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Imani stood behind the counter at her parent's restaurant, wiping down menus while her dad bustled around in the kitchen, preparing for the evening rush. It was a quiet time, with just a few customers scattered at tables, but that wouldn't last. In an hour or so, the place would be packed, as usual.
Kiara was restocking silverware near the back, her movements quick and frustrated, still brooding from the argument with their parents earlier that week about school. Imani glanced over at her sister, wishing she could ease some of the tension, but she knew Kiara wasn't ready to talk yet.
As she set the menus aside and straightened her apron, the door chimed, signaling new customers. Imani glanced up out of habit, and her stomach flipped when she saw who it was.
Rafe, walking in with a group of his friends.
He moved with that casual arrogance he always had, wearing a dark t-shirt and jeans with his buzzed hair.
Behind him, his friends; Topper and a couple of others, laughed and shoved each other as they walked toward a table near the window. But Imani barely registered them. Her gaze was locked with Rafe's for a split second as he scanned the room and found her.
His eyes met hers across the restaurant, and for a moment, the rest of the room seemed to blur. Imani felt a weird flutter in her chest, remembering the last time what he had messaged her. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about it, and now, seeing him here, those thoughts came rushing back.
Rafe's expression softened slightly, like he was just as caught off guard by seeing her. Then, as quickly as it happened, he looked away, leading his friends to a table.
"Imani," her dad's voice broke through her thoughts as he called from the kitchen, "Can you take that table's order?"
Imani blinked, her heart skipping a beat. "Uh, yeah, sure," she muttered, grabbing her notepad and pen, her pulse quickening as she approached the group.
As she reached their table, all of Rafe's friends turned to look at her, their eyes roaming a little too obviously for her liking.
"Hi, Imani," Topper, spoke first
"Hey, what can I get for you guys?"
Bobby, his friend, leaned back in his chair, flashing a smug smile. "Well, well, if it isn't Imani Carrera. You gonna take real good care of us, right?"
The others snickered, elbowing each other like they were in on some joke. Imani's eyes narrowed slightly, but she kept her composure, waiting for their orders without responding to the comment.
Another one of Rafe's friends, Kelce, chimed in, "Yeah, Imani, maybe you can give us a little extra service, huh?" He winked, and the group burst into laughter.
