“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone stare that longingly at vegetables,” I said. “That kind of look is usually reserved for pastries and big cakes and things. Maybe babies.”
Rebecca laughed. “I was planning my strategy. That is a serious salad bar in there.”
“Well, they did create a whole restaurant around it, so I would hope they wouldn’t just fill a bucket with some iceberg lettuce and call it a day,” I said.
“I would hope no one would ever do something like that.”
She gave me a hug, and we headed into the restaurant. We grabbed a table, put in our drink orders, and headed up for our first round. Rebecca hadn’t been exaggerating. There were things on that bar that I never would have considered putting on a salad, but now that they were an option, they sounded delicious.
We made it back to our table with our plates piled high and settled in to tackle our creations. Rebecca was chatting away about the diner and local gossip, but eventually she looked up at me, seeming to notice I hadn’t said anything in a while.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
I let out a sigh. There was no point in pretending everything was good. I needed to talk, and I just couldn’t hold it back anymore.
“Okay, here’s the thing. I’m seeing someone, and I’m getting really frustrated with him,” I said.
She nodded, not looking at all surprised or taken aback by the statement.
“It’s Carter, isn’t it?” she asked without hesitation.
I tried not to show my surprise at her question and shook my head, focusing on my salad so I could try to look as casual as possible.
“No. No, it’s not Carter. It’s someone you don’t know,” I said.
She nodded, not looking at all convinced. “No wonder it’s been so hard to get a hold of you. Do you know how many times I’ve called you?”
I laughed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go radio silent on you girls. Things have just been really complicated and confusing, and they’ve been distracting me.”
“Because of this guy I definitely don’t know and haven’t hung out with before?” Rebecca asked.
I threw a glare in her direction, and she looked back at me with wide, innocent eyes, spearing a chunk of hard-boiled egg with her fork and popping it in her mouth.
“Yes,” I said, not commenting any further on her remark. “He and I have been seeing each other for a little while now, and he doesn’t want to tell anyone we are together. At first it seemed like it made sense, and it was even kind of fun to have a little secret that was just for the two of us. But now it feels like he’s hiding me.”
Rebecca nodded. “I can definitely see why that would be getting to you. Nobody wants to feel like the person they are seeing doesn’t want people to know or isn’t invested in their relationship. You should really talk to Carter. I mean, this guy you are seeing.”
I let out a sigh and dug into my salad. It didn’t really take that much of a leap of the imagination to know everyone around us was already suspecting Carter and I were seeing each other. At this point, all of our friends had made comments hinting at it and trying to get us to say something. It was starting to feel completely ridiculous to not acknowledge it, almost like Carter was ashamed of seeing me and didn’t want anyone to know about it.
I just wanted us to come out about our relationship and exist in the real world.
The topic dropped, and Rebecca and I chatted about fluffy, inconsequential topics for the rest of lunch. I had to admit, I preferred that.
We left the restaurant, and I hugged Rebecca before we went our separate ways with the promise that we’d see each other more often and I would stop ignoring everybody other than “definitely not Carter.” I was headed toward my car when I saw Ashton coming toward me down the sidewalk. I stiffened and started to turn away, hoping he didn’t see me, but he was already shouting my name.
Not wanting to cause a scene, I stopped and turned around to face him. Ashton rushed up to me and reached his arms out to me. I stepped back away from him before he could touch me and was relieved when he dropped his hands.
“It’s so good to see you,” he said.
“Ashton, just leave me alone. I’m going to my car.”
I tried to take a step around him, but he moved to get in my path.
“What are you doing down here?” he asked.
“I live in this town,” I said.
“You know what I mean,” he said. “Did you come to see me?”
He sounded so hopeful, but the comment was so ridiculous I could only roll my eyes.