I watched the waitress laugh with an old man as she refilled his cup, tease a teenager about the syrup, pick up a little girl’s fallen napkin, and somehow remember every order without writing any of it down.
They started sending me on endless dates with women who knew the price of everything.
Advertisement
Her smile was quick, but it reached her eyes.
My mind was already forming a plan.
When she finally made it to my table, she wiped a ring of water from the surface and grinned.
“Rough day?”
“You could say that,” I admitted, introducing myself.
She poured my refill. “Well, the secret’s extra sugar. On the house. I’m Claire.”
My mind was already forming a plan.
Advertisement
I almost smiled. “Do you have five minutes to talk later? I have a strange proposal.”
She tilted her head, curious. “My break’s not for two hours. But if you’re still here, ask me then.”
For the first time in months, I actually wanted to stay.
***
When Claire finally slid into the seat beside me on her break, she handed me a plate of cookies.
“Alright,” she said, glancing sideways. “I’m here. So, what’s this strange proposal?”
I fiddled with my cup, nerves kicking in. “This is going to sound insane, but just hear me out, okay?”
“Do you have five minutes to talk later? I have a strange proposal.”
Advertisement
Claire smiled. “Try me.”
I took a deep breath. “My parents… they’re wealthy. Like, country club, holiday-in-Europe, everything-by-the-book kind of wealthy.”
She whistled low. “That’s intense.”
“They gave me an ultimatum. To get married by my next birthday, or get cut off.”
“Seriously?”
“It’s not a joke. They even gave me a list of acceptable women. I don’t want to marry any of them. I barely know them. But I also… I don’t want to lose everything I’ve ever known.”
