The 52nd (The 52nd Saga Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t. They specifically requested noice.”
    She squinted at the cups. “Gross.”
    I poured a cup of coffee while the warm sodas filled. “Were you watching me the wholetime?”
    “Maybe. Hey, don’t forget, I need to catch a ride home with you tonight. Tommy dropped meoff.”
    “Right, no problem.” I peeked around the corner again at the family. They seemed to be in conference. “Did this family say anything about how they knewme?”
    “No. They walked in here all godlike, looked around, then asked where you were. I told them you wouldn’t be in until six. They said that was fine, reserved the table for the rest of the night, and requested that only you serve them.” She sounded bored now. “What did you think about the dark-haired boy? Hot, right?”
    I stole another glance at the family. Lucas was sitting now, facingme.
    “Are you sure you don’t know them?” she asked, putting a hand on my shoulder and leaning forward as she stared withme.
    I squinted harder in their direction. “Bri, I think I would recognize them if I knewthem.”
    All eyes were on Lucas. As he spoke, he jerked his hands with frustration. Then he swiped a hand through his hair and shook his head, looking exhausted. Suddenly, he snapped his head up again, and our eyes met. Bri and I flew back behind the wall, stumbling into the stacked glasses.
    “Why is he so hot?” Bri said, eyes wide with bewilderment.
    “I better bring them their drinks. Wish me luck,” I said nervously, placing all the cups on thetray.
    I crossed the small dining room, headed up the stairs, and went directly to their table. It still smelled like a tropical oasis. I inhaled deeply to fill my lungs with the sweet scent as I set each drink down before its owner. They didn’t notice, or didn’t acknowledge them as they watched me silently, observing my every move with steady eyes as if I was the most interesting thing they’d seen in a longtime.
    “Can I get you anything else?” I asked in a rush as I set the last drinkdown.
    “That will be it for now, thank you,” Lucassaid.
    He was leaning closer to me. I got nervous briefly, thinking that maybe we had met before. I couldn’t imagine I’d forget a face like his. “Do I knowyou?”
    “No.” He shook his head modestly.
    I looked to everyone. They all had smirks on theirfaces.
    “The other waitress said you asked for me to be your server. I just assumed we knew each other,” Isaid.
    “We don’t. We heard you were a great waitress,” the mother said with anod.
    She seemed sincere, but I had to force a smile past the bad feeling worming into my stomach. “Oh. Well, again, my name is Zara. I will be back later to check onyou.”
    I felt their eyes on my back as I walked away. I stayed on the upper level, serving tables for people who did decide to bowl, but I couldn’t help peeking at them throughout the night. The exotic strangers laughed and talked, argued most of the time, but never bowled, all while pretending they weren’t watching me. Eventually their inconspicuous glances stopped—except for those from the boy, Lucas. His blue eyes found mine wherever I was. I began to stare back, frustrated, hoping he would get the hint he was staring too much, but it didn’t matter. My stare couldn’t break hisfocus.
    He was the last to leave at closing. When I went to their area to clean up, there was a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill in the center of the table. My heart stopped. I snatched up the bill and ran out the door to thank them, but only my car and another employee’s car were there. I tucked the bill carefully into my pocket and went back inside to cleanup.
    Bri and I finished putting the bowling balls away, tidied up the dining area, and were free to leave in thirty minutes. It was almost one in the morning when we hopped into mycar.
    “Since when are you and Tommy together?” I asked as Bri slid into the passengerseat.
    “Since two weeks ago. Anyways, what’s happening