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Lucy took a moment to think before shrugging. “Honestly? I don’t know. But I think it’d feel worse if he wasn’t in my life.” She admits. She knew it wasn’t logical, that it could easily lead to heartbreak but she hadn’t been the only one who’d suggested the possibilities of the future. “I know. And I appreciate that. I just, I’m not actively looking right now.”

Lucy smiled softly at her friend, deciding to set her bottle of wine down beside her instead of drinking anymore. “It’s okay. I’m happy to be his friend.” She answered honestly, more than happy to simply have him in her life in one way or another. “Anyway, a holiday is definitely needed. Sorry my love life brought down the mood.” She added with a laugh.

She smiled. He was being really sweet, and she really hoped that he was being as genuine as he sounded. It had been awhile since Riley had just had a normal conversation with someone her age that wasn’t a complaining coworker.

“They’ve honestly learned not to bother me more than they need to.” She waved her hand but then laughed. “No but really, we have an understanding that as long as no one is getting annoyed, I can do what I need to. I do write sometimes when the days are slower, but that’s rare.” She then started busying herself by making a fresh pot of decaf and regular, just to be safe.

“So tell me something about yourself that doesn’t involve work. I told you about my little writing hobby. I’ve got a dog… that’s something right?” he gave him a gentle smile.

He nods when she said they generally left her alone. He didn’t mind pausing the conversation while she saw to her other customers, deal with the coffee machine or anything else she needed to do. “You must be very good at your job if they allow you such freedom, I’ve heard of some horror stories from waitstaff before”  He was, of course, happy with how she was conducting herself but he was also probably bias given they were starting up a friendship. 

When she asked him to tell her something about himself that wasn’t work-related he had to take a minute to think about what he could tell her. Most of his life was work-related these days and the few things that weren’t, he liked to keep private. She did, however, share her book with him so it was probably only fair if he shared something private as well. “Erm... well, as I said 90 percent of my time is work... but... I do like to go to a little hole in the wall bar on its open mic night... to sing and play my guitar...” He said almost as if he was confessing to some horrible crime.

I definitely haven’t been holding out on you.” Lucy promised, it wasn’t as if much had happened there anyway, a single kiss and talk of possibilities but it wouldn’t work, she knew she wouldn’t exactly be a first choice. “He is still very much in love with his dead wife. I don’t think he’s ready for anything new.” She sighed before taking another drink. 

Lucy laughed at her friends reaction before shrugging her shoulders, taking a moment to take another drink from the bottle still in her hand. “I don’t know. I just, I’m open to the possibilities.” She explained, remembering the words she’d said to someone just a couple of days ago. “I kinda met someone on this consultancy job I was doing for a few months but I don’t know if anything is going to happen there.”

She smiled when realization dawned on him and laughed lightly with him. “Sorry, I’m making a fool of myself, aren’t I? Just trying to let you know that you’re, well, not a creep.” She made an awkward face but smiled through it.

Riley beamed at the compliment. “Thank you!” she said with a small bow. He went for another compliment and she flushed a little. He was so sweet, and she was such an idiot. “That would be a nice change of pace. You probably are well aware of how New York usually is regardless. Not many people like to just talk, ya know?” Riley tilted her head. “I hope I’m not putting you off by pressing though. I don’t mean it to help the business, let’s be real. But a friend would be… welcomed.” she admitted, a little hesitantly.

He shook his head when she asked if she was making a fool of herself. He didn’t think she was. When she said he wasn’t being a creep he laughed softly “Thank you, I appreciate that” who wouldn’t like being told they’re not a creep. 

He smiled softly when said she he probably knew how New York was. “I spend 90 percent of my time in a research lab... I’m not sure I’d be the best judge of how New York is... but I mean, I do live here..now”  so he knew a little bit what she meant. His smile got a little warmer as she continued to speak, she was being adorable. “I just don’t want to get you into trouble, but I’m happy to sit here and talk to you around your duties” he said before he took another sip of his tea. 

