Chapter Twenty-Seven

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Wonderful cover by @calliopeatlas! Please follow her because oh my god, just look at that cover.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lee intertwines our hands at the same time I open the front door to Sally’s, the diner next door. I try hard to act nonchalant and not see that we’re holding hands in public for the first time since ever. The bells on top of the door jingle as we enter.

        The musty smell hits you right away.

        Despite the scent, the diner has somewhat of a warm atmosphere. The sun is pouring through the windows, making everything look twice as bright. There are only a couple of men with beards at a booth and they’re all reading newspapers or talking. The only other person is a man sitting at the counter stools. I can’t tell what he looks like because his back is faced away.

        “Welcome, young folks!” A short lady with wild red hair with some gray comes up to us. She’s in a yellow dress with an apron over it. Her smile is infectious.

        “Hello,” Lee says, smiling. I can tell the lady doesn’t recognize him because she doesn’t treat him any different than she would to any other customer. I guess that’s a benefit for going to a random diner in the middle of nowhere. “Sally, right?”

        “Yes, that’s me!” she chirps. Sally whips out a notepad and picks out the pen from her bun. “What can I do for ya’? A booth for two?”

        Lee nods. “That would be lovely.”

        “Thank you,” I add. Lee and his non-existent thank-you’s.

        Sally smiles and leads us to a window booth near the back. There’s a jukebox right next to it. This is probably the first time I’ve ever seen one in person since restaurants and diners don’t usually have these anymore. I’m beginning to wonder how old this place actually is.

        We sit down and Sally hands us breakfast menus though there’s only about five to ten choices, including beverages and all. I decide on the “English Breakfast” which is just normal sunny-side up eggs and toast with bacon. It’s simple and cheap.

        “I think I’ll get the pancake supreme,” Lee says to me.

        I look at the menu and my eyes widen. The pancake supreme is $29.99 because it has about twenty pancakes and a bunch of topping options.

        “No!” I say. “We have to save up our money. We already bought a bunch of stuff we shouldn’t have next door. There’s still an entire day left to spend money on.” I wiggle my toes in the knock-off vans we bought.

        “But this is the cheapest breakfast I’ve ever had,” he replies.

        “Too bad,” I say. “You’re going to get a English Breakfast with me.”

        “I refuse.”

        Sally comes back at that moment. “You sweet peas ready to order?”

        “Yes, please,” I answer. “I’ll be having the English Breakfast and some coffee, please. And uh, he’ll have the same.”

        “No, I won’t. I’m going to get the Pancake Supreme.”

        “He’s kidding,” I say, kicking him under the table. Lee groans and grabs his knee as I finalize our answer. “Two English Breakfasts, one coffee, one orange juice.”

        “Coming right up,” Sally says, jotting it down and then putting her pen back in her bun. “It’ll take about ten minutes, sweetheart.” She walks away to tell the chef.

        “You are so abusive, Jesus.” Lee is still rubbing at his knee and I almost have to laugh because I didn’t even hit him that hard. “I don’t know if I should sue you or not.”

        “Not,” I answer for him. “I’m too cute to sue.”

        Lee smirks. “You’re also modest, too.”

        “Thanks, I know.”

        “I really want to kiss you.”

        I suddenly look up at him. He’s so random, one minute we’ll be talking about grass and politics or whatever, and the next, he’ll get serious and stare at me in that way that makes me want to throw up because I can’t handle it.

        “It’s just,” he explains, “you look really beautiful.” Lee’s hand moves a strand of hair that covers my right eye. “The sun’s shining down on your bare face and you’re dressed in this huge shirt too big for you and you’re smiling and I don’t know, it’s just, really great to look at. I enjoy looking at you.”

        I blush and hit his hand. “Stop it. You just want to mess me up.”

        Lee smiles. “Really, if there was a painting of Mona Lisa and a painting of you, I’d probably pay to look at you all day instead.”

        I start coughing. I don’t know how else to respond. In movies and books, boys say cute things but in real life? Not so much. So when a boy actually says that to you, what’re you supposed to say back? “You too?” How are you supposed to respond?  Nobody ever teaches you that.

