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Camilla
“Let’s stop there,” said Noah, pointing to a building in the distance. “They serve great food at the diner. I think we both need to catch a break.”
The brightly-lit diner building looked welcoming and comforting. There was still over an hour’s drive until we reached Silverlake City, so we could both use a break.
I slowed down the car and took in the flashing sign that read ‘Marigold’s Diner.”
There were a few cars behind us but none slowed down as I drove the car off the main road to reach the parking area. None of the men who’d chased us in the hotel came after us.
Heaving a sigh of relief, I clicked open my seatbelt and climbed out of the car.
The night air was chilly but I inhaled it deeply. They were my first proper breaths since I got out of the Tulip Inn.
Noah came to stand beside me and in an almost unconscious manner, rubbed at my shoulders, warming me up. As if the gesture was most natural, he clasped my hand in his and pulled me along with him toward the restaurant.
The smell of coffee and pancake enveloped me as I stepped inside the diner with Noah. The interiors were well-lit and clean, seeming like a much more welcoming space than the posh, glittering lobby of the Tulip Inn.
I sat down on a comfortable couch by the window and picked up the menu. Perusing through it, I knew the choice was going to be a simple one. Their all-day breakfast menu with steak, hash browns, eggs, and bacon sounded like a meal combo from heaven.
“I need to use the restroom,” said Noah. “Will you be okay on your own for a while?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, smiling. “Just hurry back. I need to use the bathroom too.”
He gave a nod and strode away down the hall.
A waitress came over to the table and poured me coffee.
“Thanks,” I said, gratefully taking a sip of the hot beverage.
“May I take your order?” asked the friendly-looking middle-aged woman in a neat maroon uniform.
“I’m waiting for my friend,” I said. “But I’m pretty sure I want the steak breakfast.”
“No worries,” said the waitress, topping up my coffee. “I’ll come back again.”
It felt good to decompress and relax. The talk with Nick Civella left me wound up and frustrated. I wished I could’ve come back with a win instead of risking Noah’s life in the process.
“Hey,” Noah’s voice broke me out of my thoughts. “You okay?”
I gave a nod. Pushing the menu at him, I asked, “Have you decided what you want?”
“I always go for a steak breakfast and pie-of-the-day,” said Noah.
“Can you order the same for me when the waitress comes back?” I asked, getting to my feet.
“Sure.”
“Thanks.” With that, I hurried away from the table.
Gulping down a mug full of coffee hadn’t helped much with my already-full bladder. It was almost a relief when I found the stalls in the ladies’ bathroom empty.
Finishing up, I checked my face in a spotted mirror over one of the sinks. There wasn’t a strand of hair out of place and my makeup was still neat. No one would know of the terror I faced back in Civella’s cave.
The man said he’dthinkabout it. I could only hope it wasn’t a lousy way for him to reject my proposal completely.
“You look upset,” said Noah when I went back to the table.
“I’m mad he didn’t agree to give up those properties,” I said. “The bastard acted all high and mighty by refusing to take our money. As if a man like him cares about anything other than money.”
