Page 12 of Trophy

“I’m going to go ahead and take my break,” Allison told Trey, ducking her head into his micro-office and catching him scratching his crotch.

“Sure. Go ahead. Just be back by eleven.”

The lunch crowd—mostly the seniors—would start coming in soon for early lunches.

She was hungry, and her feet were hurting, but it hadn’t been a particularly difficult day.

Chelle and Gus always went behind the building for their break, so they could smoke in peace, but Allison headed for her car, where she’d left a pack of crackers this morning.

She liked to be alone during her breaks, so her car was pretty much her only option.

She waved at Ernie, who liked to sit in a chair on the sidewalk across the street while he did his clothes in the laundromat. “Leaving early?” he called out.

“Just taking my break.”

“Nice day, isn’t it?”

It was a very hot day with humidity so thick she felt like she had to push through it, but she smiled and waved again as she continued to her car at the back of the parking lot next to the building.

She couldn’t believe she’d worked at Dora’s for a whole month now.

She knew all the regulars. She knew whether to ask them about their kids, grandkids, dogs, or horses.

Every day, when she looked in the mirror, it was like looking at a stranger.

She kept telling herself that this was what it looked like to be independent, but it was still a disorienting visual.

She had a ponytail and comfortable (not very attractive) shoes, and even the cigarette smell that wafted in with about half the customers didn’t make her sick like it used to.

A year ago she never would have thought she could be content in this life, but she was happier now than in that last year married to Arthur.

At least she could decide what she wanted to do for herself.

At least she could eat a bowl of ice cream without feeling guilty about putting on a pound.

At least she didn’t have to listen to his lectures.

Last night she’d been standing on a stepladder on her front stoop, trying to change a bulb above the front door.

The fixture was old, though, and the bulb had broken with part of it still stuck in the fixture, so she hadn’t been able to get it out.

After fifteen minutes of working on it, Rob had come over from across the street.

He’d pulled out his little multitool and had the piece of lightbulb out in about two minutes.

He’d lingered, asking her about her day and telling her about a funny guy who had come into his store that day. He’d looked like he wouldn’t mind being invited in for a beer, but Allison didn’t have any beer, and she was worried about having Rob over in the evenings.

She might do something she’d made a decision not to do.

He’d never invited her over to his house. She had no idea why, unless he had a wife hidden away in the attic or he didn’t want to put away an embarrassing porn collection.

Thinking about Rob, she pulled this morning’s napkin out of her pocket. She’d had an annoyed customer who’d been giving her a hard time. Rob had written, Jake complains about everything. Don’t listen to him. You’re great. R.

She smiled like an idiot as she reread it and then jumped in surprise when her phone rang, as if she’d been caught doing something naughty.

It was Vicki, so Allison grinned as she picked it up.

After the normal comments and catching up, Vicki said, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were starting to like being a small-town waitress.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m getting used to it, but this is definitely not how I want to spend my life. I’m still dreaming of my little jewelry shop to get me through the days.”

“When are you going to start taking classes again?”

“I don’t know.” Allison sighed, a familiar heaviness overcoming her as she thought about her future. The jewelry-shop dream was easy and encouraging, but any active step toward it felt like a huge burden she didn’t have the energy to tackle yet.

“I thought you were going to start back as soon as possible.”

“I am. I’m just still so tired when I get home from work. I’m not sure I’d have the energy to take a class on top of that yet. Plus, I’m still worried about spending money.”

“But you’re making money now.”

“Yeah, but not much. You’d be horrified by how little I make. I can’t tell you how depressing it is to work all day and have so little to show for it.”

“But you’re getting by, aren’t you?” Vicki usually sounded light and amused, but there was a note of concern in her voice now.

“Yeah. Yeah. I’m getting by just fine. Having the house and car helps.

I’m not sure what I’d do if I had to add those payments on top of my other expenses” She shook her head, feeling an intense surge of sympathy for some of the young women who came into the restaurant, trying to get by on so little money.

“Still, what you’re doing is hard enough. I’m in awe of you, you know.”

Allison snorted. “Thanks a lot.”

“Speaking of awe…” Vicki’s voice changed.

“Something about Arthur?”

“We saw him the other night at a gallery opening.”

“Oh yeah? Was he was as pompous and patronizing as ever?”

“More so, I’d say. He asked about you.”

“I hope you told him I was having the time of my life.”

“Of course I did. He just gave that creepy smile of his and said, ‘She’ll be back.’” Vicki pitched her voice low to imitate Arthur.

“What?” Allison had been sitting in the backseat of her car with the door hanging open, but at this she stood up. “He thinks I’m coming back to him?”

“I guess so.”

“Bastard.”

“So you’re never tempted at all?” Vicki asked, more softly now, as if worried about her friend’s response to the question.

“No. Never. Never, ever. Even in the slightest.”

“Good. I’m proud of you.”

Allison laughed and said she needed to get back to work, so they hung up with promises to get together on the weekend.

When the call had ended, Allison’s smile faded. She stared at the phone in her hand, feeling suddenly like a failure.

Nothing she’d done in the last month would impress Arthur in the slightest. He’d never see it as a victory. It didn’t matter—of course it didn’t—but she would never get that small moment of vindication in proving she could be happy without her ex. He would never believe it was true.

“Allison,” a voice called out from the sidewalk.

She lowered her phone and straightened up when she recognized Rob, crunching through the gravel parking lot toward her. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

“I was walking over to Dora’s. I have a meeting in a little while and promised I’d get lunch.” He was grinning as he approached her, and he looked golden in the light, the sun gleaming off his brown hair and tanned skin.

“Oh. The meeting must be why you’re all dressed up today.”

Rob’s dressed-up look involved a long-sleeve shirt and a tie. She wondered if he even owned a suit. He tugged at his tie and made a face. “I hate this thing.”

She chuckled and then glanced over toward Dora’s. “Well, promise me you’ll get a salad for lunch.”

“Why would I get a salad?”

“You can’t eat burgers every day on top of eggs and bacon.”

Rob glanced down at his very flat belly and gave it a little pat.

“I’m not suggesting you’re getting fat,” Allison said with a laugh, looking away from his abs, since she had the sudden urge to touch them, even through his shirt. “I’m worried about your arteries.”

“My arteries are fine.”

She frowned at him and made a humming sound to show her disbelief.

He stepped forward, one of his hands curving around her hip. His voice was lower and thicker as he asked, “Shall I tell you what’s fine about you?”

Her breath hitched, and she flushed hot, but she managed to remove his hand from her hip. “We’re not doing that. Remember?”

His eyes were hot and soft and incredibly appealing as he murmured, “Maybe I was hoping you would change your mind.”

She was hit with a wave of attraction the likes of which she’d never experienced before.

Her vision actually blurred, and her knees were close to buckling.

It would be so easy to lose herself for a while in this strong, sexy, good-hearted man.

He would make her feel better about herself.

He would make her feel better about everything.

He would make her feel good .

It didn’t seem right, though, when she couldn’t imagine it ever turning into a long-term thing.

She gave him a little smile and pulled herself together. “I better get back inside. My break is over.”

He let out a hoarse sigh and stepped back. “Of course it is.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, so she didn’t say anything as they walked inside together.