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Proposal

Waffle House

I walked into the Waffle House completely drained from practice. I didn’t need to be eating here because the food was nothing but grease. But it was tasteful grease that left me full and feeling accomplished in the gorging myself department. I may not have skated like a Norris Trophy finalist in practice or the last couple games but I was going to eat like I was the reigning hot-dog eating champion. It was a bonus that the food was extremely cheap. But like I said. It’s nothing but grease.

Falling into a booth, I took off my beanie and ran a hand through my hair. I really did need to cut it. The curls were becoming unruly and my mother was constantly badgering me to look more presentable. For what reason I don’t know. My job gives me the leeway to look anyway I want because it’s honestly more about talent than anything else. I didn’t have to look like Patrick Sharp or Kris Letang to be considered an asset.

I smiled as the server approached me. It was Macey. My usual server. She slid into the booth across me from with a groan. I laughed, “Your feet screamin’?”

Macey sent me a tired smile as her hand slide over her stomach. “You have no idea. This little one needs to just pop out already. But no. I have another 2 months of this.”

“It’ll all be worth it once you have him. At least that’s what my mom’s always said when I’m not being a pain in the butt.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re still naming him after me right?”

“Zach. I was never naming him after you. I’m not going to doom my child like that.” She smirked and I let an appalled look cross my face. “Oh please. You’re not even close to being offended. I take it you want the usual?”

“You know it, Mace.” I grinned as she stood, her hand supporting her back. “I was serious about that offer, ya know. If you need help with anything, just call me.” She waved me off as she walked over to yell my order to the cook. Like she did every other time I offered my help. Macey was fiercely independent which didn’t work well with her current situation. She’d only recently graduated high school and she was seven months pregnant. Her parents kicked her out right after graduation because she refused to tell them who the father is. They wanted her to marry the boy. What she didn’t tell them but did tell me is that she doesn’t know who the father is. Product of a wild night at a party.

I sat back in my seat as I waited for my food to be done. Looking around, I smiled slightly. There weren’t many people in the small restaurant. Even for being lunch time, not many people came into this particular Waffle House. Which is part of the reason I chose to be a patron here. Sure the staff knew who I was, but after my first ten minutes in here, the first time I came, they all got over that. It’s not like I was that big a star anyhow. I was a third line defenseman. Nothing too special.

While looking around, I did notice that everyone seemed to be paired off. An older couple sat at the counter, leaned toward each other and talking softly. They were dressed in what looked like their Sunday best so I assumed they were on a date. Which I thought was cute. They had to be in their 80s and they still radiated that “in love” vibe. I wanted that to be me when I hit that age.

I watched as he kissed her cheek after whispering something and a blush rose on her face. The man grinned before settling his fedora onto her head which caused her to laugh. They continued to talk quietly as they ate, occasionally feeding each other.

Shaking my head and smiling, I moved on to observing another couple. This pair was in business attire and seated across from each other at another booth. I couldn’t see the woman’s face, but I hazarded a guess that she had the same look in her eyes as the man. That look that says they saw no one but the person in front of them. As she ran a hand through her hair, the sun caught the small diamond in the ring on her left hand. For a moment, there was a rainbow dancing in her auburn curls. My eyes moved to the man’s hands. He too was sporting a ring, though his was much simpler-- only a gold band around his left ring finger.

There was another couple seated at the booth closest to mine. They sat next to each other, facing me. They couldn’t be more than 26. Not much older than myself. He had his arm around her waist, keeping her tight against him. They too shared their food and laughed at softly spoken jokes. She kissed his cheek before getting up and heading for the bathroom. The young man watched her go, biting his lip in what I guess was a nervous manner.

“Here you go Zach.” Macey set my plates down on the table. Along with my apple juice and water.

“Thanks Macey.” I smiled at her before organizing everything into the order I wanted to eat it. She messed up my already wild curls before going back to the counter. I rolled my eyes before turning my concentration to my food. Sparing a quick glance at the man sitting in the booth, I saw a little black box slip back into his pocket. I looked up in a bit a of shock before I could stop myself. We made eye contact and he grinned. I gave him a smile but looked back at my food when his girlfriend rejoined him.

I grabbed the ketchup to douse my hash browns in but the door opening caught my attention. I expected another loved up couple to walk through the door as that seemed to be the theme for today’s restaurant fair. Only a small part of me was hoping it wasn’t a couple walking through that door. In general, I actually enjoyed being surrounded by people who were so obviously in love that their joy permeated everything around them. But after the grueling practice I had endured not even an hour ago, I wasn’t sure I was up to seeing so much happy. That small part of me wanted everyone to be as miserable I was at that point. Seeing all these couples just reminded me that I had no one to go home to. I had no one to share my pre-game nap with. Thankfully, the larger part of me wasn’t upset by this. I was only 19. I had time to find the right girl. Besides. I’m more focused on bettering my game than getting married.

