Hero Worship Read Online Free PDF Page B

in the doorway. She’s dressed like she’s stepped out of a fashion magazine. “Are you still open?” she asks.
    â€œSit anywhere,” I say. She sits down at a booth and I approach her with a menu. “We’re going to be closing soon, so you might want to decide quickly.”
    Getting a closer look, I realize that she’s young—probably my age, maybe a little younger. She’s attractive. Her long blond hair looks like every strand is meticulously placed. She has thick, full lips and olive skin that radiates a healthy glow. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her. I find myself staring at her, and it takes me a moment to realize she’s staring back at me with her big brown eyes. While her expression doesn’t betray any emotion, her eyes seem to smile. I get a whiff of the heady aroma of a bed of roses after a summer rain shower.
    â€œI’m not going to order anything,” she says. “But could I trouble you for a glass of water?”
    I gather up the menu and say, “You got it.”
    As I fill a glass with water, I steal peeks at the girl. I know I’ve seen her before. Maybe she’s an actress or something. I wish I could place her. All I know is that she’s stunning. It makes we wonder what on earth she’s doing in a restaurant located in this part of town after sundown. I set the glass of water down on the table.
    â€œWhat’s your name?” she asks.
    â€œMarvin.”
    â€œOf course it is. Silly me,” she says. “I’m Eliza. Eliza Todd. I’m hoping we can have a little chat, Marvin.”
    â€œReally? What about?”
    â€œAbout last night,” Eliza says.
    â€œLast night?”
    â€œWhen you saved that family.”
    Time slows way down. I can feel my heart beating like a bass drum in my chest. The noise echoes in my ears. Her words smack me and take my breath away. I don’t know how long I stand there and stare at her. My mind scrambles to make sense of what just happened. How does she know this?
    My brain is like a blank sheet of paper, and the glaring emptiness is too harsh a sight to maintain, so I turn and hurry away, disappearing through the kitchen door. I rest my back against the wall, trying to calm myself. It feels like I’m going to hyperventilate.
    Peeking through the window in the door, I see her across the restaurant, smiling at me. I duck out of sight.
    When I finally muster up the courage to steal another peek, I see Gus locking up for the night. There’s no sign of the girl.

    Before Gus leaves, he asks if I’ll tidy up his office. I don’t mind because I need the money. The job takes longer than I expected, though, because Gus is a slob. There are empty candy wrappers, soda cans, and garbage strewn about like it’s a landfill. While I’m on the floor crawling around on my hands and knees, I see that Gus has made a habit of parking his used gum under his desk. There’s so much of it that it looks like a mural under there. Retrieving a butter knife, I chisel away at the dried gum.
    Finally finished, I stroll out of the office and head back to the kitchen to wash the butter knife before I lock up. As I round the corner, heading back behind the counter, I hear someone speak.
    â€œHey,” the soft voice says. Eliza sits in the same booth as before. It’s like she’s been there the whole time.
    â€œWhat’re you doing?” I ask.
    â€œOur conversation was cut short,” she says. “We need to discuss last night.”
    â€œYou’re not supposed to be here,” I say.
    She motions to my hand. “Are you going to stab me?”
    I’m still holding the butter knife, and I clutch it like I’m planning on using it against her. “How’d you get in?” I ask.
    â€œI hid in the women’s bathroom.”
    â€œYou’ve got to go.”
    She motions to the seat across from her. “Let’s talk,