V Card Sweetheart (Sweetheart, Colorado)

She looks as if she’s going to say something else, but clamps her lips together tightly, nodding her head. It took what seemed like forever to convince Alice that my intentions toward Jane were good. Fortunately, she seems to be on my side now.

I look back toward Jane, and she’s looking at me. Even from here I can see the wistful look on her face. I wish I could walk up to her and take her in my arms right now. But I can’t. I know once I do, I won’t be able to let her go. I know that. But soon, she’s going to be mine. Very soon.

2

Jane

I grab my apron off the hook on the wall and meet Pepper behind the counter. She’s one of the more dependable waitresses at The Stop and has always been good to me.

“So how was the morning shift?”

She is wiping off the counter and finishes her last swipe before turning back to me. “Good. It was pretty busy, went by quick.”

Nodding my head, I’m hoping for the same thing tonight. When it’s busy, I’m able to keep my mind off things. Dutton mostly. He left the other day, and I could tell that he wanted to say something to me. I waited, already dreaming about everything I wanted him to say, but instead he just nodded his head and walked out the door. I watched him walk across the parking lot and get into his truck. I could have stood there all day if Alice hadn’t bumped me in the hip. “Don’t worry, he’ll eventually get his head out of his ass.”

I didn’t answer her. It seems Alice thinks that Dutton and I have a thing going on, and no matter how many times I tell her we don’t, she doesn’t believe me.

“So what are you up to this weekend?” Pepper interrupts my thoughts.

I barely resist rolling my eyes. She asks me this all the time, and I’m pretty sure she knows the answer by now. “Nothing. I’ll probably work. I’m sure Cheryl will call in at some point so I’ll be able to pick up another shift.”

“You work too much,” Pepper says. “You need to go out on a date or something. Men ask you out all the time. You should say yes. It’s not like you’re getting married or anything. It’s a date, that’s all.”

I do roll my eyes this time. “Yeah, I get asked out by truckers. Men passing through town. I don’t need to date anyone that’s just passing through. At this rate, I’ll probably be the last virgin in Sweetheart.”

Pepper looks at me with pity, and I hate that look. It’s time to get the focus off me so I ask her the same question. “What about you? What are you doing this weekend?”

She blushes. “I’m going to hang out with Sloan.”

Jealousy flares inside me. I know I shouldn’t. Pepper deserves to be happy, and it seems she’s found a good guy. “That’s great, Pepper.”

“Excuse me, can I get a refill?”

I look over at the table just a few feet away, and there’s a young handsome guy sitting there. I don’t know how I missed him before. My face heats. Surely he didn’t hear my admission to Pepper. The guy is smiling at me, and it seems innocent enough. At least he’s not laughing. “Sure, I’ll be right there.”

I turn back to Pepper. “See ya later, duty calls.”

Pepper flips her towel at me and hands me the ticket for the guy’s table. “Yep, I’m going to finish up. I’ll see you.”

I carry a pitcher of water over and refill the glass in front of him. “Can I get you anything else?”

“No. I’m good. They should be done with my car soon.”

He gestures out the window and there’s a guy changing a tire on a cherry red Mustang. Instantly, my thoughts go to the fact that this guy had to get someone else to change his tire. I’m sure Dutton has never had to get someone else to change his tire in his life. I shake my head. Quit comparing everyone to Dutton, Jane. He doesn’t want you. If he did, he would have asked you out by now.

“Well, good. I’m glad they were able to help you.” I set the ticket on the table in front of him. “Let me know if I can get you anything else.”

I turn to walk away, but he stops me. “Can I get your number?”

I know I look confused, and he laughs. “What?” I ask him, pretty sure I heard him wrong. I mean, I do get asked out, but never by someone my own age and definitely by someone that looks as if he walked out of GQ magazine.

“I’d like your number, Jane,” he says, looking at my name tag. “I’d like to take you out. How about tomorrow?”