I woke up at about noon the next day in a horrible funk, and it wasn't just the Indian food. I had it bad. I needed to see her again, so I got on my bike and cycled over there. It was busier than before, so I went in next door first to the clothes shop, where Shelley was adjusting the fit of a dress on a mannequin.
'Hey, Conrad!' she said brightly, with her usual perky smile. 'What's up?'
'Just passing, thought I'd see how you were,' I said.
'Good thanks,' she said. 'Hey, I've got my break coming up. How's about you take me to lunch?'
'Oh, okay,' I said. 'yeah, that'd be fun. We could go next door, to the new ice cream place, if you like.'
'Sure,' said Shelley, taking her employee badge off, 'I've been wondering what it's like. Let me just tell Emily I'm going.'
All the counter seats were occupied when we came in, but there was a table by the window. By this time of day there were more staff around, and my heart sank as I saw someone else scooping raspberry ripple behind the counter. 'Do you reckon we go up to the counter to order,' said Shelley, 'or...'
'May I take your order?' said a voice. I looked up – and it was her, oh God was it ever her. 'Oh, hey there!' she said, recognising me. I watched her eyes flick to Shelley. She may have assumed – I mean, she would naturally have thought –
'I'll start with a tuna sandwich on brown bread,' said Shelley, surveying her menu, 'and we'll come back for ice cream in a bit. Oh and could I have an iced tea?'
'Sure,' said the vision, 'and for you?'
'Oh, em, oh,' I burbled. 'Oh. Can I maybe have a hot dog, and some fries, and em, uh, tea for me too? Iced, I mean. Tea.'
'No problem,' she smiled, and tucker her notepad back into her pocket, and tucked her pencil behind her ear. What I wouldn't have given to be that pencil.
'Oh-ho!' said Shelley, giggling. 'Now I see why you wanted to come here.'
'Hm? Oh, well. I stopped by yesterday morning. The service is very good.'
'Oh, I agree. The service is very good. I couldn't help noticing the service is also a Constitution-class hottie with an ass that won't quit.'
'It really disturbs me when you do that, Shel,' I said, gazing absently out over the busy cafe.
'Do what?' she said innocently.
'Your Dmitri impression. Can you not objectify her like that?'
'Sorry, Con. Didn't realise she was your fiancé,' she teased. 'Your betrothed. Your soulmate, aww. You don't half like 'em big, though, do you?'
'What are you talking about?' I said irritably, flushing red.
'First Cassie, then the girl with the hair at the bowling alley. Now this curvy cutie.'
'She's not that big, Shel. Anyway, how was Cassie "big"?'
'Well, you have to admit she was somewhat well-endowed. That was pretty much her selling point, as far as I recall.'
'That's not nice,' I protested lamely.
'Well, neither was she. Anyway, Amber said to me she saw Cassie in that diner out towards Peachwood, and she's put on some serious weight.'
'Really?' I said, interested despite myself. 'How much?'
'Don't know, but Amber said she saw her getting more intimate with her bacon double cheese than she ever did with you. Her words, not mine,' she added hastily.
I had little time to ponder, this, however, because the girl came back with our food. Ash she leaned over the table to put down my glass of tea, I caught sight of the name tag pinned to her top. KATE, it read. Kate, I thought. So simple. So perfect. 'Just give us a shout when you want your ice creams, okay?' said Kate.
'Thanks,' said Shelley brightly, and Kate left once again, wiggling her broad hips as she passed another waitress in the press of people. Seeing where my gaze was, Shelley shook her head. 'Why don't you just ask her out?'
'Oh, she wouldn't want – I mean, there's no way she'd ever – I'm not her –'
'What nonsense. Faint heart never won fair waitress. Ask for her number!'
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