Queen POV
Another hour passed. The diner slowed to a near crawl. Just a few lingering tables. The hum of the fridge is louder now that the noise has faded.
Jessica untied her apron with a long sigh. "I'm about to head out."
"Must be nice," I muttered, wiping down the table.
"Girl, I've been here since six this morning."
"I've been here since eight."
"And whose fault is that?"
I rolled my eyes. "You're really about to leave me alone with them?"
She glanced toward Manny's table, her expression tightening slightly.
"You gonna be okay?"
"I ain't scared of them, just irritated." I scoffed.
She nodded, looking back at me. "Text me when you get home."
"I will."
"Promise."
"I promise."
She grabbed her bag, pausing at the door. "Lock up good."
"I always do." I said.
The bell jingled as she left. And just like that it was quieter. Too quiet. I finished wiping tables, stacking chairs, following my routine as I waited for the stragglers to finish. My attention drifted back to the corner, to the handsome stranger that still sat there. His plate was empty now, his hand palming a glass of water. Hat still low. Waiting? Or just watching? I couldn't tell. But he needed to get moving. I took a customer's payment and counted it before closing the register with a soft click. Almost done. That's when I felt it.
"Damn, you really gonna keep ignoring me all night?" My body stiffened. Manny was right behind me.
I turned slowly. "I'm closing."
"And I'm talking."
"You can talk from over there." I said pointedly, gesturing to the booth where tweedle dee and tweedle dumb sat watching. He stepped closer anyway, invading my space.
"Why you always act like you better than everybody?" he said with a low sneer.
"I don't think I'm better than anybody. I just don't want you touching me."
He chuckled. Then his hand landed on my waist, fingers curled inward, pressing into the fabric of my apron. My breath hitched.
"Move. Your. Hand." I said through clenched teeth. He didn't.
"If you don't—"
"Everything alright over here?"
The voice cut clean through the tension.
Manny's hand dropped instantly. The cowboy stood a few feet away now, posture relaxed, fingers tucked into belt loops—but his eyes? Not relaxed at all. They were completely locked in on Manny, like a predator on prey.
Manny scoffed, stepping back. "Mind your business."
The cowboy tilted his head slightly, a gleam in his green eyes. "Looks like I am."
Silence stretched and the air felt thick, heavy. Manny glanced at his friends—but they weren't backing him up. I almost rolled my eyes…. as expected.
"C'mon," Manny muttered, gesturing to his friends. "Ain't worth it."
They all moved toward the door, but as he passed me—
"This ain't over, pretty." He said and flicked my ponytail.
The bell jingled. Cold air rushed in—Then it was gone. I let out a breath slowly.
"Thank you," I said, turning. "But I had it handled."
One corner of his mouth lifted and my heart skipped a beat, "Looked like it."
Damn he was fine. I rolled my eyes. "I don't need saving."
"Didn't say you did." His tone wasn't cocky and that threw me off more than anything.
"Then why step in?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Didn't like the way he was standing."
I blinked. That answer… wasn't what I expected. He pulled out cash, setting it on the counter.
"For the food." I looked at the wad of cash on the counter and blinked again.
"You overpaid."
"Keep it."
"I can't just—" But he was already turning away.
"Have a good night, Queen."
I paused, a crinkle in my brow.
"How do you—?"
He stopped, turned and nodded at my name tag. That same perfect lilt to the side of his lips. Oh, right. My cheeks heated with embarrassment but if he noticed he didn't give any indication. He tipped his hat slightly with gentlemanly grace…and then walked out. Just like that.
******************
By the time I finished the books and shut down the register, the diner was completely silent. No people and no music, just the faint buzz of the overhead lights and the low hum of the fridge. I turned them off one by one, the room dimming until only the glow from outside filtered in through the windows. My feet ached. My back ached. My patience? Long gone.
I grabbed my coat, slung my bag over my shoulder, and headed for the door. Locked it. Checked it. Checked it again. I stepped outside and the cold hit sharper than before, biting at my skin as I pulled my coat on tight around me. The parking lot was empty now—no cars, no movement, just quiet. I started walking toward the trees, toward the dirt path in front of me. The woods were faster as they have always been.
Leaves crunched under my feet as I made my way down the familiar path, the trees stretching tall and dark around me. I usually found comfort in the way the wind blew through the trees. But for an unknowm reason I felt unsettled as it brushed against my ears—almost like it was trying to say something I couldn't quite hear. I shoved my hands into my pockets.
"You're fine," I muttered. "It's just a walk."
But that feeling…It didn't go away. It got stronger. I began to feel like I was being watched but there was no way of me telling where. I slowed slightly, glancing over my shoulder, but I saw nothing. Just darkness. I let out a breath and kept walking. Faster this time. Suddenly I heard the snap of a branch and my heart jumped. I froze. Slowly…I turned. At first, I didn't see anything. Just shadows. Then—movement. A figure stepped out from between the trees.
"Hey, Queenie."
My stomach dropped. It was Manny.
He leaned against a tree like he'd been there for a while. Waiting. My grip tightened on my bag. Before I could say anything—another shape moved behind me. Then another. It was Chris and Derrick, his friends. And they were blocking the path, my only way back and my way forward. I stilled.
"Funny," Manny said, pushing off the tree slowly, "how you always take this way home."
The air became heavy. I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady.
"What do you want?"
He smiled. Not the sloppy, drunk grin from the diner. Something colder. "You already know."
My heart started to pound. Loud and fast. And for the first time that night, I realized—I wasn't getting home easy.