Mr. Tan

Chapter 33: No Apologies Needed

It's been weeks since Adrian's sexual assault and I missed one of the most important moments in my life, but its okay. Since then Adam's roommate Chris had been arrested and Adam had a yard sale and sold the majority of his shit. The only thing that Adam saved was Chris's clothes and his bed, so he can move out whenever he get's released from prison. It was now the 1st part of November, holiday season. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and a bit chilly, Earl was at work. On this nice brisk day, I figured it would be a good day to take Duke out for a walk and maybe perhaps treat myself to some lunch somewhere. I grabbed my leather jacket, my house keys, Duke's leash and some poo bags. Duke was now a big boy but still young enough to be still considered a puppy. After Duke's much needed long walk, we went back home. Duke knew he wasn't allowed on the furniture and Earl recently bought him a big, plush deep blue doggy bed. I played with Duke some more until he became tuckered out and stretched out in his bed and took a nap. Since there was nothing I wanted to see on TV, I figured it was time to leave and take myself out to eat. It was 2:00 in the afternoon and I had a taste for pasta and a salad. I washed my face and hands in at the bathroom sink and left the trailer. 15 minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot of this small lime green place called "Pablo's". I took a seat at a booth with cracked brown leather seats at a window that was in need of a good wipe down. I took a look at the worn and laminated menu on the table. I ordered beef bolognese pasta and a side mixed green salad with a strawberry lemonade. An impatient and tired looking waitress with a thick Hispanic accent took my order, her name tag read Rosa. While waiting for however long for my food to come out, I looked up to see a familiar looking man entering the place. His face looked familiar, but I couldn't remember from where. Two minutes later Rosa bought out my strawberry lemonade in a tall glass with lots of ice and a big fresh strawberry for a garnish and a yellow straw. My eyes met his for a quick glance and then I looked away. While waiting for my food, I plucked the strawberry from the rim of the glass and began to eat it. It was so sweet and juicy. He took a seat at the bar and his back was turned towards me. I had to think for a second, where did I know him from? As if he could read my thoughts, he turned his head and our eyes met again. I was taken aback when I realized who he was, Rashaad, Rashaad Harris. I didn't know how to react, so I just gave him a blank stare. He looked so much different now. He was still tall and lean, but now his short dreads were gone and in it's place was a bald fade. He wore glasses and he was dressed in a short sleeved dark red polo shirt and neatly creased black khaki slacks. 

"Alexis, Alexis Hathaway? Is that you?", he asked, sounding surprised. Well this sounds crazy but I thought I'd never see you again.

He picked up his bottle of beer and walked up to my booth, sitting across from me.

"I haven't thought about you in a long time", I said as Rosa came back out with my plate of beef bolognese and another plate with my mixed green salad.

I looked up and thanked her as she walked away. 

"So how have you been?", he asked, looking a bit uncomfortable.

"Fine, just fine", I replied, picking up my fork and twirling pasta noodles around it.