Page 20 of The Reverse Cinderella
But it wasn’t okay. She knew he was interested in her and she had just accidently called him her dead husband’s name. What could she say to make it better and not worse? Piaget listened miserably as he left, the door clicking softly. She curled up into a ball and wished her mouth would just stop talking before her brain could think.
The next day at the café Piaget was surprised to see both Max and Adam come in together. It was obvious that they didn’t realize she was working since she had just come back from the washroom and had spotted them first.
Piaget hung back for a moment, indecisive. She wasn’t sure she was ready to talk to Max after last night. Calling him Gary was a huge blunder and she had no idea what to say to him to make things better. Piaget didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she must have stood there in the corridor too long and they were choosing a table right beside the washrooms and she could hear them clearly. Piaget realized they were talking about the other night when Max had taken her to see the stars and the next thing she knew, she was pressed up against the wall, one ear cocked around the corner hoping to know what Max thought of the whole thing. Cowardly of her, for sure, but she desperately wanted to know.
“How did it go?” Adam was positively beaming as he sipped his frothy coffee.
“It was going great,” Max said with a grimace.
“Was?” Adam picked up on the important word quickly. “What does that mean? Did something happen?”
“Sort of. Things were going really good and then at the end of the evening she said something…” Max shrugged.
“What?” Adam looked at Max in concern. “I thought there was some chemistry between you two.”
Max sighed. “I think she still loves her husband.”
“Her ex? She’s been divorced for a year.”
“Did she tell you that she was divorced? She told me she was a widow.”
Adam thought for a minute. “Wait. No, I think I just assumed she was divorced. I don’t think she actually said.”
“Puts a bit of a different slant on things.” Max slowly drank from his black coffee.
“Wow. Still in love with a dead dude? That’s hard to compete against. What are you going to do?” asked Adam. “I wouldn’t have set you guys up if I didn’t think it wasn’t going to work. I’m sorry, man.”
“Relax, I’m not blaming you. I really do like her and I’m not in this for the short game. I’ll just be patient. Wait and be her friend. At some point, maybe she’ll be ready and I’ll be there. Piaget is worth it.”
Adam sighed. “What if she’s never ready?”
“Then I will have made an amazing friend and hopefully I won’t be too disappointed if nothing more happens,” Max studied Adam who was watching Dix. “What about you? You’ve been trying to set up Piaget and I, isn’t there someone special in your life?”
Adam snorted. “Dude, look at me.”
“Is there a problem with you?” Max raised an eyebrow.
“Guys like you get the girls. Guys like me don’t. I’m six foot, pushing three hundred pounds. I don’t play for the NFL so I’m just a fat guy. Girls aren’t into that.”
Max looked at Dix with her colorful hair and piercings. “Somehow, I don’t think she’s into the NFL or the conventional. Maybe if you talked to her it would help.”
“What would I even say?” Adam hid behind his drink, staring into its depths rather than look at Dix or Max.
“What does she like to do? Find out an event that you think she would go to and ask. Or tell her she makes good coffee. Or say you like her hair. As long as you actually like her hair, otherwise that could get messy.”
Adam liked Dix? Piaget had no idea. She also was incredibly happy that Max still wanted to go out with her. She didn’t know why, since she wasn’t exactly looking for a relationship, but she liked Max a lot. Dix spotted Piaget hiding out and pointed to her wrist, pantomiming a watch that she didn’t wear. Fortunately, neither Max or Adam had noticed. Piaget held up a finger, asking for a moment to which Dix rolled her eyes and then went back to forcefully pleasantly serving customers.
Piaget came up behind Adam and Max, laying a hand on each of their shoulders, leaning in. “Dix is an artist.”
Adam jumped a mile and almost spilled his drink. Max was laughing at Adam’s reaction and trying not to, hiding his mouth behind a hand as his shoulders shook.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack!” Adam hissed.
“There’s an exhibit at the Meier gallery. They’re taking up and coming artists, but Dix is worried her art isn’t good enough. She wants to scope it out and see what is being accepted. You should take her.” Piaget turned to Max. “Thank you for the stars. I’m sorry I fell asleep on our first date but if you’re willing to go out again, I’d like to try a second date.”
“I’d like that too.” He really was very handsome when he smiled. “Are you working closing?”
She happily nodded.