ALLY

"Thank you so much for dining in with us. I hope you enjoyed your meal," I said, handing him the check.

Harvey E. Hughes

His full name printed on the credit card he provided to pay for their meal. I'm glad he was the one who offered to pay.

Harvey looked back at me with those glistening eyes.

I wondered if it was the effect of the ceiling light above their table or the bright yellow outlining the blazing red flame from the fireplace that highlighted the golden color of his hazel eyes. Whatever it was, it captivated me. I couldn't look away.

"It was delicious. Thank you." Harvey said.

I realized that this was it. I was officially done with table fourteen. My service was no longer needed. My muscles tightened around my throat. I gasped the thick air around me as I listened to every word that came out of him. I lifted my lips upward. A smile. Apathetic one. With a brain of their own, my feet had stepped in front of each other until I had reached the front of the restaurant.

I stacked the menus on top of each other, distracting myself from thinking about him. Idling behind the hostess's station, I could see two bodies approaching to exit the restaurant.

He was leaving.

He walked behind his friend. His eyes bore into mines, and mines into his. Neither of us looked away as he stepped closer. He stopped. His body facing me, towering over the wooden stand, with my eyes leveling his full chest.

"Uh. I left it on the table," he said as he shot his eyes back to table fourteen. "Good night Ally, until later."

"Have a good night," I said. My eyes moved from his chest to his face to bid our final farewell.

He turned his head back while holding the bar handle of the door. It was as if he was trying to have one last glimpse, and gave away that crooked smile that creased around his eyes.

And just like that, he was gone.

"Until later."

What the hell does that mean?

"Ow," I yelled in response to my body being pushed with a bony prominence. "What was that for?" I protested.

"I think this is for you," Megan said, handing me the checkbook.

"What's this?"

"It's from table fourteen. The hot guys." Megan winked.

I had forgotten about the check. "Oh" I said out loud. That was what he left on the table. The signed bill.

"Oh what?" Megan asked, nudging me again with her elbow.

I snatched the checkbook from her hand and opened it.

Oh my God.

My eyes widened as I scanned it. I grinned, stretching my lips from ear to ear. Finally, an unrestricted smile.

"What is it?" Megan barked.

I studied the piece of paper like a miner examining a gold she had just dug. It wasn't the amount on the receipt, but what was written on it that made me gasped for air.

Thank you for the amazing service.
I hope this won't be the last ... 847-627-5273 ...
Harvey (:

My eyes closed and opened rapidly, blinking away what I thought was an imagination. But the ink stayed on the piece of paper that I was holding.

Is this real?

"Ahh!" Megan's deafening squeal echoed around us. "OH MY GOD! You better call him or I will!" She threatened and clapped her hands simultaneously like a child cheering for a new toy.

My insides felt fizzy. The air in my stomach tickled me. This was definitely not the coffee and milk's doing. I could feel it building up to my chest as it began tightening. Air gushed through my parted lips.

This is not right. I shouldn't do anything about it.

I shook my head, dropping the checkbook on the counter.

"I shouldn't."

"But why not!" Megan asked, then rolled her eyes, "Ugh. I mean, I know why. That was a stupid question. But, look. This is different. I have a feeling."

"I don't know Meg. I already feel bad feeling this way," I confessed. My head was clouded with doubts.

Megan sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "At least you feel something, right? I thought you wanted to focus on yourself this time?"

My lips were slightly parted, letting the air in and out of my lungs as I stood there with my eyes staring blankly back at her. Megan was right.

I'm going to do this for me.

Without looking back at the piece of paper hidden in the black checkbook, I pulled out my phone and typed in the number on the screen.

I can't I believe I just memorized his number.

Me (10:14 pm): Thanks for that generous tip. Goodnight, Harvey.

Sent.

Fuck.

What have I done?