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Chapter Ten
Standing outside of the restaurant, I frantically tried to wrap my scarf around my neck to keep the piercing wind from killing me. Death by wind; something you feel but can't see. Sounds a lot like something else you can die from.
Stop. Bella doesn't do emo anymore.
Glancing over my shoulder, I found myself feeling disappointed that Riley didn't follow me outside.
"Fucking windy," a young voice spoke from my right.
Oh. It was the ogre of a valet attendant. The one who blatantly stared at my chest while we were walking in.
Maybe Nancy had a point to the whole dressing conservatively thing.
"Yes. There is...wind," I said lamely. Valet Dude smiled, almost blinding me with the whiteness of his teeth. "Your teeth!" I shrieked in amazement.
That was just embarrassing. I didn't mean to say it out loud, but I was caught off guard.
Valet Dude chuckled, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. "They aren't mine."
"Huh? Then why were they in your pocket?"
This was by far the oddest exchange I've ever had with a valet attendant. Not that I usually talk to valet attendants. And not that they aren't good enough for me to talk to, but we don't usually ever have time to talk. Cause you know, they're busy parking cars.
He gave me a funny look before saying, "I meant the teeth. They aren't mine. Veneers." He tapped his front teeth with one of his fingers.
"Oh. That's nice." I was suddenly very self-conscious about the color of my own teeth.
He saw me eying the cigarettes and offered me one, lighting it for me. I thanked him as the nicotine instantly calmed my nerves.
"I'm Jake, by the way."
"Hm."
"And you are?"
"Oh. Bella. Sorry."
"Did you need me to get your car or something?" He asked, realizing he probably should have asked me this five minutes ago when I first walked outside.
"No, no. I think I'll just walk," I said decidedly. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea.
"What about Mr. Uptight?" Jake asked in a serious tone.
I asked who he was talking about, but I knew.
"You know. Make sure not to touch the radio or the change in the console. Don't slam the doors and do not, I repeat, do not open the glove compartment."
Okay. It wasn't funny, but I couldn't help but laugh at Jake's impression of Riley. I guess I was just so used to it that I had all but forgotten about the speech he has for valet.
"Oh. Yeah. That."
"What the fuck was up with that?" Jake asked loudly, becoming more confident after making me laugh.
I shrugged, exhaling the last of the cigarette, stepping on it with my heel.
"No idea. It's not just you guys though. It's grocery baggers, as well. Oh, and those people at Nordstrom who retrieve the shoes for you? Yeah, he has a whole separate speech for them. So, don't feel bad."
"You married to the dude?"
This caught me off guard.
"No.
Jake's eyes traveled to my left hand.
"Thanks for the cigarette," I spoke as the wind whipped my hair across my face. "Don't tell him which way I'm headed, okay?"
A/N: Seriously, though. His teeth are way too white. Thanks for reading!