A/N: Sorry this is a short one, but there's some cutsie moments! Enjoy!
In the current climate of America, if anyone needs to talk or a list of mental health resources, message me! Call/text 988 if you are in crisis. Sending love!
Brooke
The bell above the door chimes as I’m wiping down a table. I jerk my head up and see that it’s not who I’ve been nervously expecting. I give the customer her call in order and busy myself behind the counter. I can’t sit still, glancing at the clock and knowing that any minute he could walk through the door.
I tell myself it’s possible he won’t come at all today. After all, he’s not been back to the restaurant since everything that happened Monday. I’m not sure that I want him to come. I’m ridiculously embarrassed about our call last night. I’m still cursing at my dumb fingers for dropping the phone and accidentally answering. It was absolutely a worst case scenario. Not that he didn’t say all the right things, because he did. I just wish he never saw me that vulnerable at all.
The door chimes again. I feel my heart rate rise as blood flushes to my cheeks.
“Hey.” Endo says with a warm smile, no evidence of the monumental shift that’s occurred in the last twenty four hours.
“Hi.” My voice comes out much quieter than I intended.
He walks up and casually leans on his crossed arms over the counter in front of me. “How are you today?” There was nothing casual about the way he asked or the depth of the look in his eyes.
I consider him carefully. My instinct is to lie, as I do with everyone. But I think of how he immediately called me out on that last night and opt for honesty. “Better than I was last night. But not great.”
It's only now that I start to slightly care about my disheveled look and the dark circles under my eyes I didn’t bother to cover with make up this morning. I’m not sure why this is suddenly an issue for me. It’s not like I’ve really paid any mind to my appearance the last few months.
Endo regards me for a moment, saying nothing, then, as if he’s responding to my thoughts, mutters, “You’re beautiful.”
I’m taken aback. Heat flushes my face. “I- what-” I’m floundering. That was completely out of nowhere. Did he read my mind to pinpoint my insecurities?
His eyes grow wide. “I, uh, did not mean to say that out loud.”
Well he did. And I don’t know what to do with that information.
“You are though. Beautiful. And I want you to know I meant what I said last night. Whenever you’re ready to talk about what’s going on, I’m here. I can take it.”
I swallow hard. I can’t seem to find any words to say.
Seeing my distress, Endo says, “Now, how about some-” he glances over at the specials board, “lasagna. Yum.”
I stay glued to the spot. Of it’s own accord, my mouth opens, “It’s not going to be easy. To tell you about it. But I will. I think I want to. But I don’t- well, I haven’t really been talking to anyone recently about anything of substance until meeting you. So just…give me some time.”
I turn quickly and go about getting his drink ready. Taking the hint, Endo makes his way to his usual booth without further comment.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” He asks as I hand him his tea.
I scoot into the booth across from him. “I guess going to the football game with Ezra and Todd.”
“You sound thrilled about that.” He says with a laugh.
YOU ARE READING
Broken Roots
General FictionAfter moving back to the small town of her childhood, Brooke spends most of her time working at Ida's Diner. It's a decent place to work, she doesn't expect it to change her whole world. At least, she didn't, until one customer who frequents the res...
