Okay so I know it's a little short but I wanted to get the basics in there. I hope you like it. It'll get better I promise. It's going to be a long story so hopefully you'll stick around. Please read and review. Tell me what you think. Give me suggestions. I love constructive criticism. So please leave me something, that goes for all you lurkers too!
He came in here everyday. At least once, someday's twice. He sat at the counter and ordered a coffee. Black. No sugar, no cream, nothing. You could tell when he was getting off work. His eyes were dark and heavy. His clothes a little wrinkled. When he was going in he looked better, alive. His eyes were a bright blue and his suit looked tailor made. Fit him perfectly. Made you want to know what he was hiding beneath that jacket and button up shirt. Usually he wore a odd colored tie. I'd try to hide my laugh when he would walk in. Sometimes when he knew I was going to laugh, he'd take it off before coming in. He had been coming to the Diner for nearly 2 months. I was the only one he'd let take his order. I didn't see why, it was just coffee and every once in a while a bowl of scrambled eggs. I had to make them, again I didn't see why. But for 2 months he came in here, we talked and joked about work. I knew he was a detective, a damn good one. I knew what he liked to do in his spare time. He actually liked to read and play board games. I knew just about everything about this man, except one thing. I didn't know his name, it was always detective or Mickey, as in Blue Eyes.
I had been to that diner everyday for the past 2 months. Once, maybe twice a day. Had the same girl take my order. I didn't trust the other girls. Order a coffee, black and maybe a bowl of her scrambled eggs. Yeah, she had to make those to. I could tell when she had a rough day. She usually wore her hair down. When she was stressed she would pull it up into a bun. She made fun of my ties like everyone else. I know she thinks I don't notice but she hides a laugh every time I wear a funny looking one. I like them. But hey, she notices me, right? She didn't have to wear those ugly looking uniforms some diner's make employee's wear. She had to wear black pants and a white shirt. There was no denying she had a tiny figure. Narrow waist. But still curvy. Her smile stood out most. It was beautiful. Those full rose colored lips always turned up, even when she was mad. I knew about her going to school part time. I knew all her facial expressions but there was thing, I didn't know her name. It was always sweetheart or Minnie, as in Mickey.
It was a Sunday morning, we weren't busy. It was our slowest day of the week. People were either at church, with family or resting. I didn't mind. It gave me a chance to do some work. I was going to NYU. Had just a few more classes left and I'd have my Master's in Psychology. Then I could get a real job. I loved the diner though. I had worked here for almost two years. Customers knew me by name or nickname. They even recognized me on the streets. It was nice. I just started working on an essay when he came in. He was dressed in NYPD sweats and a matching t-shirt. He looked good. You could see his toned arms and chest under the semi-tight shirt.
"You off today, detective." I asked him as he sat at the counter. I got him a cup and poured his coffee. "You want eggs this morning?" I asked knowing the answer. He smiled that trade mark smile.
"You know me too well, sweetheart."
"And yet I don't even know you're name." I joked as I walked to start his eggs. He sat there sipping his coffee as he watched me make his eggs. A few minutes later I came back out and handed him the bowl and some cheese. He smiled again and shook his head.
"Yeah, I know. I know you too well." I smiled and walked over the check on another customer.
"So how you liking your day off?" I asked sitting next to him at the counter.
"It's Don."
"Huh?" I asked confused. He laughed.
"My name. It's Don. Det. Don Flack." He said holding out his hand.
"Well, it's nice to finally meet you, Don. I'm Natali. Natali Cordova." I smiled taking his hand and shook it. He smiled and went back to his eggs.
"But my day is going good so far. Got the best coffee in town, the best eggs in town and I finally met this really pretty waitress I've known for two months." He said.
"That sounds weird, huh? I can't believe we' never told each other our names."
"Well, we were actually interested in talking. And besides, you've always called me detective or Mickey. So we're even 'cause I call you sweetheart or Minnie."
"Question. Why do you only let me take your order? The other girls have told me you only order if I'm here. Is there any truth to that?" I asked sweetly.
"Yes. I come in to see if you're here and if you're not, I leave. But I like when you pour my coffee."
"It's just coffee."
"But you pour it with love." he smiled.
"And my eggs?" I asked laughing.
"You scramble them with love."
"That's funny."
"But true." He smiled and slowly pushed his empty cup towards me. I laughed and got up to refill it.
"Thank you, Natali."
"Don't it's my job." I joked.
"So if it weren't your job, you wouldn't get me coffee." he asked trying to sound hurt.
"Hey! It's not my job to make your eggs but I do anyways. So ha!" I told him getting up to get his check.
"What time do you get off?" he asked.
