Hostile Intruder

"I'm really glad you did too."

We ate in silence for a few minutes. Then I thought of a question. "So, tell me since you know about my train wreck of a relationship, why's a good looking guy like yourself not taken?"

"I'm just looking for the right girl." He again looked at me, and for a second I swear my heart stopped beating. "Tell me how a beautiful girl got into such a mess?"

"College friendship that turned into a relationship that went bad."

"Ah . . . been there." He ate a few fries.

"And..." I looked at him, "I was looking for the right guy; but he turned out to be a frog instead of a prince." He grinned.

I finished eating my hamburger while he munched on fries. It was quiet and calm, a comfortable silence in which we were enjoying each other's company.

"So, before I make plans tomorrow is there anything you're allergic to or don't like?"

"I hate sushi." I grimaced at the thought of eating raw fish. "But I was really looking forward to McDonalds." I winked at him.

He burst into laughter. "Well if you insist, we'll go there."

I shook my head. "No, that's okay."

"Maybe next time then."

"Maybe."

When we finished eating, he said: "Let's see if James needs anything. If not you can show me to the rest area." I nodded.

We headed back to the floor. Before we reached the end of the hallway I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Bryan standing by my station. He looked like he always did, a frat boy who never grew up. Since he never kept a steady job and probably was doing nothing I guessed he had decided to show up and bother me. His dad had money so he worked odd end jobs or didn't work at all, another thing that had always ticked me off. He was wearing board shorts and a surfer tee with sneakers as usual. I turned around nearly.