“It’ll be fantastic indeed.” Lucy was excited, she already had a million things planned, there were many historic landmarks she was hoping to see. “Oh, I don’t know if I’d be interested in a fling. I kinda feel like if I’m going to start anything I want it to last.”

His explanation made her feel a little more comfortable, if that was possible. She’d already explained her main hustle whilst at her side-hustle, so-to-speak. With him being a researcher, he had to have at least one or two degrees under his belt to be so far into the field, she knew. They were more alike than she’s initially anticipated, but it was welcomed.

Then he kissed her hand and her face warmed. She bit her bottom lip when he apologized, almost feeling ridiculous for being a little wooed… almost. But she smiled. “Honestly, I’m flattered,” she admitted easily. “Nice change of pace from guys just looking for… well, you know.” she said, waving her hand. Okay now she was embarrassing herself and she nearly covered her face.

She nodded, grinning widely. “By Jove, you’ve got it!” she exclaimed, feigning her pretty-decent British accent and excitement. She laughed more fully before studying his eyes. “I see, I see…. Well maybe you’ll stop in more often?”

He smiled softly when she said she was flattered, it hadn’t been his intention but it was a nice by-product all the same. When she said it was a nice change from ‘you know’ he frowned in confusion for a moment before understanding dawned on his face “Oh... men, am I right” he chuckled softly.  It’s not that he didn’t find her attractive and lovely to talk to, it’s just Del usually took things a lot slower if he got the courage to act on such things at all. 

He laughed when she adopted a British accent “That was very good” She clearly was a woman of many talents. At her question, he smiled shyly “Perhaps I will, now that I know the tea is agreeable and the company is so charming” Although he was very aware that she was working so he needed to be respectful of that.

“Del,” she said, turning over the name in her mouth, “now that’s a new one.” She held out her hand over the counter. “A pleasure to meet you.” She added a dopey grin for the hell of it. He seemed nice enough, bothering to listen to her.

“And my last name isn’t too bad,” she said, trying to help a guy out. “Just a bunch of words and names slapped together. Like if it were… O’Riley or something. Nat - O - Chen - Y,” she enunciated.

“So, Del,” she started, “how come this is the first time I’ve seen you here? If you work close by, and I work here, I’d think I’d have seen you around. It’s not that  big of a city.” she joked.

“Well it’s a nickname because Wendell is a bit too snooty for my liking” he said with a soft shrug.  When she extended her hand towards him, he smiled softly and took her hand but rather than shaking it, he leaned in to brush his lips over the back of her head, if she let him that is “Sorry, old habits do in fact die hard it would seem” he said as he settled back into his chair and released her hand if she hadn’t pulled it out of his grasp already. 

As she broke down her name for him, he silently mouthed each component before he tried it out “Nat-O-Chen-Y.. Natochenny, is that right?” He said it a little differently to her given his accent but it was almost perfect.  When she asked why they hadn’t crossed paths before he chuckles softly with a shrug. “The fact that I haven’t been in here before probably has something to do with that... I usually stop at the bus stop a few buildings down... but today I didn’t want to wait until I got home for some tea so I decided to come in here”

“To an extent, it’s the same with novelists,” she explained. “You’ve gotta have your elevator pitch, plot, summary, et cetera. All of that is different ways of bragging about what the book’s about. Some ways are harder than others.” She remembered her long hours in a lab, documenting her findings, working on that damn degree that amounted to nothing.

She watched him as he listened to her ramble a bit about the book… the one she wished she could finish sometime soon. She got excited when he seemed to actually be interested. She beamed and tapped her nametag but put out her hand to him. “Riley… Riley Natochenny. And you are…?”

He nods when she said it was basically the same for novelists, it made sense that it would be. A different sort of bragging or promoting but more or less the same.  

When she motioned to her name badge his gaze would follow the movement and read over the name she pointed to. He nodded softly as his gaze went back to her face. He had noticed the badge but he also knew some waitresses didn’t use their actual names on the badges for privacy reasons. “It’s a pleasure to met you, Riley... I won’t attempt your last name, you don’t deserve me butchering it” he chuckled softly. “I’m Del.. erm.. Wendell Durward, but I usually just go by Del” He was a lot more relaxed about such things than his parents. He was also technically a doctor but again, he didn’t feel the need to mention that as often as most of his colleagues did.

