My Saving Grace

Chapter 9

My college professors sure weren't kidding when they'd said that chemical engineers had it tough. Four years of grueling coursework followed by a lifetime of challenging projects in the workforce. Six months into my job, and I finally came to accept that it was hard. Fortunately, I loved what I did and was extremely motivated.

Most of my days were spent in the laboratory working with fellow engineers to design the processes used to transform raw materials into essential health products like medicine and nutritional drinks. There was so much purpose and value to what I did, and I wouldn't trade my job for the world.

Throughout the months, I'd formed a strong friendship with my co-workers, Ella and Peter. We were all single and enjoyed stuffing ourselves with half-apps every Friday night. They also filled the empty void that was my nonexistent love life.

Ever since July, I'd been saying a silent prayer to Chase Lincoln every night before bed. For years, I'd forced myself to forget about him, but he was too special a person to simply be thrown in the back of my memory. Wherever he was now, I hoped life was treating him right.

It was a cool Saturday night in February, and I was out with Ella and Peter. Peter was turning twenty-four today, so we'd decided to celebrate by taking him out to dinner at The Lobster, a high end seafood restaurant in Santa Monica with a beautiful view of the ocean.

"You girls think I'll get laid tonight?", Peter joked as we struggled to crack open the lobster tails.

"Absolutely. The girl sitting at the table behind you has been staring at you for the past half hour," Ella replied.

I looked to where Ella was gesturing and indeed, there was a girl practically ogling Peter. With blonde hair and blue eyes, he looked like your typical frat boy and dressed like one, too. He had a very youthful face, though, and could pass for a college freshman.

"You should ask her to go clubbing with us later," I suggested.

"What about her friends?", Peter inquired.

"Eh, just invite them, too."

"Sweet." He grinned.

By the time I finished my entrée, my dress felt like it was going to rip off of my body. But I refused to miss out on the triple layer chocolate cake.

Standing up, I excused myself to go use the bathroom. The majority of the people dining here looked like the business type--older and dressed to impress. My friends and I were definitely the youngest ones.

I located the restroom in the back corner of the restaurant, but on my way there, the sight of a couple sitting at a nearby booth halted my footsteps. It wasn't the woman I focused on, but the man. Something about him seemed so familiar.

Styled dark brown hair and tan skin...

It was as if he could feel my eyes on his back because at that moment, he turned around, and a gasp escaped my lungs when his brown eyes landed on mine.

My knees buckled involuntarily just as a waiter walked by carrying a pitcher of water, and to my horror, we collided, the contents of the pitcher spilling all over my dress. I quickly took a step back, oblivious of the chair leg behind me until I felt my heel connecting with it. Next thing I knew, my arms were thrashing about wildly as my butt landed on the ground.

"Oh my god, ma'am, I'm so sorry," the waiter frantically apologized. "Let me go grab a towel for you."

I listened to the sound of his quick, retreating footsteps and closed my eyes, unable to look at anybody.

"So we meet again, Miss Mac and Cheese," another voice spoke moments later.

My eyes immediately blinked open. Hovering over me was the nameless face I'd never stopped thinking about since that day at Ralphs.