G is for Goo

Welcome to the A to Z Challenge! I am excited to share with you some meet cutes (and maybe some sexy scenes) throughout the month of April! Richard is going to be chiming in with a few of his characters from his Hallmark story, too! Here is the next installment, but stay tuned every day (except Sundays) this month for a short scene! Like and comment, and maybe I’ll continue the more popular stories in May!

Richard is picking my words for me. Goo! What a Goof!
– Jayden

“Ugh! Yuck! What is this goo?” I yelled.

I was at a diner, sitting down at a table, and when I set my hand down, I set it right into something gooey and gross.

The host seating me looked apologetic as he said, “Sorry, man. Let me get something to clean that up for you.” The diner was full, and I had waited 15 minutes for a table, so I didn’t want to ask for another table. If it had been emptier, I definitely would have.

The woman in the next booth turned around and handed me a wipe. “Here you go,” she said.

“Thanks,” I said. I didn’t really look at her, just took the wipe and cleaned up my hand. By the time I was done, the host was back with a rag. He wiped down that spot on the table and the rest of it for good measure.

“Sorry again,” he said.

“It’s fine,” I replied. Still annoyed but understanding that it wasn’t his fault and that the restaurant was busy.

I watched the host go to a server, talk for a moment, and then she made a beeline for me. I would be $100 bucks that he told her that I was already displeased and she shouldn’t make me wait.

She brought me a drink on the house as an apology, which I thought was overkill, but I wasn’t going to argue with a free drink. Then I settled back to wait for my date. A diner for a first date is terrible, I know, but it was what she wanted. She said it was her favorite diner, and that the eggs benedict was to die for, and that we should absolutely go there.

Now after the goo, I’m not sure this is the best diner, but I was still willing to give it a chance. On the other hand, I glanced at my watch, she was 15 minutes late. I checked my phone and sighed. She had texted me at least, and she was bailing on me.

Sorry, George, I really am. I just don’t think I’m ready to date yet. I thought I was, but I’m just…not.

I closed my eyes and took another deep breath. I was here, and I was taking up a table. I would hate to abandon my server with no tip. I reached into the bag I carried with me and pulled out a book. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. The cover was worn and the spine bent. I couldn’t count the number of times I had read it.

I signaled the server politely, let her know it would just be me, and placed my order. She looked at me with pity, which I hated.

I heard some movement behind me, in the booth where the woman had handed me a wipe. I glanced in her direction and saw that she was about to tap me on the shoulder. “Oh, hello,” she said with a smile.

“Hi,” I said.

“I love Erin Morgenstern.”

Check out what’s going on with other A to Z Bloggers on the Master List, and come back all month long! Leave us a comment if you’re participating, and I promise to visit your blogs, too!