Though having a girlfriend would be nice. I’m alone in Atlanta. Most of my family still lives in New York.

My train of thought was broken when a shadow crossed my table. Frowning, I looked up. I dropped the ketchup bottle, sending my silverware scattering. The girl standing at the edge of the table blushed heavily. Her light green eyes held amusement as well as embarrassment.

“I...uh... Sorry. Did you, um, need something?” I made a show of getting my utensils righted so the blush creeping up my cheeks had time to subside.

“Yeah. Um... I know this is going to be a weird request, but can I sit here?” She pointed to the empty seat across from me. “It’s just... I usually sit in this booth. I normally get here after you’ve left but I had a rough morning so I cam early on the off chance you wouldn’t be here today.” She took her light pink bottom lip between her teeth.

“S-sure.” She let out a relieved breath before plopping down across from me. I moved my plates around to give her some table space. Can’t blame a guy for liking to spread out. “Wait... How do you know when I’m here?”

She laughed. It chimed in my ears like water droplets hitting crystal. Think of that moment in Ever After when da Vinci sets Danielle’s glass shoe on the walkway wall after yelling at Prince Henry. Then Henry stands next to it looking like a kicked puppy and it’s starts raining. You know the sound the rain makes when it’s hits the shoe? And how sopping romantic it makes the scene? Yeah. That’s what her laugh sounded like ringing in my head.

“I see you leaving most days. I literally pull in as you’re walking out the door. Plus. Macey and I talk.” She smirked at Macey as she came over.

“The usual for you too, I’m guessing. Or is it a bad day and you need that usual?”

“Door number two, chickie.” The girls made some small talk. I focused on my food so I wouldn’t ease drop. Food’s always been the only thing other than hockey to completely consume my senses so I see and hear nothing else. Well. I tried to focus on my food. The woman across from me was demanding more of my focus than I really wanted to admit. She wasn’t even doing anything to warrant my attention.

I took the opportunity to look her over though. I nearly dropped my fork. She was beautiful. Her dark hair had reddish highlights shining through. They looked completely natural which was a huge plus. Her caramel skin suggested mixed heritage but it just made her look exotic and even more appealing. Combined with her light green eyes and gorgeous smile, she definitely earned the top spot on my dream girl list. A spot previously held by Gisele.

I noticed that her clothing didn’t match her looks. She had on a white tank top which was covered by an open, short-sleeved, plaid men’s button down. The way it hung on her, I could tell it was tied around her hips. The blues and greens in her shirt only made her eyes shine all the more. Normally, I hated men’s clothing on women. I just felt like that was tacky and screamed “walk of shame,” regardless of the actual look the lady had going on. But on this girl, it was beyond attractive. Before I could stop myself, I pictured her in one of my game worn jersey’s. And it was a mental picture I was going to hold on to for as long as I lived.

I carefully edged a napkin off the table so I could wipe the stupid grin off my face. As I bent to pick it up, I was amused and slightly surprised to see a pair of dirty, faded blue Converse adorning her feet. I expected some of those stupid gladiator sandals or maybe even heels. But then again, her choice in tops should have told me she wasn’t that kind of girl.

Light washed blue jeans covered her legs. I could tell she wasn’t very tall. One foot was tucked under her but the other was dangling a few centimeters off the floor.

Sitting back up, I reorganized my food, finally put the ketchup on my hash browns and started eating.

“Do you mind?” The angel had a hand on my glass of water, the look in her eyes questioning. I found the words “go ahead” spilling from my mouth before I had actually comprehended her request. She smiled at me and my heart felt like it stopped.

Looking at her, I felt that small part of me that wanted everyone to be miserable turn coat. Instead, it was screaming at me to stop being such an uncoordinated oaf and actually make a conversation with the beauty in front of me. What that part of me didn’t seem to realize was that I had been trying to figure out how to talk to her since her shadow fell across my table.

Her food came before I had decided on a good ice breaker. I didn’t feel right intruding on her eating time. I hated it when people tried to talk to me when I was intent on my food, and since I didn’t know if she was the same, I left her alone.

Trying not to sigh too loudly, I took a bite of my breakfast wrap. I let my eyes wonder as I chewed. I had to force myself not to just shovel my food like I normally did. I didn’t want her to think I had no manners. Which said something. I really couldn’t ever care less what people thought of my eating habits. When food was in front of me, I ate so quickly that most people thought I hadn’t had anything on my plate to begin with. Somewhat of a bad habit, but I’m so used to my metabolism being high. After eating a full meal, I could usually go for a decent sized snack a couple hours later. Only during the season though. Off season, I basically ate like a normal person.

