"I suppose you'll just have to be patient," he shrugs his shoulders as he replies, leading me out of the elevator to the valet area. He releases my hand as he helps me climb into the car he picked me up in yesterday; someone must have brought it around for him after I arrived. I settle back into the seat and put on my seatbelt, remembering when I last sat in here. It occurs to me that I should have worn those earrings he gifted me. They probably would have been a little too showy for work at the cafe though. I don't know if I'm looking forward to when I have to explain to people that it's totally not weird I'm seeing a man more than ten years older than me.
"I should probably warn you that I'm not good with surprises, I like to know what kind of thing I'm walking into," I fear as soon as I say the words that he'll think I'm being childish again. But he must have woken up on the right side of the bed this morning; he just smiles and drives us quickly down the streets.
"You'll like it, promise." I try and think over all the things he knows about me, and how he can feel so assured that I will enjoy the surprise he's taking me to. And that makes me nervous; he's probably taking me to something he will assume that I will like, as he has done it with previous girls and they've enjoyed it.
The soft crooning emanating from the radio settles me somewhat, stopping me from spiraling down whatever rabbit hole I was quickly approaching. Raising such questions as to how many times he's had this sort of arrangement? Why did they end? What were they like? Am I just like them? I breathe out softly and rest my head back against the seat, staring at the buildings of the high street as they pass us by.
"You seem tired," Rhodes says after a few minutes of silence. I shrug softly and turn my head to look at him. His brows are furrowed.
"Maybe a little, it was a busy morning at the cafe." I had been slammed this morning. "Two of the waitresses were out with the flu, so it was just Lucas and me having to look after the whole floor. It got pretty busy." It hadn't helped that nearly every table seemed to be difficult. Having to organize all the different orders with things left off and added, my head was spinning by the time I clocked off.
He hums gently and places his hand on my knee. "Did you manage to give your boss your notice?" I shake my head and smile gently at the placement of his hand. It doesn't seem like he's doing it in a sexual way, it's more of a comfort thing.
"No, our boss wasn't in either. I'll do it next weekend; I'm working both days so I'll have more of a chance to do it." He nods his head. I'm not sure if he's happy with my answer, but he's lucky I'm even doing it in the first place. I'm basically emptying my life for him, school seems to be the only thing he's allowing to stick around. It's a lot to do for a six-month contract that could all end in disaster.