iHOP & Pancakes

One

Laura was having diner by herself at IHOP, after a long day at work. She was an assistant trainer for the LA Clippers for a couple of years. One of the first females trainers in the Western Conference of the NBA.

But it was nothing easy, there was constant bashing and pressure just for being a woman in her job, and training a bunch of men who act like children from time to time isn't easy either. With everything that comes with this job, she loved it, and couldn't ask for more.

She also earned good money, but never wanted to show it off, she wouldn't live in a mansion, let alone buy 5 cars just to collect for the sake of having them. As a single woman, she decided to live in a two bedroom house in Pasadena, CA, owning just one car, a black Camaro, which was her only luxury.

Laura was drawing on her journal, lost in her own thoughts, picking at the fries left in her plate every once in a while, scribling, erasing and coloring on her book. Luckily, it was a calm, quiet night at the restaurant, even thought it was like 9pm.

*

After a while, she decided to call it a night and called her waitress.

- Hey sweetie, you done for the night? - the older woman asked

- Yeah, I'm full - she replied, chuckling - how much is it?

- Oh, the bill has been taken care of already, honey - she replied, taking her plates.

- Wait, what do you mean it has been payed? By who? - Lauren asked, furrowing her eyebrows

- By the guy sitting two rows behind you - she said, signaling behind her with her eyebrows and left

Lauren turned around, and she saw him. He was smirking at her, and gave a short chuckle with a smal wave. She couldn't believe her eyes, she hasn't seen him in around 2 years or less, so she signaled him to go sit with her.

- Thanks for that - she said, as soon as he sat down in front of her

- No problem, I wasn't sure it was you until I saw the tattoo of your neck, and decided to surprise you - he said, his green eyes glowing along with his smile

- You let your hair grow, Cody, thought I'd never see that - she said, making him chuckle

- Well, we haven't seen eaach other in like two years, I changed quite a lot in that span of time - he said - I'm going to get coffee, do you want some?

- Yeah, sure

- Hey Sarah, can we get a pot of coffee and two cups here? Thank you -

- You're a friend of the waitress? - she asked, cocking an eyebrow

- Yeah, well, uhm... it's a long story - he said, playing with his phone on the table

- Wait... don't you tell me you're into older women now, Cepeda - she replied, jokingly

- What? No, are you crazy? - he laughed at her - no, she actually helped me get trough, well, my break up with Erika. That night, I drove all night until I ended up here, and she was on the end of her shift but stayed with me and talked to me while I was crying by myself like a loser on one of this booths. She gave me some advice and free pancakes, and stayed with me until I felt better.

"He broke up with Erika? When?" Laura thought to herself.

- Wow, she's real nice then. And free pancakes, huh. I might have to cry to get me some of that

- You already ate for free, thanks to me though - he said, smirking

- Oh, yeah, you're right... - she trailed off - you broke up with Erika, huh?