Meant to Be (The Saving Angels 1)
“I’m starved,” Shawn said behind me breaking into our conversation.
“Me too, there’s a great Mexican restaurant up the road I always go to. You guys want to give it a try?”
“I’m in,” Sam said, setting the picture back down.
Mark looked at me. “So am I, I love Mexican food.”
Chapter 9
Mark took us to a small family owned Mexican restaurant that was about a mile up the road from his house.
The parking lot was full and Mark circled the building before he pulled into a tight space between two oversized SUV’s.
When we walked through the doors, I felt like we had crossed the border into Mexico. The walls were covered in authentic woven blankets and the brightly colored Piñatas that ran along the rafters gave the restaurant just the right amount of festiveness. A live mariachi band walked around the room encouraging everyone in the restaurant to join in the singing, it was a great atmosphere.
Sam was practically humming as she surveyed the great deco, excitedly pointing out one unique piñata after the next. Shawn looked down at her obviously enthralled by her exuberant attitude.
“Hey Mark,” the man behind the counter greeted us. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll get a table cleared off for you.”
“That’s fine, Miguel. Thanks.”
“I love this place,” Sam said as Shawn slung his arm around her shoulders. She pointed to another piñata that was fashioned like a giant maraca. “I love that one.”
Five minutes later, the hostess guided us to our table.
“Nice to see you again Mark,” said the pretty waitress as she passed our table.
“I eat here a lot,” Mark explained as I raised my eyebrows at him.
The same pretty waitress came back to our table and set an overflowing basket of warm tortilla chips and salsa on the table. “What can I get you guys to drink?” she asked with eyes on Mark alone as she popped her gum in the process.
“Cokes for everyone?” Mark said, looking at all of us for confirmation.
“Sure honey,” she said in a nauseating sweet voice.
Sam stifled a laugh, looking at me as the waitress sashayed away.
Shawn burst out laughing at Sam’s attempt to mimic her by fluttering her eyes at Mark.
To reassure me, Mark slung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close.
“Do you really think I have ever looked at another girl?” He whispered into my ear.
I shook my head, nervously working on the already low thumbnail on my right hand. I had never looked at another guy, and I knew he was the same, but knowing that didn’t help the small flash of jealousy that shot through me when she smiled at him like he was some kind of delectable dessert or something.
Mark gently pulled my hand away from my nervous gnawing.
“It’s always been you, nobody else,” he continued.
“I know, I just don’t like other girls to look at you. I know that seems possessive, but I can’t help it,” I tried to explain.
“Believe me I know. I’ve experienced it all week when I’ve watched the guys at school check you out when you walk by,” he said as I shook my head in denial.
With all the California blonde bombshells walking through the halls of school, I was pretty sure the male population of the school was too busy checking them out. The girls at school weren’t afraid to show off their long tan legs, and expose enough cleavage to keep the guy’s eyes glued on them.
“They watch you because not only are you pretty, but you also walk around all aloof, so you pose a challenge for all the young studs of the school. They can get the other girls any old time, but you have enough of a mysterious air about you to snag all of their attention. That’s the only reason Matt’s giving us a hard time right now, he doesn’t like the fact that you snubbed him.”
I didn’t agree with him. I personally felt that Matt was harassing us because that’s what Matt did. He liked to torment those around him. Mark thought I was pretty because I had been in his dreams all these years. If not for that, he would see just how ordinary I was. Not that I ever wanted him to think of me like that, it was flattering for him to call me beautiful.