Brexton had finally clocked out after what felt like the longest workday of his life. His black hair was neatly cut into a mid-to-high fade, his close-shaven black beard was as sharp as ever, and his piercing baby blue eyes carried the exhaustion of a man who had spent every ounce of energy he had. Still, when his three closest friends insisted on grabbing a drink before calling it a night, he agreed.
Hours later, they stumbled out of the bar laughing louder than anyone on the sidewalk. Brexton had only nursed a couple of drinks throughout the evening, but Sawyer, Mason, and Colt were all considerably more intoxicated than he was.
“I’m starving,” Sawyer groaned.
“The nearest diner’s still open,” Mason pointed across the street.
Brexton shrugged. “Works for me.”
A few minutes later, they stepped inside the warm little diner. The scent of fresh coffee, bacon, and grilled onions filled the air as a hostess greeted them with a welcoming smile before leading the four men to a booth near the middle of the restaurant.
As his friends immediately launched into another loud conversation, Brexton quietly scanned the diner. His eyes wandered across every occupied booth, every family, every late-night trucker, every couple enjoying pie and coffee. It was simply a habit of his—always observing the room.
Finding nothing particularly interesting, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He checked for any missed texts, unanswered calls, and even skimmed through a few work emails that had arrived while he’d been out.
The voice was unlike anything he’d ever heard.
Brexton froze completely.
His thumb hovered over his phone screen while time itself seemed to stand still.
Sawyer leaned over and bumped his shoulder.
Brexton blinked and finally looked up.
Standing beside the table was their waitress.
She had long brunette hair cascading over her shoulders, light golden-brown eyes that seemed to glow beneath the diner lights, and a smile unlike anything he’d ever seen.
She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Their eyes remained locked together, each seemingly caught off guard by the other.
Finally Brexton cleared his throat.
“I’m sorry… what was your question?”
She seemed just as frozen as he had been.
Then, almost reluctantly, she blinked, smiled again, and softly asked,
“Can I get you started with something to drink?”
Brexton couldn’t look away.
“I’ll just do an iced tea, please… unsweetened.”
“Of course. Be right back, gentlemen.”
As she walked away, Brexton found himself watching her disappear toward the kitchen.
“Earth to Brexton,” Mason laughed.
“I think our boy just fell in love.”
Several minutes later, she returned carrying everyone’s drinks with practiced ease. She placed Brexton’s iced tea in front of him before pulling out her notepad once more.
“Are y’all ready to order?”
Before anyone else could answer, Sawyer leaned forward with an exaggerated grin.
“I’d love a chicken fried steak…”
The table erupted with drunken laughter.
“I’ll take whatever she’s serving.”
Mason added another equally embarrassing comment.
The waitress forced a polite smile, though Brexton could see the discomfort beginning to show in her eyes.
The entire table fell silent.
Brexton looked directly at the waitress, still not knowing her name.
His face burned with embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry,” he said sincerely. “Please excuse them. They’re piss drunk and don’t know what they’re talking about.”
He looked over at his friends.
“We’re actually going to go.”
Sawyer opened his mouth to protest.
“Nope,” Brexton interrupted. “I’m driving all of you home, and we’ll hit a fast food drive thru instead.”
The three men exchanged guilty looks before quietly standing from the booth.
Brexton could barely believe how embarrassed he felt.
The waitress simply stepped to the side, saying nothing as the four men made their way toward the entrance.
Just before reaching the door, Brexton stopped.
He reached into his wallet.
Without hesitation, he pulled out a crisp one hundred dollar bill.
Walking back toward her, he gently held it out.
She looked down at the money, then back into his eyes.
Their eyes met once more.
Neither of them looked away.
The noisy diner disappeared.
The conversations around them faded into nothing.
It felt as though the entire world had gone silent.
Brexton’s mind raced a hundred miles an hour.
Does she think I’m just like them?
Why does it feel like I’ve known those eyes forever?
Questions flooded his mind faster than he could answer them.
One thing, however, was certain.
He couldn’t leave without knowing who she was.
Brexton knew he had to learn the name of the woman whose angelic voice had managed to stop time.