Billie's shift was going slower than usual. It was her first night shift and with the carnival in town, business was slow. She was thankful it was the last night it was going on.
She heard the bell ring at the door and glanced to see a man walking to a table in her section. She grabbed a menu and placed it in front of him.
"Hello. Hope you are doing well this evening. What can I get you to drink?" She asked.
"Water, please." He said. His voice sounded familiar. She looked at him. His face was semi hidden from the hat he was wearing but she recognized him. "Easton." She said, smiling.
"Lily." He replied back. He had on jeans and light blue dress shirt that accentuated his muscular body and brought out the clear color of his eyes.
"What are you doing here? How are you? How have you been?" She asked.
"I've been better. Or maybe not. But I am well. How are you?" He asked.
God, he was breathtakingly beautiful, she thought. He was so gorgeous he made everyone in the room, whatever room he was in, ugly, she thought with a slight giggle. She cleared her throat.
"I am well. I'm not at the motel anymore. I have a house outside of town. Things are going well." She said, awkwardly.
"I am so happy to hear it." He said. He was calm and regal in a way. He carried himself much better this time.
"I will be right back with your water." She said.
She walked back to the kitchen and leaned against the wall, catching her breath. She didn't think she would ever see him again. And now, here he was. At her diner. She got herself together and walked back to the table. He was the first man she had ever met that she wasn't afraid of. She wasn't on the defense about. He felt like a friend. There was no way in hell she would have helped him and let him in that night if he would have been anyone else. There was something about him. Something familiarly strange.
"What can I get you to eat?" She asked.
"I don't see any of your famous sandwiches on the menu. Terribly disappointing." He said, smiling with the most perfect white teeth.
"I'm certain everything on the menu is better than my sad little sandwich." She said.
"On the contrary, your little sandwich was one of the only happy things that night. Or that week. Or longer for that matter." He said.
There was a silence between them. Billie finally broke her gaze. "The burgers are great here. And the salads are very popular." She said.
"Have you eaten yet?" He asked.
"No. I have to be here a little longer and then I was just going to go home and warm up some enchiladas I made last night." She said, rambling. He made her slightly anxious. In a good way but it made her sound like an idiot, she thought.
"That sounds wonderful. Would you mind if I waited for you and had enchiladas with you?" He asked.
"Really? Ok. I mean, it's not necessary. If you're hungry and don't have to money to get anything, I can buy your dinner. I would be happy to." She said. He looked up at her and smiled. This is why he was here. This is exactly why he had came back to the little Arizona town, put on the most regular clothes he had and found the diner she said she worked at. He put his hand on her hers and she looked down to see a one hundred dollar bill in his hand.
"I have money this time. I would just rather have your food than anything on the menu here." Ezra said. "And this is to pay you back for the night that you helped me."
"I only gave you forty." She said.
"And you fed me and washed my clothes. Take it. I would feel much better if you did." He said. She smiled.
"Ok. Thank you. I just have to clean up my tables and get my things. Sit right here for a minute?" She asked.
"Definitely. I'll be waiting happily." He said with his unbelievably gorgeous smile.
She went back to the kitchen and sighed again. What was it about this man?
Her coworker asked what was wrong.
"I'm fine. I just have a friend that stopped by for a visit. Mind if I go?" Billie asked.
"Not at all. I'll take care of your closing shit. You do more than what I need when the shifts change anyway and I appreciate it." She said.
She grabbed her things and headed out to the table.
"Ready?" She asked.
"Yes." He said with a smile. He had been ready. He had been ready for her for a very long time.