Forgotten Yesterday by Renee Ericson Read Free Book Online Page B

he probes gently with an underlying hopeful tone.
    I inhale acutely, praying he doesn’t want to bring up everything that tore us apart.
    “Sure,” I answer cautiously.
    “Do you think...maybe...you’d like to have brunch with me tomorrow morning? If you aren’t busy of course.”
    What? I gawk at him. No words can be found.
    “Just to catch up?” he adds.
    My head moves up and down in the affirmative, my body answering what my mind cannot process fully.
    “So, you’re not busy?”
    “No,” I say, finding my voice. “I’m not busy. We can catch up.”
    “And you’re available tomorrow?”
    “Yeah.” I blink a few times. It’s like I’m responding without any thought. Something has taken over and I’m nothing but involuntary actions. “I can do tomorrow.”
    He pulls out his phone and I tell him my digits as he punches them into his contact list. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I cover it with my hand, so the buzzing isn’t noticeable in the stillness of the bar. 
    “Aren’t you going to see who it is?” he asks, eyeing the hand on my leg.
    “Not right now. Not while I’m at work.”
    Boldly, he reaches into the front pocket of my apron and pulls out my phone. He proudly grins and then shows me the screen.
    “That’s me,” he states, referring to the flashing digits. “I was just making sure you didn’t give me a fake number.”
    I laugh. “You get that often?”
    “No, but I know you.” He hands the phone back to me.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Nothing,” he chuckles. “Maybe I don’t know you. What do I know?”
    “Exactly.”
    My cheeks are hurting. I’ve been smiling too much and I didn’t even know it.
    “I’ll call you.” He scoots out of the booth, dropping a bill on the table.
    “Aren’t you going to finish your drink?” I ask, referring to the almost full beer.
    “Nah.” He stands up, towering almost a foot taller than me. The scent of his cologne blissfully invades my senses as his chest stops a few mere inches from my nose. “I don’t really drink much. Game night and all.”
    Brent’s dimples flash quickly. He raises his right hand, hovering it near my elbow, but never connecting. Sorrow flickers across his face and he stuffs both of his hands into his pockets.
    “I’ll call you in the morning so we can figure out where to go,” he says methodically. “Does ten o’clock for brunch, work for you?”
    “Sure, but it will be cutting into my beauty sleep.”
    “If you say so,” he replies humorously. With a half smile, his eyes trace the length of my physique. “You look good, Ruby.”
    “Thanks.” I check the knot on my apron. “So do you.”
    “Glad we got that out of the way.” Brent takes a step backwards and then turns to exit. I immediately zone in on his ass, which is accentuated oh-so-nicely since his hands are in his pockets, pulling the fabric tight. “Good to see you,” he calls over his shoulder, startling me.
    I’ve been caught ogling.
    “You too,” I reply, embarrassed.
    Brent nods his head and then disappears behind the bar room’s partition.
    Every part of my being suddenly feels heavy and weighted to the floor. I’m a statue adhering to his parting words and the sound of his voice. Him .
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Seven
     
     
    It’s almost ten o’clock and my shift is officially over. I change out of my uniform in the downstairs break room and then climb back up the steps, ready to leave. Even though it’s early for a Saturday, there’s nowhere I want to go other than home. I’m done.
    Walking through the kitchen, I say goodbye to everyone in passing as they continue with the evening’s service. When I see Brian, I’m reminded that he wanted my number and I’m at a loss. My apprehension has everything to do with seeing Brent again and the old memories being stirred within me. But I need to push those aside. We may have plans for tomorrow, but like Astrid said, backpedalling in a relationship isn’t