Dreamcatcher

Chapter 5 - Saturday

The diner was buzzing with activity today, and normally, I'd be dreading the rush. But today? I welcomed it. The exhaustion from my restless night was weighing on me, and the constant movement helped keep my mind distracted and my body going. With every table I wiped down, every order I took, the hours ticked by faster, and that's all I really needed—something to push the day along.

By the time the lunch rush had started to slow, I was just trying to keep my head above water. I moved from table to table, cleaning up the aftermath, making sure the kitchen didn't need anything before the dinner crowd trickled in. Feeling the weight of fatigue settling into my bones, I stepped into the back room and splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would snap me out of the daze.

I looked up at myself in the mirror, wincing at the dark circles that had formed under my eyes. Great. I look like a zombie. I dug through my purse for some concealer, dabbing at my skin to at least make myself look somewhat human. Just a couple more hours, I told myself. I could make it through a couple more hours.

When I stepped back out into the dining area, my heart skipped a beat. There, sitting at one of my tables, was Dean. He was in my station again, leaning back casually in his chair like he belonged there, like this was a normal thing.

A flutter of excitement danced in my chest—unwelcome but undeniable. What is wrong with me? I shook off the thought, straightened my apron, and headed toward his table.

"Hello, Dean! What can I get for you today?" I smiled, pulling out my pen and pad, ready to write down whatever he ordered.

He glanced up at me with that signature grin, the kind that could make anyone's heart skip a beat. But there was something else there today, a flicker of something darker. Sadness? I couldn't quite tell.

"You're back," he said, his tone light but a little softer than usual. "You were gone the last two days."

I smiled back at him, trying to keep things casual. "Yeah, those were my days off. I don't work every day."

Dean's expression shifted to one of concern, his green eyes scanning my face. "You look tired. Not sleeping well?"

I fought back the embarrassment that rose in my chest. Great. You look tired. Translation: You look like crap. I forced a laugh, shaking my head to clear the self-conscious thoughts.

"Just haven't been getting much sleep, I guess," I replied with a shrug, trying to brush it off like it was no big deal. But the way Dean was looking at me made it clear he wasn't buying the casual act.

His gaze lingered for a second longer, like he wanted to say something more, but he didn't. Instead, he gave me a softer smile. "Well, I hope today's better for you. Coffee and pie sound good."

I nodded, jotting down the order even though I already knew it by heart. As I walked away, I could still feel the weight of his eyes on me, like he was trying to figure me out, to see beyond the tired smiles and routine small talk.

And as much as I hated to admit it, a part of me wanted him to.

I returned a moment later with the pot of coffee and a slice of pie. "Today's pie is pumpkin. And I snuck in a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream with it, free of charge." I set the plate in front of him with a playful smile.

Dean looked up, raising an eyebrow, his lips curving into that familiar grin. "Pumpkin pie with ice cream? You're spoiling me, Ash."

I blinked, caught off guard. Ash? No one called me that—at least, no one besides Paige, and even she didn't say it often. "Ash, huh?" I asked, tilting my head, trying to suppress the small smile creeping onto my face.