The woman at the booth near mine, the one who was going to be proposed to later, caught my eye. Her smile was knowing and I couldn’t stop the coloring rising to my cheeks. I returned her smile with a weak one of my own before taking a large gulp of my apple juice. I heard her laugh and whisper something to her soon-to-be-fiancé. They spoke a little louder and I’m guessing it was for my benefit.

“Roger, he’s acting just like you did the first time we met.” Amusement filled her voice.

“Claire, stop. Because if he’s anything like me or any normal man for that matter, he’s having a hard enough time as it is. Just leave the boy alone.” I sent him a thankful smile when I made eye contact with him. His girlfriend giggled but didn’t say anything else.

Glancing back at the woman sharing my table, I was caught off guard for a moment. As she ran her hand through her hair, I saw a small rainbow dancing in her hair and the glint of a diamond in the sun. All the hope I didn’t know was building inside of me shattered.

I took another bite of my food, determining not to look at her any more. My eyes couldn’t be tamed though. They wandered back to her hand seconds later. There was no ring on her finger. On any of her fingers. Confused, I did a quick sweep of the table. She had no purse to have stowed the ring in and it wasn’t on the table. I felt my confusion show on my face, but I tried to stay focused on my food so she wouldn’t catch it.

“Something wrong?” Guess I failed. I shoved as big a bit as possible in my mouth, hoping she would take the hint that I didn’t want to talk. Forget trying not to look like a savage. This girl couldn’t possibly be single. She’s got the body of a supermodel-- even if a little short. She laughed that laugh again. The one that chimed in my ears. Only this time my pants got a little tighter. “You know. You’re nothing like I expected. I always heard that single hockey players are playboys.”

Startled, I looked up at her, almost choking on the food I had shoveled into my mouth. I had to force myself to chew and swallow before answering. “You know who I am?”

“I told you. Macey and I talk.” Her smile once again made my heart stop.

“Oh...” Eloquent Zach. Really.

“So. What got that cute face of yours twisted into such a unpleasant stare?”

I had to clear my throat to work the embarrassment down. “You’re rather bold.” She shrugged. I decided to take a chance and just say what I was thinking. Chances are I was never going to see her again. And if I did? Well I’d probably run and hide. “I, uh, thought I saw a ring on your finger. But it’s obviously not there so maybe I’m more tired from practice than I thought. You know. If I’m hallucinating and everything.” I trailed off toward the end of my sentence when I noticed the despair pass through her eyes. It wasn’t there for long, but I saw it.

She hide it with amusement fairly quick. “Nope. No ring. Kind of need to be in a relationship for that anyway.” With a smile, she finished off my apple juice. “Thanks for sharing the booth with me.” She slipped her wallet out of her back pocket as she stood. Dropping a ten on the table, she waved at Macey and left.

I was content to sit in shock but apparently Claire wasn’t okay with that. “Boy, if you don’t go after that girl, I’m going to accidentally spill my steaming hot coffee on you.” I looked at her, eyes wide. She made a shooing motion before picking up her coffee mug. Gulping, I stood and took out my own wallet. I snatched up the ten, dropping a twenty in it’s place. Grabbing my beanie, I kissed a laughing Macey’s cheek on my way out.

“Hey!” I jogged across the parking lot to the little green Chevy Malibu she was getting into. She paused, one foot in the car, and turned toward me. I stopped by the trunk of her car. She was even more stunning out in the sunlight. My voice caught in my throat as I took her in. The way she was standing, a sliver of caramel skin was visible between the top of her jeans and the hem of her shirts. I could see color in that sliver which indicated a hip tattoo. The girl just moved to number one on every list I’ve ever made concerning girls.

“You gonna talk or stand there gapin’?”

“Huh? Oh. Um. I was thinking that since you pilfered both my drinks, I could take you out tomorrow and uh buy you some of your own.”

She laughed that laugh again and my stomach clenched. “Sure Zach.” I grinned before asking for her number. As I passed her my phone, I again saw a diamond ring on her finger. But I kept it to myself this time.

Waving goodbye and with a promise to call later, I walked to my truck. Once inside, I found her in my contacts. Becki. The name fit her girl-next-door style. It fit her. Deciding to be bold off the ice for once, I hit the call button.

“Hey, Becki? It’s later.”

Comments

I love this!! Please update soon!!! :)

margaretmoo24 margaretmoo24
1/9/16

Please update.

Psquared91 Psquared91
4/16/14

This always says it's updated but it never is

imw0nderstruck imw0nderstruck
2/23/14
Nice. Love the suspense! Keep going with this. I wanna see a series come out of this story!
Ovie8 Ovie8
4/8/13