        Grabbing a jug of water that’s on the table, I grab a cup and pour water and start chugging it down like I’m in the desert. What else am I supposed to do? I’ve never really been good at this romance stuff. In a way, I guess it’s good that Karen stole Peter way from me because if we’d actually dated, he’d probably run away from my awkwardness.

        Lee laughs.

        He actually laughs. I expected him to look at me strangely or maybe even ask why I was so weird whenever he did something or said something romantic. But no, he laughs and he leans back, and covers his mouth as he laughs, like he’s afraid his laugh will get too loud and bother the bearded men cult two tables away.

        “You are too funny,” Lee says as he leans back to the table. “Come here.” And then he just holds my face and leans in too close. I open my eyes wider. He cups my face with both hands and my cheeks squish against his hands. I must look like a fish. “No escape now, huh?”

        “Wait,” I mumble but I don’t think he hears me because my face is too squished.

        “You’re so adorable.” Then, Lee kisses me. It’s not long or slow. It’s a quick peck and then he backs away and stares at my squished face. “Too cute,” he murmurs before going back and kissing me quick again. And again.

        I must look so hot with my fat cheeks squished so hard that they touch my nose.

        Lee gives me one more kiss before Sally comes up and announces, “Here are your two orders.” She’s toppling plates on plates. I’m surprised they don’t fall. She looks between us. “Sorry, was I interrupting?”

        I back away so fast I probably pulled a muscle. “No, no, no!” I push my hair behind my ears. “Of course, not. Thank you for the food.”

        After setting down the plates in front of Lee and I, she smiles and says, “Enjoy your meals, kids!” She’s about to turn away and but she adds, “Oh, and the jukebox works if you kids wanna use it, by the way! It’s brand new.”

        “Thank you, it’s fine,” I tell her, grinning. Sally nods and walks away to talk to the bearded men that haven’t ordered yet.

        Lee picks up a knife and fork. “We could be having the Pancake Supreme, but, nooo, we had to get this plain, stupid, normal breakfast.”

        “Don’t be so immature,” I say, smiling. I’m still recovering from the series of kisses from just two seconds ago. I’ll never get used to it. Or used to Lee, for that matter. Before I launch myself into thoughts, which lead to negative thoughts, which leads to reality, I pick up my utensils as well and dig in.

        Lee and I eat in silence and just talk about small things. It’s relaxing and probably the best way to start my morning. Simple and bright.

        “Brent is probably calling the cops right now,” I say. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the FBI came out of nowhere and surrounded this diner right now. One time, I forgot to tell him I was going over a friend’s house for a sleepover when I was, like, nine, and he biked around looking for me. It was so embarrassing when he barged into the house all sweaty and muddy in front of my friends.”

        Lee chuckles as he eats his toast. “That’s not embarrassing. That’s great. Brent cares about you a lot. Not many brothers are like that these days.”

        “I know, I know, I’m lucky,” I say, smiling down at the table. “I do love my brother but he’s such a worry-wart. What’s contradicting is that I’m the only thing he worries about because he parties and doesn’t really do good in school.”

        “That’s good because you matter to him.”

        “Yeah,” I say, “I guess.” I add more salt to my eggs. “So, what about you? Any siblings or anything?”

        Lee’s smile wavers. “No, not really.”

        “Any other family?”

        “No, just my mom and me. I don’t really have close relatives, just distant aunts and uncles, and a lot of business partners,” he answers.

        “Business partners aren’t really family.”

        “Well, in my family, our uncles and aunts are business partners because they all own their own subdivision of the hotels and resorts.”

        I nod my head at this new information. “Any best friends? Secret girls?”

        Lee chuckles and I relax mentally because his smile is back. “No, no actual girl friends. There was this one girl, but we weren’t together. But other than that, maybe a couple of small ones I had when I was young and stupid, but no.”

        “You still are young and stupid,” I tell him. “You just act like you’re eighty.”

        He glares at me and drinks his juice. His face scrunches up. “Ew, what is this? Orange juice? I don’t think I’ve ever actually drank this in my life.” He sets the glass down in disgust. “And I am not eighty, I am twenty-one.”

