I hadn’t moved yet from my spot near the door, so I walked over to her.
“Is everything ok?” I asked.
“No…um…it’s not. My co-worker told me she left your card in this folder and it’s not in here. I am afraid I have to call her and find out where she put it because it’s not here.”
I smiled, wanting her to relax. “No worries…it’s gotta be in this place somewhere, right?” I am in no rush. Please take your time, Allison.”
The credit card was the least of my concerns right now. It could be on its fucking way to Nigeria now for all I cared.
Just then, an older black haired man with a moustache who looked like Super Mario came out from the kitchen, dressed in a coat and hat with a newspaper stuffed under his arm.
“Ready to go, Al?” he asked. This must be Max.
“Max, if it’s okay, I need to use my key to lock up. This customer left his credit card here earlier today and I don’t know where Sonia put it. I just tried her cell and there is no answer, so I am gonna look around for it.”
“No problem. You know how to lock it, right?” Max asked. He didn’t seem worried. You can tell he trusted her.
“Yup…done it before plenty of times. Thanks.”
The bells chimed as Max left the diner, leaving me alone with Allison.
Alone with Allison.
This was my one and only chance to get to know her. It’s now or never. I hope she never finds that goddamn card.
“Cedric, I am really sorry about this.” She looked over at me quickly, while still rummaging through cabinets and drawers, her big eyes frantically searching. “I know Sonia wanted to put it someplace for safe keeping, but apparently, that backfired.”
Her cheeks looked red. She was actually really upset about this. I wish I could tell her how happy the situation was actually making me, but then if she knew that I’d probably end up in the back of a cop car heading back to the city.
“Allison, it’s really ok. Please, don’t worry about it. Do you mind if I sit down while you look?” I asked.
“Please…yes…can I get you a slice of pie or something?” she asked.
“That’s really sweet of you, yes, I would love some.” Pie actually sounded really good.
“Apple or coconut cream?” Allison held the door open to the kitchen as she waited for my reply with the sweetest look on her beautiful face.
My heart was fucking toast.
“Aw, man…that’s easy…coconut cream…thanks.”
Could this night get any better…now there’s pie in the mix?
Allison walked out of the kitchen with a small plate that had a huge slice of pie and a generous dollop of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry on top.
“Here you go.” She smiled and placed the pie in front of me.
“Thanks.” I stared up at her again for a few seconds. This time, she was staring back at me, her hand slowly backing away from the pie plate and it reminded me of the awkward pause we experienced the first time I came into the diner. God I just want to grab her and sniff her hair. Thank God she can’t read my mind because if she could, this pie would be in my face and the cherry up my ass.
Allison abruptly walked away and said, “I am going to try Sonia again.”
She picked up her iPhone and scrolled down to a number and this time she got an answer. I watched and listened to her as I stuffed my face with pie.
“Sonia! she shouted. “Where the hell did you put the credit card? I looked there; it’s not there! You said the green folder…what do you mean top shelf? Oh, the shelf in the pantry…crap, alright…yes, he is…later…later…I
can’t now… alright…thanks.”
She hung up and ran into the kitchen.