Hooked
1253 Words
✽ Mandy ✽
Two weeks of late-night messages had made David feel familiar, even though I had never heard his voice in person or even seen him. Aside from his photo on his profile. I still caught myself checking my apartment twice before bed. Every few days, something seemed slightly off, but nothing ever looked truly disturbed. No proof. Just a steady itch under my skin that refused to go away. At Clover & Steel, I tried to focus on work, but Rosa caught me smiling at my phone and pounced.
“Tell me,” she demanded as she leaned on the counter. “How is your online boyfriend?”
“He is not my boyfriend,” I said, even though my face warmed. Rosa grinned knowingly.
“Do you like him?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “I like him,”
“Finally,” she said, pleased. “Tell me about him. What is he like?”
“Basketball scholarship. Mystery movies. Rain. Tacos,” I said. “And he hates sweet treats like chocolate,” Rosa made a face.
“Red flag. Who hates chocolate?”
“Someone who exists,” I said, but I laughed. My phone buzzed again, and David’s name lit up the screen.
➤ David: Are you working tonight?
➤ Mandy: Yes.
➤ David: Can I come by for coffee? I would really like to meet you.
My stomach flipped. I looked at the dining room. It wasn’t busy, but it wasn’t empty either. Saying yes felt exciting and reckless at the same time.
“I should say no,” I whispered. Rosa peeked at the screen and rolled her eyes.
“Say yes. I will cover you for thirty minutes,”
“What if Miss Suzy—”
“She will survive,” Rosa said. “Go. Be a person!”
I typed before I could talk myself out of it.
➤ Mandy: You can come over, but I only have a thirty-minute break.
➤ David: Perfect. See you soon.
The next twenty minutes crawled. I wiped the same counter spot twice. Ben told me to stop hovering. Jason moved through the diner collecting plates, silent and efficient, like always. He didn’t look at me, but I still felt him in my peripheral vision. Then the bell above the door chimed, and David walked in. He looked like his photos, only more real. Dark hair, easy smile, and a green hoodie under his jacket that made his eyes stand out. He scanned the room once, and then his gaze locked onto me. The smile that spread across his face made my knees weak.
“Mandy,” he said as he stepped closer. My heart skipped a beat at his deep tone of voice.
“David,” I replied. My voice came out steadier than I felt. Rosa appeared beside me like a stage manager.
“Go sit,” she whispered. “Thirty minutes,” I nodded and led David to a booth in the back. The diner lights hummed softly overhead, but I didn’t pay any attention to it as I grabbed two cups and the pot of coffee. When I sat down, I noticed, with a small jolt, that it was the same booth Jason used to choose as a customer. I told myself it was just quiet back here. I poured the coffee, and David wrapped his hand around his cup.
“I am glad you said yes,” he said.
“I almost didn’t,” I admitted. “Meeting people is not my strength,” he watched me for a beat of a moment before he slowly nodded.
“You are careful,” he said.
“I am awkward,” I corrected, and he smiled.
“Well, to be honest, I’m glad you look like the woman in your profile picture,”
“Same,” I said with a laugh. I felt awkward and slightly uncomfortable, but it was to be expected. David started to ask questions about my pastry classes, and he listened like he actually cared. He wasn’t different from his texts, which made me relax. After a few minutes, I felt like the conversation between us flowed easily.
“Do you always work nights?” he then asked curiously.
“Most nights,” I said. “Depends on school,”
“What nights are you off?” he asked. It was a simple question, but I blushed anyway.
“It’s random, to be honest,” I said, and he smiled.
“I would like to take you out sometime,” he said, and my cheeks felt like they were on fire. I changed the topic and asked him about his basketball. David told me about his scholarship and his bike.
“You really hate sweets?” I asked as I tried to lighten the mood. David was serious about his basketball, and while that was great, he was a bit too intense for my liking.
“Cannot stand them,” he said. “Chocolate especially,”
“That is tragic,” I teased, and he shot me a wink. But before he could say anything more on the topic, he frowned as he seemed to look past me.
“Who is that?” David asked. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Jason carrying his crate to the back.
“My coworker,” I said. “Jason,”
“Oh, ok…he just…he keeps looking our way,” he said, and I shrugged.
“He is quiet,” I said in defense. David hummed, and I tried to think of a way to save the moment. I was too late when Rosa approached.
“Time’s up,” she said as she shot David an apologetic smile. I got to my feet and smiled.
“Thanks for coming over,” I said.
“Anytime,” he said as he stood up. “Um…would you like to grab a bite after work? I know this awesome pizza place that is open twenty-four-seven,” I stared at him in surprise. I figured Jason watching us had turned David off, but apparently not. I smiled as I relaxed.
“That would be great,”
“Nice, I’ll be back at closing,” he said before he started to walk away. David paused and turned to face me. “How much do I owe for the coffee?”
“On the house,” I answered.
“Nice, thanks. And what time is closing?” I checked my phone for the time.
“In about three hours,”
“Great, see you then,” he said before he hurried out of the diner. I breathed a sigh of relief and joined Rosa at the counter.
“Thanks for covering for me,”
“Nothing happened,” she said with a shrug. “But you two looked chummy…is he nice?”
“Yeah, I mean, he seems the same…like, he talks the same way he texts…”
“Yes, but is he nice?”
“Yeah,” I answered as I glanced over at Jason, who was now clearing the booth we had just left. “Yeah,”
“He looks decent enough,” Rosa remarked, and I nodded in silent agreement. It wasn’t the best first meeting, but it was done. It was over. And now I looked forward to having pizza with him after work. Was that weird? Having pizza that late? I wasn’t sure, and I wasn’t about to overthink it.
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- Writer
