"The hours are perfect, and I will ensure that I am on time. Oh, before I forget, is overtime required or offered for additional hours?"
"Overtime is offered sometimes, but it is not mandatory. The days are posted a week prior and sent through email when OT is available. I look forward to seeing you bright and early in the morning. If you notice that gentleman lingering around, please inform me immediately. See you tomorrow; enjoy the rest of your day."
"I sure will, and you do likewise. Thank you, Ms. Anderson, and I will see you in the morning."
As I made my way back through the stockroom en route to the café, I noticed that the lunch crowd had formed a long line and the tables were completely occupied; it was even busier than the morning rush.
There was no sign of Allen. I recalled the time my bus was scheduled to arrive, prompting me to hurry to the bus stop. I put on my sunglasses as I casually scanned the area for Allen, attempting not to appear too obvious.
As the bus approached, a car pulled up, honking loudly. The lady standing in front of me turned around and touched my arm, then she pointed towards the car behind the bus.
"Miss, is he trying to get your attention?" she asked me.
"I'm not sure I know that person," I replied, as I peered over the top of my shades to see if I recognized the person's face.
It was Allen, waving his hands to get my attention. He hopped out of the car and quickly made his way over to me. I pushed my shades back up on my eyes―acting nonchalant.
"Hey, Lola! I waited for you to come out. I wanted to know if you needed a ride home."
"Uh-h, no thanks, Allen. But I appreciate the offer."
"Very well. It was a pleasure to meet you. By the way, did you receive any news regarding the employment opportunity?"
"I'm unsure at this moment; however, I did have an interview. I will find out tomorrow. I enjoyed meeting you too, Allen. Hope you enjoy your evening."
"I am confident that she will hire you. They certainly could benefit from your assistance. I wish you would allow me to take you home―we can finish our conversation. I assure you I will take you directly there."
"Thank you, but I must decline. You're a very nice guy, but I don't know you well enough to accept a ride from you, but as I said before, I sincerely appreciate your offer."
"Lola, will you be at the coffee shop tomorrow? I'm asking because I truly enjoyed our conversation today."
"I really enjoyed our discussion also. But I'm not certain if I will come by unless they contact me to come in to work."
"Understood. Enjoy your evening."
"You as well. Thanks again, Allen."
From the look on Allen's face, it was clear he felt a twinge of disappointment when I turned down his offer to drive me home. It was unsettling, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort, too. I figured it might just be a guy thing, that sting of rejection in front of other people.