One Enchanted Summer

Chapter 8

CHAPTER

EIGHT

Grayson

These summer training sessions are killing me. I’m covered in so much sweat that I feel like I’ll never be dry again. Someone once mentioned that sweat can be attractive, but they’ve obviously never seen a stunt performer practicing in the middle of a Florida summer. It’s miserable. I love my job. I tell myself over and over again. I mean it, even as another droplet of sweat fights its way into my eye.

“Okay, we’re done for the day!” my boss calls out, and a collective sigh of relief floods the room. We’ve been doing these training sessions for two weeks now. The first week, we were all forced to come in two hours early, but then we were already so exhausted from training that our performances were a little sluggish throughout the day. So, the second week, they moved the training to two hours after work.

“In fact, I think we are done for now. If I see anything that looks sloppy or dangerous out there, we will resume immediately,” our boss says. Mikey lets out a loud whoop and a few others clap along with him. I give a quick nod to Nick in agreement. He’s the boss, he doesn’t need my approval, but he seems to be grateful for it. I think he made the right call. This whole situation has been a mess, and even though I’m a leader in the group, I’m glad I’m not the actual boss.

It feels good to get home and know my days are back to the regular schedule. I’ve had to move around my schedule since training got moved to after work. Now I can get back to the pirate show. I shoot off a quick text to the manager, letting them know I’m available to come back in. As I’m staring at my messages, I mentally kick myself again for not getting Quinn’s number. I had such a good time with her last week. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. She was a unique mix of easygoing and enthusiastic about the park. The way her eyes traced the details of the park made it seem like it was her first time there, even though I know it wasn’t. I can close my eyes and still perfectly picture how her face lit up on The Griffin. She almost looked like a little kid with so much unadulterated joy. But later, she had a calmness about her. It felt like she had all the time in the world just to sit and talk with me. I meant it when I called her an enigma. She intrigues me in the best kind of way. Then I let the night end without asking for her number. I swallowed down my nerves and asked her out. I was proud of that. It’s always scary putting yourself out there, and I don’t have the best track record when it comes to dating. In fact, I’ve never really had a long term relationship. I’ve dated here and there, but never anything that felt like it could last. But I see Mason with his wife and it makes me realize how much I do want a life partner.

That’s it, I’ve decided I don’t care how desperate it makes me look.

I’m going to Quinn’s work tomorrow and getting her number.

I pause outside the door to the restaurant one last time, as I try to talk myself out of it again. It’s been a constant mental struggle all day between not wanting to appear desperate and stalkerish, to wanting to see her again no matter how bad it makes me look. That want ultimately wins as I pull open the door and a rush of cold air hits me.

The hostess smiles at me brightly, “Good afternoon, how many in your party?”

“Just me. I’m, uh, not actually here to eat,” I say.

She tilts her head at me in confusion so I quickly add, “I’m here to see someone. Is Quinn working today?”

I watch as she looks me up and down and then purses her lips. “I really can’t give that information out to strangers.”

“It’s not really a secret; if she’s working, I would see her anyway when I sat at a table.”

“But you’re not sitting at a table.”

I pause, honestly stumped about what to do. I glance at my watch. My lunch break is a little over an hour, but I spent too much time debating with myself to have time to sit down and eat. I move to the side and the couple behind me steps up and starts talking to the hostess. I look into the dining area, trying to see if I can spot Quinn. The hostess also steps to the side and blocks my view, all while still talking to the couple about their reservation.

“Seriously?” I mutter, but she doesn’t even glance at me.

I spy someone walking back towards the kitchen. She looks like Quinn even though I can’t fully see her. I take a chance and yell, “Q!”

Almost everyone stops and stares at me, including the girl. She stops walking and turns, and my heart skips when I realize it’s her. Quinn glances around the room with an apologetic smile and then quickly rushes towards me. The hostess looks at me with apparent disdain.

“Go,” the hostess orders, pointing outside.

“It’s okay. I know him. Sorry about that,” Quinn says, now reaching us. I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face at seeing her again. I pointedly look at the hostess with a smug smile.

“Let’s talk out here,” Quinn says as she steps through the door.

“I don’t think she likes me,” I laugh as the door closes.

“Well when a strange man comes into a restaurant yelling things what do you expect?”

I shrug, “Fair enough.”

“So what are you doing here?” she asks. I realize I had forgotten why I came here in the first place. I was so caught up in seeing her again that I skipped over my fear of embarrassing myself.

“I came to get your number,” I reply and I’m even impressed with how confident I sound.

The corner of her mouth turns down slightly. It’s so small I may not have even noticed it if I wasn’t actively staring at her face. She almost looks disappointed. Maybe she is embarrassed? Maybe she didn’t want to give me her number? If that’s the case, she must change her mind because she starts listing off numbers and I quickly pull out my phone before I miss it.

“Thanks,” I reply as I save her contact. She nods once and looks like she’s about to leave. “So about that date,” I quickly say.

She pauses and looks at me, waiting for me to say more.

“Do you want to go?” It sounds incredibly lame as I say it. I’ve never been so awkward and ungraceful in my whole life. I honestly don’t know who this guy is right now.

Quinn smiles brightly at me and my heart swoops at how breathtaking her smile is.

“It’s about time,” she replies.