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Not cute It’s just a line

“Where are we going?”

“I’ry”

Payton still doesn’t get up

I step closer and glare down at her

“Well,her arms over her chest

“I didn’t ask”

When she still doesn’t h

“Are you hungry?” I begrudgingly ask

“I can eat”

Before I can think better of it, I’ it to her to help her up If it weren’t for everything between us, I would swear I feel a spark e touch

Once we’re in the car and out of the lot, I weave my way in and out of traffic When I pull to a stop, it’s in front ofmy car outside

“This place looks nice,” she says with a laugh, taking in the dilapidated front of the building

The awning is hanging on by a thread, and the name of the restaurant has been worn off by tiht up anymore The vowels, too, which I hear are important

“Trust me when I tell you, it’s the best food you’ll ever eat”

“OhI believe it” She unbuckles her seat belt, reaching for the door “It’s always the places like this that are the best”

“Agree”

“Can never judge a book by its cover, right?”

I turn to look at her, and I see how she looks back at h I probably look like a nice guy

She’s not wrong

Orh I look like an asshole Who knoith her?

But I don’t care, so I’onna ask

I get out of the car, and she follows suit This is not the kind of establishment in which you wait for a hostess You just take a seat So, I lead us to an empty booth in the corner

Normally, when I coht, I don’t recognize anybody That’s when I spot Tanya, one of reet me

“Are you having your usual?” She beams at me

“Yes What about you, Payton? Do you need to see a menu?”

“What’s your usual?” she asks me

“At this tihtpancakes”

Payton’s lips spread into a large smile One I have never seen on her Probably because I aives her a reason to do it

“Pancakes for dinnerI like it” She turns to Tanya “I’ll have the same Can I add extra-crispy bacon?”

“Who doesn’t love a woman who orders bacon?”

Fuck me I did not just say that out loud