6

Missy POV

Thankfully, Adrian left me alone for the most part the rest of the day. When I went in for lunch, making myself a quick sandwich, he merely smiled at me before leaving to go home for his lunch. He left at 5 PM on the dot with a quick wave and a “See you next week”. 

Maybe I was getting too worked up over nothing? Or maybe he realized I was done with his jokes and backed off? Whatever the reason, I’m more at ease being at home alone with him working here now. 

My bathroom works, but he asked me not to turn the water line back on until he could check the plumbing in the kitchen next week. I should have only one more weekend using the trailer’s restroom before I won’t need to anymore. 

I’m rifling through the kitchen after my shower, standing there in my PJs, trying to figure out something to eat for dinner. I’m getting sick of soup and sandwiches. 

A cheeseburger sounds so good right now. A cheeseburger with all the fixings and big slices of tomatoes. I stare into my empty fridge for far too long before I give in, going back to my bedroom to change into jeans and a baby tee, then make my way to town to the diner. It’s Friday night in this small town, and the only restaurant is packed with locals. I almost rethink going in, but I have my heart set on that burger now. This place has a decent smash burger, with crispy edges and gooey cheese. I need it. I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t get one.

I sat at the bar counter as inconspicuous as possible, trying not to attract any prying questions.

No such luck. A group of young men, looking like farmhands getting off work in their Carhartt jeans and flannel shirts fill the spots around me soon after I sit down. 

“I ain’t seen you around here before,” the scruffy blonde guy in the seat right beside me leans over, offering me his hand, “Chris.”

“Missy,” I shook his hand curtly, then turned back to look at my menu, trying to ignore the amused smirks and nudges his friends were giving him about having talked to me. 

“That’s a pretty name,” he smiles brightly at me.

“Thanks,” I muttered, not looking up from the menu in my hands. I know what I want already, not really needing to look over the many options, but I’m hoping he’ll get the hint and leave me alone.

“Live around here?”

I sigh, ready to put down my menu and go home when Brittany’s voice calls out to me.

“Missy the midget! Over here! Come join us!” 

I looked over and saw her sitting across from the old man from the photos. Her dad I assume. I smile in relief, not even minding the nickname, and excuse myself from Chris’s company, his friends hooting and snickering as I walk away.

“Come sit by me,” Brittany smiles at me at my approach.

“Sure don’t look like a midget to me,” her dad observed with crinkled, smiling eyes, the same blue as his children. 

“That’s cuz I’m not,” I gave him a tight smile, sliding into the booth beside Brittany.

“Figured as much,” his eyes twinkle, looking over me, “Seem average to me.”

“Thank you!,” I huffed, “Please, tell your son that.”

“You can tell him yourself. He’s on his way here,” Brittany tells me, “This is our dad, Rick.”

“Nice to meet you, Rick,” I nodded at him.

“Nice to meet you, Missy. I’ve heard many things about you from my son,” he smiles, popping his straw in his mouth and chewing on the end.

“I’m sure none of it is true,” I rolled my eyes. I can only imagine after hearing everything he told Brittany.

“I wouldn’t say that. He said you were pretty.”

“Aww,” I smiled, sitting up a bit straighter, ready to thank him. 

“Also said you were pretty standoffish and hotheaded.”

Brittany chortles as I narrow my eyes, Rick’s smile getting brighter, “He wasn’t lying when he said you looked cute when angry either. Look at those angry eyebrows.”

What the heck? The entire family is infuriating and over-opinionated. 

“Stop it, dad. She’s going to burst into flames,” Brittany chuckles.

The waitress comes, saving Rick from my angry outburst.

“What can I get you guys?” The young woman smiled, looking at all of us expectantly. 

“Chili and cornbread. Can you put extra jalapenos in it, Trisha?” Rick ordered first.

“Sure thing, Ricky. What about you, Britt?”

“Just the chicken tenders and fries.”

“You got it, and you, sweetheart? What will you be having?”

Sweetheart. I know this isn’t Kansas and she doesn’t mean anything negative by the endearment, but a woman calling another woman sweetheart in the South is an insult. Like saying “bless your heart” or “I’ll pray for you”. I smile tightly, trying to snuff out the aggravation building in me. I’m sure it is coming from Rick’s teasing more than her unoffensive remark. 

“Smash burger with everything on it, extra tomatoes. And can I get a sweet tea?”

“Of course, hun. I’ll be back in a minute with your drink.”

I smiled at her, regretting the negative thoughts I was just letting run through my head. She was as nice as could be. I’m just having a long week. 

