack. 

“Zack, what are you doing here at midnight?”

“I came here to check on you and I bought something, it’s a surprise. You can see it if you would open the door.”

“No way I am opening this door until you bring your hands forward. For all I know, you could be here to kill me for canceling dinner.” 

Zack chuckled before saying “I swear that I am here with pure intentions. I just want to see your face when I give you the surprise. But if you would rather see it now, here goes nothing” he said while holding two take-out bags. 

Susan smiled before opening the door, still keeping her stick close by, just in case. 

Zack saw the stick and chuckled again “I see you're prepared, have experience with a lot of midnight visitors? Do you?” 

“Not much, just some annoying guys who scare me half to death by ringing the bell at midnight,” Susan said sarcastically. 

She motioned him to the dining table before going back to her bedroom to dress appropriately which she should have done before. Susan dressed in old faded jeans and a sweatshirt before walking out. By then Zack had taken out two Chinese takeouts, one with rice and one with chicken noodles. 

“What if I said that I hate Chinese food? What would you do?” asked Susan mischievously.