Eden drives all afternoon and into the early hours of the night, only stopping once to pee and twice to eat, and again for a final time when her gas light comes on. The clock on her dashboard reads just after ten at night as she pulls into a gas station in Kingsland, Georgia, to refuel. Her stomach rumbles as she slides back behind the wheel and she realizes it's been a number of hours since her last meal.
Coincidentally, right across the street is a neon sign advertising Lucky's Diner, and as it's the only restaurant she's seen in a while and looks to be the only one for the next few miles, she pulls into the parking lot.
Inside, the atmosphere is quiet and still but it's well-lit, mostly empty, and there's a host of friendly faces puttering about behind the counter. A sign at the front reads "Please Seat Yourself" so Eden settles onto one of the black barstools and patiently waits for a menu.
Mere moments pass before a young girl behind the counter, dressed in a yellow uniform and unruly blond curls that spill onto her shoulders, catches Eden's eye and approaches.
"Hello, darlin'," the girl beams, placing a laminated menu in front of Eden and pulling out her pen and notepad. "My name is Missy and I'll be taking care of you this fine evening. What can I get you to drink?"
"Water, please," Eden answers timidly. Missy nods and disappears to fetch her drink. Eden drops her keys on the counter and picks up the menu. The demanding growl in her stomach grows in intensity as her eyes skim the breakfast menu and then the entree section.
Her attention is stitched to a color photo of a steak dinner when the faint tinkling of a bell sounds as someone else enters the diner. From the corner of her vision, she can see a tall man languidly wander up to the counter, peer over her shoulder at the menu, and then take a seat two stools away from her.
Missy returns and sets down a clear glass of water next to Eden's keys. Her hazel eyes dart over to the new stranger at the counter, and Eden can detect the flash of lust that crosses her features.
"Evenin', sir," she says to the man, ambling closer as he steals her attention entirely. "What can I get you to drink?"
"Water," a smooth voice replies. Low, velvet, and . . . British?
Missy saunters away and Eden sets down her menu to fully absorb the stranger next to her. He absently drums his hands on the counter, his head turned away as he admires the decor on the farthest wall. Long, brown curls are pulled back into a small bun and the back of his worn shirt is dotted with tiny holes.
Abruptly he turns back around, leaving Eden unable to look away in time. Forest-green irises drag her in deeper. He bares his teeth at her in a crooked grin; deep dimples appear on either side of his lips.
Swoon.
"You're British?" Eden blurts out, futile at curbing her tongue. Her face promptly burns hot in embarrassment.
"What gave it away?" the stranger chuckles, his laugh rumbling low in his throat and bubbling over his lips. "You're American?"
Quick-witted. Eden raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah," she answers, keeping her reply short to refrain from stuttering. Her eyes can't seem to leave his face.
He pauses for a moment, clearly waiting for something, before pulling a confused expression. "Do you always stare at strangers?"
His words ignite a furious burning in her cheeks. Feeling bashful at being caught, Eden turns away at once.
"Sorry," she mumbles, her mouth trembling with nerves. She grabs the menu again so her idle hands don't feel so empty. "I didn't realize I was-"
She stops when he laughs again, the sound quite genuine.
"I'm kidding," he explains.
Eden shakes her head as a smile appears. "Still," she says, glancing back to find him already watching her with his intriguing eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so creepy."
This amuses him. "Really, don't apologize," he grins. "Would you mind lending me your menu? Seems our charming waitress forgot to give me one."
She hands him the menu and tries to be more discreet about her staring. Prominent lips, a nose that slightly hooks at the end, shapely brows, and those dazzling eyes. Those same eyes peruse the menu, his lips silently mouthing along to what he reads - a habit that Eden is also prone to doing.
"This one sounds nice," he muses, pointing to a photo of skirt steak tacos with an avocado-corn salsa.
"Tacos are always a good choice," Eden adds, earning another pleasant smile from him. She leans over and gestures to an item on the same page but a few spaces down. "I was thinking this one."
"Turkey and Swiss club," he reads aloud. "Also sounds lovely."
Safe and familiar. Of course it's a lovely choice.
Missy promptly returns then, holding the man's water. Eden returns to a sitting position as Missy holds her pen poised above her notebook, gaze trained on the stranger.
"What would you like to eat, sugar?" she asks the man, completely forgoing Eden's presence. He tells her his order and she scribbles it down before finally acknowledging Eden.
"What about you, sweetheart?"
"Turkey and swiss club," Eden says cheerfully. "Please."
Missy takes the menu after jotting down Eden's order; her eyes graze over the stranger once more before she walks away. Eden tucks a strand of hair behind her right ear, attempting to think of something witty and funny to say.
But instead, her stomach releases an obnoxious rumble that almost seems to resonate. The man snorts before trying to suppress his laughter.
"I am so sorry," Eden whispers, mortified.
"Was that your stomach?" he asks in slight disbelief. Eden nods slowly. "Bit hungry, are you?"
Eden sighs and hides her face in her hands. "That's not a surprise. I've been driving all day."
"Oh yeah? Where you going?" he asks, sounding sincerely interested. She peeks through her fingers at him.
"How much time have you got?"
Item Four - Befriend a Stranger
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there's everyone's favorite babe. also if you happen to know the artist behind the photo up top, PLEASE tell me as i'd love to give them proper credit.
xx
YOU ARE READING
the brave ones // h.s.
Fanfiction"the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