        I push the drink back closer to him. “Well, you need the nutrients. I bet you’ve drank coffee since you were taught how to even eat. Coffee’s not even that healthy. It makes you short and your teeth turn yellow. Orange juice is healthy and nutritious.”

        “I’m good,” he says and then swipes my coffee before taking a drink.

        I roll my eyes. “And what about friends? Any close BFF’s?”

        “Did you seriously say B-F-F?” he asks, putting my cup back. “And well, I don’t have time for stupid things as friends. And all they ever do is betray you or take your money. It’s always one or the other.” His attitude takes a complete one-eighty turn.

        “I’m sorry, did I touch a nerve?” I say, hoping I don’t ruin our good mood but I’m also curious about his past. He’s never told me anything before about his past and his family and today’s the only opportunity I actually have to ask. I don’t want to know nothing about the guy I supposedly like. How sad is that?

        Lee continues chewing and looking at his plate. “No, it’s fine.” I stare at him as he does so because I don’t know if it’s actually fine. He looks up. “What?”

        “Nothing,” I say, continuing eating.

        “No, say it.” I really don’t want this to turn into a fight. Not today.

        I set my fork and knife down. I want to be honest with him. “I…I’m just curious, okay?” I say. Playing with the fork in my hands, I try to find courage to say what’s on my mind. “It’s just—I know nothing about you. Yes, I know your favorite colors and all that now but I don’t know anything really. Nothing big or anything about your life or past. But I’m just a big open book. You already know everything about me and there’s really nothing to tell. I just feel vulnerable, you know? You have an upper advantage.”

        Lee’s eyes press together in a sad way. I don’t want to make him upset or angry but I just want to know more about him. If I’m going to like him, I want to know everything, no matter how long it takes to figure it out.

        He surprises me by placing his hand over mine. I’m still holding the fork so I let it go and squeeze his hand back. “What,” he says, “what do you want to know?”

        I look up, taken back. I didn’t actually think he would let me in. His eyes look at the napkin holder by the window and I know this is hard for him so I’ll take it easy and slow. I don’t know where to begin or what to say but I’m excited and happy. Lee is actually giving me access to his head.

        “Um,” I say, “what’s your mom’s name?”

        I want to crawl into a hole and stay there. I can’t believe that’s the first question I asked. Lee is basically opening the gates to heaven and to everything in his life and the first thing I ask is what’s his mother’s name? I am ready to die.

        Lee looks at me and smirks. “You want to know what my mother’s name is?”

        “Yeah?”

        “You’re a funny girl,” he says, laughing as he looks out the window. And then he turns back to me and looks me in the eye to show that he’s serious. He’ll answer any question I give him. He wants me to know he trusts me. “It’s Jane.”

        I smile because Lee actually is willing to open up for me, me, some random small-town girl he met months ago because of a lie. This means so much more than the kisses and the hugs—his trust. “That’s a pretty name.”

        “Thanks,” Lee says, smiling, like he finds this too funny.

        “Okay, that was a stupid question,” I say. “But give me a break, I have to think.” It’s funny because I’ve had a billion questions about Lee Richardson since I met him but now that I can actually answer them, it’s all blank in my head.

        “Take your time, we have all day.”

        “I got it,” I exclaim, holding up my fork. I set it down and try to act serious. “Why… why…um—”

        “Just spit it out,” Lee demands.

        “Why do you and Mark hate each other?” I ask. I look down at my plate instead of at him. I’ve always wondered why, but I never had the chance to ask why. “I mean, when you met, you had this angry growl undertone in your voice. And time after time, you guys take jabs at each other.”

        Lee sighs, tracing the rim of his glass with his index finger. “I knew I’d have to explain this to you sooner or later.”

        “Do you want me to ask another question instead?”

        “No, no, it’s fine,” Lee replies, putting his hand down to his lap. “So, you remember the girl I just talked about? The one I never got a chance with?”

        “Yes.” A woman. This is about a woman. A little part of me wonders if I want to go down this path. To know about someone who meant so much to Lee.

        “Well, it all started there,” he says. Lee looks out the window. “Okay, actually, it didn’t. Let’s start from the top. I was born on December 28th, 1993 in Oxford, England. I don’t really remember anything about England since I was there only until I was around four. Dad’s work went international and we decided to move to the heart of the business, New York City. I grew up there and consider it more my home than the U.K.”