"Umm about 20 minutes ago when you walked in." I told him. He looked at me. "So I guess it wasn't my job but I did it anyways." He smiled and handed me the money.
"Well, I'm sorry for keeping you. But I do appreciate it. Trust me." he said walking over to the register. I handed him his change and was about to tell him goodbye when he cut me short. "When's the last time you walked through Central Park?"
"Ummm longer than I would like to admit." He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well, you wanna go for a walk with me?" I smiled and nodded.
"I'd love that. Just let me clock out and I'll meet you outside." He nodded and walked out front to wait for me. As soon as he was outside I rushed to the back and tried to make myself more presentable. I didn't look that bad. My brown hair looked ok. The little bit of make-up I wore looked fine and my uniform wasn't ugly. I got my bag and walked out front.
"Ready?" He asked bending his arm for me to loop mine through. I laughed but did it anyways.
"Wait! Where's the yellow brick road?" I joked as we walked.
"Your comical ya know that? So I take it your Dorothy?" he joked back. I smiled and nodded.
"Yes, and you're ToTo." I smiled and he stopped and gaped at me. Then a big smile spread across his face and he started walking again.
"Well, as long as I get to follow you home and sleep in your bed, I'm fine with being ToTo. He was kinda cute anyways."
"Now whose the comic." We laughed and talked the rest of the way to Central Park. Before we started out walk we found a bench and sat to talk some more.
"So how about 20 questions?" I asked sitting Indian style on the bench, facing him and he leaned back to stretch his legs out. He nodded and told me to start. "Okay. How old are you?"
He smiled, "Turned 30 in January. You?"
"I'll be 25 in June. Family?"
"Mom is Jane. Dad is Donald. Older brother is Kenneth. His wife is Taylor. They have two girls, Michelle and Julie, they are 2 and 4, and a boy on the way. Younger sister is Bridget. Her husband is David. They have a boy, James, and a girl, Leslie. They are 3 and 18 months. Numerous Aunts and Uncles and cousins." I nodded.
"My mom is Tracie. My dad is Thomas. I two older brothers. Jason is 27 and he's married to Katelyn. They have on girl, Steff. She's also 18 months. Paul is 29. He's married to Heather. They have two boys and one girl. Paul Jr is 5, Jonathan is 3 and Kayla is a year old. Then I have one younger sister, Jasmine. She's 19. Ummm...how tall are you?" I asked.
"6 foot 2 inches. You?" I laughed.
"5 foot 4 inches." He laughed this time.
"Ok. Your favorite color?" I looked at him and laughed.
"Okay that's a give in. Purple. You?"
"Blue."
"Go figure. Favorite city?" I asked.
"Easy. Home sweet home! New York, New York."
"Vile, Colorado. It's amazing in the winter. Favorite food?" He laughed out loud.
"Anything edible!"
"I figured as much. I love shrimp creole."
"Never had it. Favorite flower?"
"Tulips. You?" I asked raising a brow.
"None. I just wanted to know what kinda flowers to get you." He smiled and we got up to start walking again. We finished our game and made our way to a little café to have lunch.
"You been here before?" I asked as we walked to a tiny table by the window.
"Yeah my mom comes here to read. It's really quiet and nice. Good bagels too." He smiled and looked at the menu. "So what do ya want?"
"Pick for me. You know what's good here." I told him smiling. The waiter came and Don ordered us some kind of soup. It was good. It looked like it had everything in the kitchen in it but it was good. Don paid for us after we fought about who would pay and then why I should pay for my own and then about why I was so stubborn.
"Well, Don, I had a really nice time today. It was good seeing Central Park again." I smiled as we walked out the café.
"You're welcome and thank you for coming along. You're good company." He smiled as he waved a cab down for me.
"Well, I guess I'll see you at the diner tomorrow, right?" he nodded his head as a cab stopped and he opened the door for me. I was about to step in when he grabbed my arm.
"Natali, do you maybe wanna have dinner with me one night? Ya know, a date?" he asked smiling. I blushed a little.
"I'd love that. I'm actually not working nights this week so stop by and let me know when." I was about to step back in. "Actually, here. Call me." I wrote my number down on a piece of paper. He smiled and leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. "Bye, Don."
"Bye, Natali."
I couldn't help but smile as the cab pulled off. He was amazing. Funny and smart. More street smart then book but it's New York. You have to be more street wise or you'll end up in an alley somewhere.
I watched the cab pull away even after it was out of sight. She was amazing. Even more amazing than I originally thought. She was a little bit younger but she was smart. And gorgeous too. My thoughts were interrupted by my phone beeping. I read the text.
DB. 1543 Majuro Dr. Queens. Messer and Monroe on route.
Duty calls I thought to myself and hailed my own cab.
