Page 51 of The Meeting
He generally was not one to get embarrassed, but somehow, being caught by Kailynn’s roommate made Chase feel like he was taking the walk of shame. His cheeks flamed.
“Have fun,” she sang as she walked toward her bedroom.
Kailynn emerged from her room a few moments later, wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a green tank top. Her hair was still in a ponytail, but had been brushed through to look a bit more put together and less like sex hair. But he had to admit he liked the sex hair.
She looked at him quizzically. “You okay?”
He cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes. Ready?”
“Ready.”
He held his arm out in front of her to allow her to walk ahead out the door, then he rested his hand on the small of her back as he escorted her to his car. They drove over to a diner and were quickly seated at a booth near the windows. The green plastic booths had been recently upholstered and the tables freshly laminated. Memorabilia from the ’50s was strewn about on the walls in a cluster, leaving very little of the tan paint showing through. The diner was narrow and had only a handful of booths and a counter with seating to watch the cooks make the food.
A waitress walked up to them with a pencil tucked behind her ear and her gray, curly hair piled on the top of her head. She cracked the gum she chewed.
“Good morning. What can I get you two kids today?”
Kailynn smiled briefly before looking over at Chase.
“Coffee?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Two coffees would be wonderful. Thank you.”
The waitress nodded and walked away.
Chase looked at the menu and stared at the assortment of breakfast foods they offered. The diner had just about anything that he could imagine, but he settled on the pancake stack and slid his menu to the side just as Kailynn put hers down.
“So...” he said, unsure why he was being shy. He scratched the back of his neck.
She laughed and reached across the table, settling her hand on his. “Are we good?”
He dropped his hand and put both of his on hers. “Of course. I had a great night. Do you think we are good?”
She nodded. “Yes, I had a great time.”
She blushed and tucked some hair behind her ear before returning her hand to his.
“Good.”
The bell over the door jingled, signaling the arrival of more customers. Chase glanced up out of habit over Kailynn’s shoulder before looking back at her.
Wait a minute.
He looked back up. Drew and Sheila strolled in, taking a seat at the booth behind Kailynn’s seat.
Drew’s back was to them, but Sheila was facing them, giving Chase a full view of the skimpy outfit she wore. Her jean shorts hugged her to where they appeared painted on. Her pink tank top gave the same appearance, dipping so low in the front that there was little left to the imagination. Drew didn’t seem to notice them when he sat and Sheila was oblivious as to who they were.
Chase cleared his throat quiet enough to draw Kailynn’s attention, but without making it obvious to anyone else. She gave him a quizzical look. He picked up his cell phone and pointed at it before typing out a text to her.
Drew and Sheila are seated at the booth behind you. Do you want to leave?
Her phone chimed signaling the text coming through and she picked it up, giving him a strange look before reading the message, understanding dawning on her face.
He could tell she wanted to turn around, but she refrained. She shook her head at him. The waitress walked back at that minute and put their coffees down. She asked what they’d like to order and Kailynn pointed at her menu and answered a few questions from the waitress as quietly as she could as to not tip off Drew that she was right behind him. Chase placed his order, and the waitress stopped at the table next to them.
Chase considered ushering Kailynn out of there. She fidgeted and looked incredibly uncomfortable, but she said she didn’t want to leave. He had no interest in forcing her to do something she didn’t want to do.
