Reye's Gold by Ruthie Robinson Read Free Book Online Page B

said Henri.
    “Make that two,” Joe said, giving his menu to the waitress.
    “Three,” said Stephen, “and could you bring over a pitcher of beer for us?”
    “Sure. Anything else?”
    “Nope, that’s all for now. Thanks,” Stephen said, giving her a quick smile.
    “I’ve got to take a leak,” Henri said, excusing himself, and walked to the back of the restaurant where the rest- rooms were located. The Garden also offered take-out to its patrons with a separate entrance in the back to avoid overcrowding. The Garden was a popular place. Henri passed by the take-out line on his way to the bathroom, scanning the room as he went. He spotted Stephen’s Reye in line. Taking a detour, he walked over to her, calling out her name.
    She looked up. “Reye?” he asked. “Phi Beta Nu party, remember?”
    Stephen’s handsome friend, the keeper of the door at the party, she remembered. He’d been nice to her.
    “Hi. Henri, right?”
    “Yes, you’ve got a good memory.”
    “You were at Stephen’s party?”
    “Yes, that was me. How are you?”
    “Fine,” she said. “You?”
    “ I’m okay. Hey, Stephen is here with me, sitting towards the front, we’ve just finished a soccer game.” He pointed toward his jersey. “You could bring your order over and join us.”
    “No, that’s okay. I’ve got to get home,” she said. “You sure?”
    “Yeah, I’m sure, but thanks. It was nice seeing you again.”
    “Yeah. You, too,” Henri said, turning to continue on to the bathroom. He waved to Reye a final time as he returned to his table, itching to watch Stephen’s reaction to this newsflash. He’d listened to him bitch and moan for the last two weeks. By now Henri was unapologetic about finding humor in his friend’s predicament.
    “You’ll never guess who’s here.” Henri looked directly at Stephen as he sat down at the table.
    “Who?”
    “Reye. She is in the take-out line in back,” Henri said. “Reye’s here?”
    “Yeah, didn’t I just say that? She is in the take-out line in back,” Henri repeated, slowly enunciating every word.
    “I’ll be back in a minute.” Stephen stood and walked away.
    “Sure,” Henri said to his retreating back. Joe shook his head in disgust.
    Stephen entered the back portion of the restaurant and found Reye leaning against the wall, her back to him. She looked great and extremely fit in a pair of form-fitting jean shorts, t-shirt, and sandals, typical college stu dent attire. She wore a baseball cap pulled low over her eyes. Surely she wasn’t trying to hide from him, he t hought. He walked over and stood behind her, close enough that he could smell her scent. Leaning in, he whispered in her ear, “Hello stranger.”
    “Stephen,” she said, her voice neutral.
    “Come here often?”
    “Sometimes,” she said, although she still faced forward. “Come eat with me?”
    “Nope.”
    “I’m here with Henri. You like him. Come eat with us, then?”
    “Nope. Nice guy, that Henri, not like some of your other friends,” she said.
    “Can’t give that a rest, can you? I’m not responsible for all the idiotic things people say.”
    Reye turned her head to face him, lifting her hand up, palm outward. “Been there, done that, please don’t explain again.” Before Stephen could respond, her order was called. She walked over to the counter to pay. “Thank you,” she said to the boy behind the counter as he handed her order over. Swinging her book bag over her shoulder, she walked to the back exit and out through the back door. Stephen rushed out to follow her.
    “Wait,” he said, catching up to her just outside the door. It was starting to get dark. “Where are you going?” He stepped in front of her, halting her progress.
    “Not that it is any of your business, but home,” she answered.
    “Where is your truck?”
    “Again, not your business, but I didn’t drive it today. I took the bus to school.”
    “ So does that mean that you live around