Food Court

“What do you think, Taste of Bangkok or Finger Lick’n’ Chick’n?” Riley asked. I scanned the food court, and spotted my mother across the way in line at SubSpace. “Earth to Clair,” she waved her hand in front of my face, “Where should we eat?”

“Hmm, oh Bangkok for sure,” I suggested knowing Riley wouldn’t pass up Thai when I suddenly decided to have a sub instead. We waited, I waited, watching Mom’s line. “Actually, I’m not feeling Thai.” Riley’s face dropped a little, her mind already set, just as I had planned. “You can still get it, text me where you find a table.”

“That’s fine, I guess,” she waved me off, turning her attention to her phone.

I weaved through the tables crossing to the other side of the food court. Mom was close to the front, and oh Goddess bless, she was on the phone. I hated when she does that.

I got in line, a few people between us. “How can I help you today?” the girl behind the counter asked. Her black hair pulled back in a sloppy bun, all except for a single blue lock that fell next to her face.

“And then he tried to say the sale ended yesterday, so obviously I asked for a manager,” Mom told one of her Goddess-awful friends on the phone ignoring the service worker.

“How can I help you, ma’am?” she asked again, biting her lip ring.

“Yes, that’s good, a sandwich,” Mom half answered waving off the girl.

“Italian, wheat, multigrain?” she asked, and would ask again. Each question being repeated at least once. Mom’s answers growing more annoyed as if she is the one being inconvenienced by the battery of questions, instead of the worker, and every person in line **** to wait behind her.

The line grew more and more agitated with her. Honestly, I could apologize to any one of them. The emo guy directly behind her, the middle aged business man with the receding hair line, or the dad-bod who keeps glancing at a table where a man sits with 3 children. Any one of them could deserve an apology on my mother’s behalf, but I know the woman behind the counter was the most deserving. Mom was a pain, but the SubSpace employee probably dealt with a dozen of her kind daily.

“Cash or card?” she asked a second time.

“One second,” Mom held up a finger before digging in her purse. She shoved her card in, and finally her transaction was over.

“Have a day,” the girl said handing over her wrapped sandwich.

The rest of the line moved quickly, I let the dad go in front of me. “Yes, I’m sure. It looks like your husband could use your help.” The man with the children was doing his best to keep them seated.

“Thank you so much,” he said stepping up to the counter and ordering his subs.

Then it was just me and her. “How may I help you?” she raised an eyebrow.

“The woman on the phone,” I started, before she cut in.

“Sorry about that, it happens sometimes. Like come on bitch, hang up the phone,” she joked, a tinge of anger laced into her words.

“The woman on the phone was my mom,” I finished, and she went white as a ghost.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean anything by—“

“No, you’re right she’s a bitch,” I cut her off, and relief washed over her face. “I actually just wanted to apologize for her, because she never would.”

“Well, thanks,” she said, “I appreciate it.”

“Actually,” I glanced down at her nametag, “Pete?”

She quirked her eyebrow and followed my gaze, and laughed, “Oh, yep, Pete. That’s me,” she teased.

“Well, Pete I’ve actually been doing more than just apologizing.”

“What like cash?”

I paused, I hadn’t considered cash. I obviously had cash, was that what she would want. Oh Goddess, was she not queer?

“Or,” she glanced around, leaning in, and whispered with a playful smile, “Were you thinking sexual favors?” She toyed with her lip ring, biting her lower lip.

Oh thank the Goddess, she was queer. “Definitely the latter.”

“Ahem,” a man coughed behind me, where did he come from?

“I still have a couple hours before my shift is over,” Pete said, grabbing a marker from beside the cash register. She grabbed my wrist pulling it in close, and she starts writing on my forearm. “Text me, and I’ll hit you up after I’m off,” she said releasing her hold. Her honey brown eyes pierced through me, and I stepped away as she helped the coughing man.

It was only as I sat at Riley’s table that I realized I had forgotten to order my own food. “My dad just texted, he needs me to pick up my sister from soccer practice,” she said, closing up her Thai box. “Want to come?”

This was my chance to ditch Riley without being an awful friend. “I actually needed to get a few more things here. I’ll just get a Ryde or my mom is around here somewhere.” Or maybe Pete will drive me.

“Who’s Pete?” Riley asked and for a second I thought I must’ve said the last part out loud. Then I saw where she was looking at my forearm.

A phone number written below “<3 Pete <3”

“I can’t believe you’re ditching me for some guy,” she pouted, “Is he at least cute?”

“Yes, she is, but I’m not ditching you. I told you, I need to get a few things. A new swimsuit, and new sheets for the dorm beds.”

“She?” Riley glanced at my arm again, double-checking that it in fact said Pete. “Whatever, have fun sucking face, while I’m stuck babysitting,” Riley hugged me before rushing out of the mall.