        “I knew you had a faint British accent! The way you say some words, like, ‘kitchen’ is keet-chuh-n to you,” I say.

        Lee glares. “Shh, this is my fairytale,” he jokes. I have a feeling this won’t be.

        “Okay, continue, Snow White.”

        “Thank you,” he says. “As I was saying, New York is my home. Went to elementary, middle, and high school there. College, too. Mark and I went to the same high school but we really got close in college. We both went to New York University and majored in business because of our families. The reason we both became best friends is because we both loved music and wanted to be hoodrats in Manhattan. We ended up forming a band—”

        “Red Burritos,” I whisper, remembering the name.

        “Yeah,” Lee says, sending me another glare for interrupting. “It was great. We had a lot of gigs. I played bass and Mark played the drums. Our singer? That’s the girl I never got, Anne.

        She was beautiful. She had this red hair that kind of sprung to life and caught your eye, you know? I was in love with her the minute I saw her. When I figured out she could sing, Mark and I immediately asked her to join and she did. We all became the very best of friends until…”

        Hearing this sends knives up my heart every second, but I want to hear what he has to say though. It was my question, anyways. I know he’s about to say the hard part so I give his hand a squeeze.

        Lee smiles in this sad, wistful way. It’s more sad than seeing him cry. He continues, “Well, I was going to ask her out. I was. I made a reservation at this huge restaurant. It was supposed to be perfect. College was halfway over, we were about to be true adults. It was perfect timing…except it wasn’t. Before I was going to leave, I got a phone call. It was about my father. He was in the hospital and it is the worst phone call I have ever gotten in my life.”

        He shuts his eyes and presses them shut tight to hold back tears. Lee takes his hand from my own to pinch the bridge of his nose. And then he takes a huge breath and releases it. “I’m sorry, it’s just, I’m still recovering.”

        “No, no, I understand,” I say. “You can stop, Lee. You don’t have to answer me anymore.”

        Lee’s eyes snap open and he blinks a couple times before focusing back on me. “No, I’m sorry, I’m ready. I want to show you every fold of me. I trust you.”

        I take his hand and kiss his knuckles. “Take it slow.”

        He kisses my hand back. “Thank you, baby.”

        My knee slams onto the bottom of the table. “Shit, ow!” I let go of his hand and rub my knee. I don’t know why that just happened. It was a reflex of some sort to his words. He called me baby…I don’t know, I’m going insane.

        Lee’s eyes are worried. “Are you okay? Jeez.”

        “Uh yeah, why wouldn’t I be okay—wow weather’s nice today, uh—”

        “Ivory?”

        “Yes?”

        “Why are you acting like that?”

        “No reason, I’m always weird like this.”

        “That you are,” he agrees. “But you’re really red and you’re not looking me in the eye.”

        “I am!” I respond, giving him a quick glance before looking over his shoulder at the bearded men enjoying their morning coffee. How do I hide my heart spasms?

        “Ivory, if you don’t tell me what’s going on, I won’t tell you the rest of my deep dark secret past,” Lee says, smirking and crossing his arms.

        “Fine!” I yell. “Fine, you little twat, you win! I, I’m freaking out because you called me that thing and I don’t think my heart was ready for that—”

        “That thing? What thing?”

        “You know! That thing.”

        “I’m a little lost, baby. Can you explain?” Lee’s smirking. The nerve of this boy!

        “You did it again!” I exclaim, crossing my own arms this time. Lee stays quiet and he wants to me to elaborate. I groan. “Fine. You called me ‘baby’ in this really sweet tone and I’m sorry I lost it, Mr. Richardson. I’ll try to keep my feelings to myself.”

        He chuckles and brings his head back into the air and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t know if I want to pick up the fork from my plate and stab him where the sun doesn’t shine or kiss him until he forgets his own name.

        But I’m glad for our little detour from his serious face and talk.

        “You like it when I call you that?” Lee asks, raising his eyebrows and giving this sexual-tension-frustration-causing look.

        “I just,” I explain, “— you said that in my dream last night and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. And then you just said it out loud and I was just caught off guard.”

        “Oh? You were dreaming about

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