As a kid, I had my life all planned out. I'd finish highschool, graduate college, get my first job at 22 and buy my first house when I'm 25. I'd be a millionaire, meet the man of my dreams and live happily ever after with our children.
Life had a different plan though. I did leave college at 22 but I didn't get a job till I turned 25. Even so, it payed average and I struggled daily to make ends meet with the rent and bills. Because of this, I did odd jobs too after work which ended at 5pm. Not enough sleep left me looking a lot older than my age.
Prince Charming did come. We got married when I was 26 and for a while, it was easier sharing the responsibility with someone. Until, he got sacked and became a drunk and irresponsible. At 28, I'm divorced and back to where I was. Alone in a crap apartment with washed off paint.
It's currently 8pm. I'll be ending my shift in about three hours. While The Pub I work as a waitress pays a little low, the tips cover for it. I may be almost 30 but I'm still beautiful. I am not one to be modest in situations which requires the truth.
I'm tall, almost 6ft, a good figure thanks to my early morning runs and yoga, I'm African-American from the Nigerian descent. To top it off, I have killer social skills that enable me to interact with anyone at anytime when necessary.
"Yo, Peach. Get table eight."
That's Joe. And no, Peach isn't my real name but a nickname given to me by my colleagues because of various reasons. First, I smelled like one according to a customer. Two, I had an outgoing personality and three, my butt is shaped like one(rolls eyes). My name is Kate.
"On it." I call out to him over the loud music. Although two years younger than me, Joe is a great person with uphanded managing skills and really long legs. He's taller than I am by a few centimeters.
"Hello Gentlemen, What can I get you?" I say politely when I get to the table of familiar faces. They are regulars and would always demand that I'd be the one to serve them. I was cool with Greg and Charlie but Kody however, was one pain in the neck.
"Hey Peach. Ya look smokin' ". Here we go...
"Behave yourself Kody. I warned you." Charlie glares at his friend before looking at me, "How's it going? Haven't seen you for a while."
"Well that's cause you left town. Got it all sorted?"
"Yes. It was nothing too serious. Mom's very much fine now. She just missed her big boy." He gestures at himself while laughing. I join him because I do find it funny that at his age, he's still a Mama's boy. He rattles off his order after and I turn to Greg who looks startled. Well, he should. He was blatantly staring at me. He stutters out his order and then I turn to Kody for a rather painful episode.
"Can I order you to go?" He says with a really leery look that sends shivers down my spine. Thankfully, Greg smacks him hard and spares me more discomfort by ordering for his really stupid friend.
Joe is chuckling when he sees the look on my face.
"Kody being Kody?" He asks as he cleans glasses.
"Even worse. Someday I'm going to knee him." I snap. Joe laughs outloud.
"You look like an angry chipmunk right now. Cute."
"Hey! Don't underestimate me. I can cause pretty damage."
"Sure sure. Hey," he drops a glass he was cleaning and calls to me as I head to the kitchen to drop the order, "Would you like to go see a movie this Friday?"
I'm caught off guard because he looks really flushed. Is he nervous?
"Uhhhhh..." I reply dumbly.
"It's fine if you don't want to. I just thought I'd offer to... Well... I just... Nevermind." He says in a rush and begins cleaning the counter top furiously. In a daze, I continue towards the kichen where Emma is. She's a great cook by the way.
The night draws on and I keep replaying Joe's words in my head.
"Ugh! I can't take it anymore!". I nearly yell outloud as I prepare to leave. I can't leave without seeing Joe. He's never acted like a teenager before.
He's buried in the account books at his office when I arrive. He looks surprised to see me but soon recovers.
"Hey, I just want to say I'm sorry for springing that up on you..." He gets to his feet
"It's fine. I'd like to go." I interrupt him. His mouth clamps shut and he blinks for a few seconds.
"Seriously?" He echos. I nod and we end up making plans with him coming to pick me up.
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Friday evening arrives quickly and I can't believe I forgot it was New Year. I only remembered when Emma and Joe called to wish me in the morning. I'm with Joe right now and we are on our way to the cinema. He's dressed casually with his raven hair styled to perfection. We make small talk in his car as we drive through the city.
When we arrive, he's a perfect gentle man. Opens the doors, makes me sit while he stands in line to get the tickets and some chewables. We finally agreed on seeing a cartoon. Inside Out is the title.
Nearly three hours later, Joe is dropping me at my apartment after we've had dinner.
"Kate."
I'm beyond shocked when he calls me by my name. Ever since I lost my corporate job, I took more shifts at The Pub and in all the time I've worked there he's only called me Kate three times. The first during my interview, the second during the tour and instructions of what was expected of me. Third was when I won over the heart of a little girl that stumbled in with her mom and threw a tantrum. She gave me the name Peach because as she said, I smelled like that. Joe just had to take the name on to another level. This is the fourth time he's using my name.
"Yeah?"
"I uhm..." His hand goes to the back of his neck and his face turns a light shade of pink. I stand patiently in front of him. I've been here before.
"Look. I kinda... I like you a lot. I didn't say anything too soon because firstly, you were married and then i needed to sort out my feelings and then you went through a breakup and..." He rambled. I kept waiting.
"It comes sudden I know, but I really like you. You're very... You're extraordinary and you light up the room when you step in. Apart from that, you have a huge heart. I've noticed how much you actually care for the business and it makes me really proud. In a nutshell, you're my kind of woman and I'd like to...you know... get to know you more. As more than friends." He finishes and takes a deep breath.
Okay. "Joe...I..." I'm unmistakably dumbfounded. I mean I thought I was prepared.
"You don't have to say anything right now. We have our whole lives and you can take the time you need. I just wanted to get it out there so you'd know. I'll go now." He advances and places a kiss on my forehead.
"See you on Monday. Happy New Year again." He says before turning to leave.
I watch as he drives off and while I got those goosebumps or butterflies, doubt and fears also emerged in my mind. I don't think I can do this!