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Truthfully, I knew where he worked, and what he did for work.
I knew that he wasn’t that special.
He worked for the city in the sanitation department. He was a boss, but not the boss.
He acted like he was the best thing since sliced bread when really, he was the coordinator for the people who called and said that their trash was skipped that day.
Truthfully, he made pretty good money. He got great benefits.
How did I know so much about his job?
I’d worked there myself while I was putting myself through school.
I knew everyone and everything that went on up there because, once upon a time, I was his boss.
Though, he didn’t know that.
I’d never tell him.
The waiter finally brought our food out, and I started to eat the small portions that made up my girl dinner.
“Don’t forget to save me a little bite,” I begged.
Because man, those looked fantastic. As in, I wanted more than just a bite, but I knew that wouldn’t fly.
I watched carefully as the pancakes were slathered in so much butter and syrup that it was spilling over the sides of the plate—again, something I’d told him was ridiculous for him to do, yet he continued to do it.
I just felt like if he knew he needed the room on his plate for the syrup, he should ask for a bigger plate. Which he never did.
He ate his eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, and toast, then moved onto the pancakes.
And I watched as, bite after bite, he ate through the entire stack.
It was only as he was getting to the very middle that I knew he’d either forgotten, or purposefully ignored my request.
“Can I have a bite, now?” I asked when I saw him cut the middle piece in half.
He ignored me, then proceeded to reach for the last bite.
“Frederick,” I said when he speared it with his fork. “Please can I have the bite, now?”
The way he looked so offended solidified my resolve. Today would be the last day. I wouldn’t keep pretending that I wanted to spend time with this man.
He narrowed his eyes. “You know this is my favorite part of the pancake.”
Actually, I didn’t.
But that didn’t negate the fact that he knew I wanted a bite, and that I’d asked him in plenty of time before he’d gotten to the best part.
Deflated, I finished off my sushi, chips, and drink.
When the waiter came by, I smiled at him and said, “We’re separate.”
Frederick stilled, his last bite of pancake on his fork, as if he was just leaving it there to taunt me.
Usually, I allowed him to pay because he felt like it was the man’s job to pay.
And I’d allowed it.
