Alive Again

“Let’s hit up Lou’s for lunch. I’m famished,” Aaron suggested, scratching his dog behind the ears.

“Sounds perfect! It’s been more than a week since we last went,” Steve replied, hopping into his patrol SUV and slamming the door shut. He hollered, “And it’s your turn to foot the bill!”

“Damn! I totally forgot about that,” Aaron groaned, fastening his seatbelt.

Steve just grinned and drove off.

Aaron followed him to Lou’s, a favorite hangout spot for their department, and parked his car.

Lou’s was a popular spot for the officers to unwind after work, often inviting their families and friends to join. Lou himself was a stand-up guy and a staunch supporter of the boys in blue.

They exited their vehicles and strolled in. The hostess led them to the patio, a perfect spot for a February day in the Rockies.

Lou’s not only served great food but also allowed the K9 partners to join their human counterparts on the covered, heated patio. They even provided the dogs with a bowl of water and a couple of biscuits.

The weather was unpredictable, but today, despite the snow on the ground, the sun was shining and the temperature was a comfortable fifty degrees. They settled down and started discussing what to order from the menu.

They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice the waitress approaching.

“Hello, Officers. What can I get you to drink?” she asked in a sweet voice.

Aaron’s head shot up at the sound of her voice. He looked at her and was taken aback by her beauty. He found himself staring at her, unable to look away.

Steve noticed Aaron’s reaction and raised an eyebrow in surprise. He started chatting with the attractive redhead standing before them.

He ordered a coke and a patty melt with fries. Both men then turned to Aaron, who was still staring at the waitress, wide-eyed.

Steve cleared his throat, trying to break the awkward silence. When neither of them responded, he rolled his eyes in frustration and kicked Aaron under the table. Aaron hissed in pain and finally looked away.

“What are you having, A? This nice lady has other tables to attend to!” Steve sighed.

Aaron cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. I’ll have a diet coke and a double bacon burger with fries…”

“Umm…Okay, I’ll get that for you.” She turned to leave but stopped when she noticed the well-behaved dog on the floor. “Oh! Can I pet him?”

“Sure. Thor, up,” Aaron replied, watching her interact with his dog.

Thor sat up straight, eagerly waiting for her touch. She knelt down and scratched him behind the ears, complimenting him on his good looks.

Thor was loving the attention. He placed a paw on her arm and gave her a lick. She giggled and stood back up, causing Thor to whine a little.

“Can I bring him a treat?”

Aaron was surprised by Thor’s behavior; he wasn’t usually this affectionate with strangers. He nodded in response. The waitress promised to bring their drinks shortly and walked away, leaving Aaron watching her retreating figure.

“What the hell was that?” Steve demanded.

“She’s amazing,” Aaron replied.

“I noticed. You were practically undressing her with your eyes!”

“Come on, Stevie, don’t exaggerate.”

“Exaggerate? I had to kick you to snap you out of your daydream about her! And don’t even try to deny it. We’ve been friends for how long? I know your expressions.”

Aaron rolled his eyes, hoping he wasn’t blushing as much as he felt he was, especially when the waitress returned with their drinks.

She placed their drinks on the table, assuring them their food would be ready soon. She also put down a metal bowl for Thor and gave him a few biscuits, which he happily accepted.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your name?” Steve asked.

“Oh, sorry, I’m Lorelai.”

“Lorelai, are you new here? We come here quite often and I don’t recall seeing you before,” Steve inquired, noticing Aaron hanging on her every word.

“Oh no, I’m not new. I’m just helping Uncle Lou out today. He was short-staffed and since there was no school, I decided to pitch in,” she explained.

“You’re a teacher?” Aaron asked, finally finding his voice.

“Yes, I teach history at Heritage High School,” she replied.

“So, Lou is your uncle?” Steve asked.

She giggled. “Not by blood. He’s my best friend’s uncle…”

Aaron was about to ask another question when she interrupted him. “Sorry, Officers, I need to pick up some orders.” She turned and hurried away.

Steve turned to Aaron. “So, she’s a teacher—”

“I’m going to ask her out, Stevie. There’s something about her. I want to get to know her better.”

“Yeah, I bet you do—in the biblical sense!”

“Shut up!”

Steve chuckled, sipping his drink and watching his friend daydream about the lovely waitress.

Meanwhile, Lorelai was in the back, waiting for their food, biting her lip, and thinking about the handsome officer.

She was taken aback by the way he looked at her, as if she was the most beautiful and desirable woman in the world. She shook her head, dismissing the thought as silly. She knew she wasn’t beautiful and didn’t deserve someone as attractive as him in her life.

She pushed her thoughts aside and went back out to refill the drinks at her other tables. She served a few meals before bringing refills to the officers.

She quickly placed the glasses on the table and collected the empty ones before they could engage her in conversation again.