NOMAD'S BRIDE

Desert Rose

Early the next morning, before dawn, Noa found himself wandering the empty streets of Amber Falls.

There was a barber shop, a grocery store and a hair salon on the same block. Across the street there was another spot labeled 'General Store'. All the store signs were hand painted.

Not a single car was on the road, driving or parked and Noa stood on the sidewalk in his sheer black tank top and jeans, wondering if he'd just wandered into the 1950's.

Downtown consisted of two blocks, the one he was on and the one across the street.

In addition to the General Store, the other block had a hair salon called Peggy's with a woman's bouffant hairstyle making one of the 'G's' and a movie theatre on the corner.

According to the sign it was showing The Blob at 7 o'clock.

"What the hell," he mumbled, eyeing the retro posters in the windows.

The sun still hadn't peaked over the mountains when a neon open sign flickered in a window.

It was a diner car that had a white and turquoise sign on the top that said Route 66.

Noa was pretty much done exploring this Twilight Zone town.

The plan was to get back to his bike and try to find a room.

But his gut reminded him he hadn't eaten in close to a day. And even that had been some garbage snacks from the gas station.

Route 66 apparently offered the best food in Nevada, that's what the tagline boasted anyway. It was likely bullshit, but it wasn't like he had a lot of options.

Glancing down at his clothes and visible nipple ring he had to grin. This would be interesting.

When he opened the door, he immediately recognized the chick from the gas station. She was wearing the same uniform.

Her eyes widened as she tucked a bobby pin in her hair, another was pinched between her lips.

In front of the counter, the position gave him a decent view of her body as her raised arms cinched the outfit under her breasts.

Though he really wanted to, Noa held back from letting his gaze wander too much. Opting to keep his eyes locked on hers as he spoke, "Morning."

"Hi." The bobby pin fell from her mouth and clattered on the floor as she tried to catch it.

She mouthed a curse bending down to get it.

"I saw the open sign." Noa stayed outside, noting it appeared she was alone. "Is it alright to come in?"

She continued to stare at him as she straightened. "Technically, we don't open for another hour. I just always forget to turn on the sign, so I was just getting ahead of myself."

Noa nodded, backing away to close the door.

"It's fine though," she said waving him forward. "You can come on in."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she quickly rounded the counter. "Can I get you a coffee?"

"I'll take it." Noa let the door close behind him as he stepped inside.

He glanced around the place, noting it was just as 50's as the rest of the town. Was this whole thing intentional or did they just never evolve?

The sound of his boots was loud on the checkered floor, even the door seemed loud as he tried to close it.