Rick teases me a little more, but nothing too out of hand. Not like his son. He’s sweet most of the time and teases Brittany just as much as he teases me. He’s very different from my dad. My dad was showy and almost a snob when out in public. He had to be the center of attention and loved hearing words of admiration. 

Rick is laid back and has an easy presence about him. He laughs wholeheartedly and sincerity pours out of him. 

“Missy?” Adrian’s voice caused me to look up as I was laughing at a tacky dad joke Rick was sharing. 

“Hey,” I smiled at him, then looked down. There’s an adorable little girl with dark brown pigtails and a button nose clutching onto Adrian’s leg. She shyly hides her face against his thigh, then peaks over at me with big brown eyes. 

“What are you doing here?” Adrian places a hand on the little girl’s head, then stoops down and lifts her into his arms. 

“I wanted a cheeseburger,” I shrugged, smiling at the little girl, “Who’s this?”

“This,” Adrian kisses the girl’s cheek, “is Hailey. Hailey, this is my friend Missy. Can you say ‘hi’?”

“Hi,” she says in a cute little voice, waving her hand while peaking up from Adrian’s shoulder. 

“Hi Hailey,” I smiled brightly at her, “I love your pigtails!”

“Thank you,” she blushes, turning her face against Adrian’s shoulder. 

“So cute!” I mouthed to Adrian, and he smiled softly. 

“Did you order for us?” he asks his dad.

“Nope. Wasn’t sure if you’d get here in time,” Rick said, smiling at the little girl and holding his hands out for her. She leans out of Adrian’s arms and dives for the old man, who wraps her in a warm hug. 

“Watch her and I’ll go place our order with Trisha,” he tells his dad before walking off to the counter to talk to our waitress. He sees Chris and the other guys, giving them all high-fives and handshakes before ordering a kid’s chicken basket and a smash burger for himself. 

“I missed you munchkin,” Rick tells Hailey, setting her beside him and placing a big, burly hand on her little head. 

“I missed you too, grandpa.”

“I didn’t know Adrian had a child,” I looked between Rick and Brittany, then smiled at the little girl. She flashes me a big, toothy grin, making me chuckle.

“It’s complicated,” Brittany huffs, pulling a notepad out of her purse and handing it to Hailey, along with a pen. Hailey takes it with a small “thank you” and then begins drawing what looks like trees and mountains on the lined paper. 

“Hailey is our special little gift,” Rick smiles at the child, love, and adoration in his crinkled eyes. 

I wanted to ask about her mom, but held myself back. I’d like to think that Adrian wouldn’t make inappropriate comments towards me if he was married or was in a serious relationship. I hate when people pry into my life, so I decided to respect his privacy and let it be. I'm just going to enjoy not eating alone for once. 

“What are you drawing, Hailey?” I asked her, peering at her artwork. 

“Daddy’s house,” she smiles shyly at me, “I like it better than mama’s. Mama doesn’t have an outside.”

“She means a backyard,” Rick tells me, “Her mom lives in an apartment in Redding.”

I nodded, not asking anything. It’s not my business.

“What brings you out into the real world? I thought you only left your house to avoid me?” Adrian asks, pulling a chair up at the end of the table. 

I shrug, “I didn’t have any burgers at my house.”

“I’m sure you got a can of sirloin burger soup in that pantry of yours,” he teases.

I laughed, “Probably. It’s hard cooking real meals in a construction zone, so I’m sticking to the easy stuff. I wanted a real meal tonight though.”

“Why don’t you come over to our house and eat then?” Brittany asked me. “We aren’t too far from you. You’re at old Misses Riley’s house, right?”

I nodded, biting my lip and looking nervously at Adrian. He offers me a small smile, then turns his attention back to Hailey. I don’t know if going to their house is a good idea. I’m starting to like Brittany a lot, but her brother is technically my employee. I don’t know if that would be crossing some arbitrary line. 

“You should come! Let’s say Sunday? We do BBQ while dad and Adi watch whatever game they can find on TV.” I smile at the cute little nickname Brittany calls her brother. 

I look again at Adrian, his eyes smiling at me as he rests his chin in his hand. “You should come. I burn a mean hot dog.”

I laugh, “Well, burnt hot dogs are my favorite,” I tell him, biting my lip. His eyes flashed down to my mouth, so fast I almost missed it. His eyes come back to mine and he licks his lips, adjusting in his seat. 

“That settles it,” Rick looks between me and his son, “You’re joining us Sunday.”