Fifteen
I picked my usual booth.
When she arrived at the diner, I easily recognized the familiar gray truck that Gabe drove. He parked briefly, and Lenna got out. She lingered by the door for a second, and I saw a shadow of doubt cross her face. Once she entered the diner, her gaze turned in my direction, and she weakly held up a hand in greeting. I didn’t mirror her gesture but smiled stiffly. After the awkward distant greeting, I prepared myself for whatever interrogation she would be putting me under in the next hour.
“Hey, did you wait long?” Her clear voice had me jumping in surprise, not realizing I had closed my eyes in concentration.
I glanced up at her. “No,” I responded briskly. She hadn’t made any movement to sit, which snapped me out of my trance. “Oh! Please.” I gestured at the cushioned couch across the table.