The Waiter by Bradleigh Collins (bill gates books recommendations .txt) 📕

just need to know that other people doesn’t include him.”

I knew he was referring to Dalton.

“I hate the thought of him being here and me not,” he said. “I hate the thought of him, period.”

“He’s leaving New York. His gig is up at the end of March.”

“How do you know that? I thought you weren’t talking to him.”

“I haven’t talked to him. And I don’t plan to. He sent me a holiday card back in December. Well, he sent it to the office.”

“So he’s moving back to Atlanta?”

“I guess. The card didn’t say. He just said his gig was up and that he’d be moving on to his next assignment.”

“That’s not all it said,” The Waiter said knowingly.

“That’s all that mattered.” I took his arm and put it around me. Then I leaned back into his chest and stretched my legs out on the bench.

“Can we just sit here until you have to leave? We don’t even have to talk. We can just be.”

He pulled me in closer.

“Yeah, Red. We can just be.”

We sat there for almost an hour. People walked past us. Bicyclists sped by. I pet every single dog that would allow it. And then it was time for him to go. We started walking back.

“Are you gonna grab the subway uptown?” I asked. The Waiter was taking the M60 bus to the airport. He’d already shipped out most of his things to L.A., so all he had with him was his backpack.

“No, I’m gonna catch the M7 up to the gym first. I have to cancel my membership before I go.”

We continued walking. Past The Museum of Natural History. Past the GreenFlea. Just like we did on our first date. The whole time, I kept repeating over and over in my head, you’ll see him in five days, you’ll see him in five days. It was the only thing keeping me from having a full-on breakdown. Before we knew it, we were back at the corner of Amsterdam and 77th.

“This is where you first kissed me.”

“I remember,” he smiled. “You were leaving me. Going back to Hotlanta.”

“Now look who’s leaving,” I said. In the distance, we could see the M7 bus. The tears began to well. There was no stopping them. I didn’t even bother.

“Oh god baby. Please don’t cry.” He leaned down and kissed my entire face, as if he were trying desperately to make the tears disappear.

“I can’t help it,” I blubbered. He put his arms around me and held on tight, his chin resting on top of my head. I sobbed uncontrollably into his chest.

“I love you, Red,” he said. I cried even harder. I could hear the bus approaching. “This is not the end of anything. You know I’m gonna end up back in New York. And I’m gonna see you in five days. Five days, okay?”

“I love you, too. But you have to go or I am going to die right here on this corner.”

He leaned down and kissed me. When he let go, it felt like someone had punched a hole in my chest and all the air in my lungs was escaping. I just stood there on the corner, gasping for air.

I watched him walk away from me, just like I did the first time. The joy I’d felt that day was replaced with a heartache I’d probably never recover from. But I knew I’d made the right decision to let him go.

He stood there across the street, waiting to get on the bus. I yelled out to him.

“Hey Dominic!”

He turned around and looked at me.

“I’ll see you in five days,” I said, holding up five fingers while attempting a smile. He smiled back and blew a kiss right before he stepped onto the bus. And then he was gone.

I watched the bus pull away. Then I waited for the light to change so I could cross over Amsterdam. I looked across the street and saw Lucy and Katie standing on the corner. When the light changed, I ran towards them. They sandwiched me with bear hugs while I cried uncontrollably. They cried with me.

“We got you,” Katie said.

“Yeah, we do,” Lucy agreed.

“How did you guys know I was here?”

“We’ve been stalking you,” Lucy said. “From a distance, of course. Come on. Let’s get you wasted.”

“I look like shit.”

“So do we now,” Katie said.

The three of us walked arm-in-arm toward Broadway.

“I’m not sure I’m up for brunch. Can I just go home and die already?”

“Sure,” Lucy said. “Right after brunch.”

“Do you know how many broken hearts in this city have been soothed by bottomless mimosas?” Katie asked.

Lucy stepped out into the street and hailed a cab. We climbed into the back seat. “Broadway and 111th,” she informed the driver.

I laid my head in Lucy’s lap and cried some more. She stroked my hair. “It’s gonna be okay, Sam. I promise.”

We arrived at The Heights and the three of us climbed the stairs to the second-floor entrance. As soon as I walked in, I noticed a familiar face sitting in the corner. It was Dana.

“We called for backup,” Lucy said. I immediately bursts into tears and ran into Dana’s open arms.

“How are you here?” I said, sobbing on her shoulder.

“How could I not be here? Come, sit. I have a pitcher of mimosas ready and waiting.”

I sat down and tried to wipe my eyes as Dana hugged Lucy and Katie.

Dana looked at me. “How are you, babe?”

“Dead inside. Other than that, I’m pretty good.”

The three of them smiled at me.

“It just sucks, guys,” I said. “This just sucks so much!”

“Yeah, it does,” Dana agreed. “There’s no denying the suck factor.”

The waitress came over and took our order. I wanted blueberry pancakes.

“Dana, how long are you in town?” I asked.

“Until Wednesday. I actually have a job interview tomorrow.”

“Oh my god!” I squealed. “Are you serious?”

“Well, it’s not really a formal interview. It’s just a meeting with a person who could potentially give me a job.”

“Where?”

“Time Out New York.”

“I read that every day!”