Ne'Er Do Well
Copyright© 2016 by SW MO Hermit
Chapter 7
Garrett returned to his routine, working at the same job, driving the same old Ranger pickup, and continuing to dress and eat the same way. Quite rapidly, the interest died down, and life went on as before.
Garrett did take a few more of his meals in the cafe, but that was no big deal. After all, several single people in town and a few married men ate there at least once a day. During his visits to the cafe, Garrett began flirting with Sarah, a waitress about two years younger than he was. He was finally able to convince her to go on a date with him.
Garrett and Sarah went out on Friday night, saw a movie, and then came back to his place for a nightcap. The cafe was closing when he and Sarah climbed the stairs. Several of her friends saw them and made the obligatory off-color remarks.
About one a.m. Garrett took Sarah home. He was somewhat upset but not surprised. Sarah had a reputation for being a tease, and she lived up to it very well, damn the luck. He got some bare tit and a wet finger but that was all. On top of the frustration, it was apparent they didn’t have much in common. Garrett chalked the date up in the “lose” column and decided to move on.
Saturday morning, around 8:45, Garrett, still tired, walked into the cafe for his coffee, breakfast, and gossip. The usual crew was there—a group of local farmers and some other residents, relaxing either because it was a weekend or because they needed a break.
Garrett saw Bill, Kathy, and Sally, Bill’s wife and Kathy’s mother, sitting at their usual table. He walked up and sat down as he usually did when they were there before he was. Kathy glared at him and didn’t speak when Bill and Sally said good morning.
Garrett said, “Good morning. Looks like it’s going to be another hot one. Sure glad we’re not working today. I’m not sure I could take it for long.”
Kathy pressed her lips together and glared at Garrett then spat out, “Well, maybe if you weren’t out screwing around until all hours of the morning you wouldn’t be so tired.”
Garrett just looked at her and shook his head, then returned to his conversation with Bill. Sarah came up to the table, placed her hand on Garrett’s shoulder, and said, “Good morning, Garrett. I sure enjoyed last night. Coffee and what else?”
Kathy snorted and murmured, “Yeah, I bet you enjoyed it a lot slut.”
Sally looked shocked and turned to Kathy. She said, “What did you just say, young lady?”
Kathy looked unrepentant and said, “You heard me. Now, can we just drop it? You know what? I think I’ve had enough. I’m going to walk home.” She loudly pushed her chair back and left the cafe at a fast walk. As she let the door close, she used her hand to wipe her face, as if she were wiping a tear from it.
Garrett looked at Bill and said, “What was that all about?”
Bill and Sally looked at each other before he sighed and said, “Garrett, if I have to tell you, then you’re not nearly as smart as I thought you were.”
Garrett looked at Sally, who was staring at him. He shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of his coffee before he said, “Well, I guess I’m not as smart as you thought I was. I have no idea why she’s in such a mood today...” His face turned red, and he stammered, “Oh. It’s a woman thing, huh?”
Sally frowned then said, “Damn you men. You hurt a woman’s feelings, then all you can think of is that it must be that time of the month or something. Damn it, Garrett, just think about what you’ve done recently that you shouldn’t have done. Maybe something will come to you.”
Sally looked over at Bill and said, “I’m done. Are you?”
Bill nodded his head yes and stood. Sally began walking toward the door as Bill sorted out a tip for Sarah. He looked at Garrett, shook his head then said, “Well, maybe this will blow over but I think you screwed the pooch on this one. I guess I’ll see you at work Monday.”
Garrett shrugged his shoulders and continued eating. He was leaning back in his chair, sipping his coffee and throwing his two bits into the conversation going on around him, when a couple of his younger friends came into the cafe.
Pete and Trevor grinned when they saw Garrett and moved to his table. They took chairs, and Pete said, “How was the date, stud? Did you get any, or did you strike out like the rest of us do? Come to think about it, why did you even go out with that little prick tease when you had someone as nice as Kathy hanging all over you? Man, that’s like throwing away a perfect prime rib for a piece of hide. When did you and Kath break up, anyway?”
“What? Kathy and I didn’t break up. Hell, you know we were only friends. And you know better than to talk about a date like that. Sarah and I went to the show and then visited for a while before I took her home.”
Pete and Trevor laughed, then Trevor said, “Yup. He struck out like the rest of us.”
“Now, back up here. Why did you all ask about Kathy? She was acting strangely here this morning and took off walking home when I came in. Do you all know what’s wrong with her?”
Trevor said, “Ok, let me see here. You and Kathy have been spending time together for months. She’s been at your place more than at home all that time. You take Sarah out on a date and Kathy gets pissed and you don’t know what’s going on? Jesus, boy, are you dumb or what? Man, you just pissed in that girls punch. You’re lucky she didn’t cut your balls off for what you did.”
“But we were friends. She was helping me fix up the apartment and sort out some of Gramps’ old things. That’s all.”
“Yeah, ok. I guess that’s why she has refused all of us when we asked her out since she started hanging out with you. She’s just a friend, but isn’t interested in men anymore?
“Man, I bet it sucks to be her right about now.”
Pete and Trevor began talking to the rest of the men in the café while Garrett just sat, ignoring the ongoing conversation, as he replayed the strange happenings of the morning in his head. From those things, his mind wandered back to the last several weeks with Kathy. Shit, maybe there was something there after all. She seemed interested in his happiness and in helping him. When she was close to him, she would touch him. She always smiled and greeted him pleasantly. She would routinely bring him coffee, tea, or whatever he wanted on the spur of the moment. CRAP, had he been completely blind here?
If Kathy did like him as more than a friend, what about him? What did he feel for her? He felt like crap right now thinking about hurting Kathy. What did he feel about her? He certainly liked her around, and she was built like the proverbial brick shithouse. She sure was nicer and prettier than Sarah, as well as more mature. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
A perplexed Garrett pushed away from his table and stood. After he pushed his chair in, he walked to the register to pay for his breakfast and coffee. While Betty Jean, the café owner, was making his change, Sarah came up and put her arm around his waist. She smiled and said, “So, whatcha gonna do today, Garrett?”
“Not sure. I have some things I need to do on the remodel, but I first need to buy some materials. Probably go to town for that.”
“I get off at two.”
“Huh? Oh, that’s nice, you’ll have most of the day to relax then.” Well, catch ya later.” Garrett walked out of the cafe and didn’t even see the shocked expression on Sarah’s face. Betty Jean had to turn away quickly so she didn’t see the grin breaking out on her face. Apparently, the date didn’t go too well from Garrett’s viewpoint. From the way Sarah had been gushing all morning, the staff had the opposite impression. Hmm, Garrett was preoccupied, Kathy almost ran out of the cafe when Garrett sat with her ... Yep. That boy was in a world of hurt. He had two women pissed at him now.
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