Riley smiled, delighted to know he was actually interested in her. It was pretty rare that a customer as about their server and how they were doing. But this guy seemed smart… and - though she hated to admit - a little charming.

Riley scrunched her face in amusement. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” she said. Then, she chuckled. “Alright, I don’t think there’s a writer in this world that doesn’t want to brag about their manuscript….”

“It’s a crime novel about a deaf girl that witnesses a child kidnapping. She tries to solve it on her own because she was so moved by it, but then a P.I. crosses paths with her investigating the case and they team up.” She blushed and wrinkled her nose. “Kinda corny, isn’t it?”

He chuckled as she pulled a face and made that comment, yes he would like to know but not for nefarious reasons. He smiled when she asked what writer doesn’t want to brag just a little “I don’t know of any... mind you the writers I know write medical papers and bragging about their discoveries is kind of part of being published” 

When she told him about her story he sat there sipping his tea and grinning because she was sharing her idea with him and that made him feel special. He chuckled softly when she said it all sounded corny “I wouldn’t say it was corny, it sounds like a good story with a really intriguing twist, having the young girl being deaf, you’ll have to tell me your name so I’ll know it's your book once it’s published, or whatever name you’re planning on publishing it under” 

“I will keep an open mind about it.” Lucy promised. “But I can’t make any guarantees.” She was first to admit that she was very cautious, that events in her life had lead to her wanting to be in control at all times and that she wasn’t exactly comfortable with not being in control.  “I mean, I would have to see what happened. It would depend on the exact situation.”

Riley listened to his plight intently. She genuinely felt for the guy. She hoped that someday, his efforts would actually bore fruit. She frowned when he said how frustrating it was. Then he agreed in that he seemed to understand her antics, and she smiled. He was as smart as he claimed then.

“Wasn’t always a waitress,” she said as she shuffled around. “Had some relationship issues, felt the burnout of heathcare… quit.” she said bluntly. “I realized there’s more I can do to help people than be directly involved in their care. So I left… became a waitress… while I work on my novel.” She tapped her nose. “But that’ll be our little secret.”

He sat there quietly sipping his tea while she told him a little bit more about herself. He wasn’t surprised that she had been in healthcare before, she seemed to be a very open and caring person who knew how to read people. Granted Waitresses would probably pick up the reading people skills in their line of work as well but they weren’t always welcoming like she was.

His brows went up in surprise and awe when she mentioned she was writing a book. “Do I get to hear what the book is about, seeing as I’m sworn to secrecy?” He would understand if she said no, but he thought he would ask because it was an intriguing comment.

She hated to admit it, but he was a little charming. Clearly he was smart, and he appeared pretty noble if what he was saying was true (and to her knowledge, it was). “So if you’re researching a cure, what’s a day in the life like? And what could make it so bad? I mean, it kind of comes with the territory that you won’t find the next step in the cure everyday, am I right?”

She gave him a smile. “But what do I know? I’m just a waitress.” she said with an eye roll. She held up a finger to excuse herself for a moment. She took someone’s order a little down the counter before coming back to the coffee machine near him. She turned back to him. “But you know better than that, don’t you?”

He smiled softly when she asked about his work and actually seemed interested in it, of course, she could just be being nice but he didn’t think that was the case. “There is a lot of reading involved and trial and error in experiments and tests on affected cells. And I know I’m not going to make a breakthrough right away or take a step in the right direction towards a cure every day but today three of my long-running tests yielded unsatisfactory results which set me back to almost square one again... it’s just been a frustrating day is all” he sighed deeply before taking a mouthful of his tea.

He quirked a brow when she said she was just a waitress, he didn’t know her at all really but that didn’t sound right. Waitressing was her job he couldn’t deny that but she seemed to be so much more than that. When she turned it back on him like that he blinked a little surprised at her question before he nodded ever so slightly “I believe I do” he wasn’t really sure what she was asking or why he felt the way he did but he had learned to trust his gut feeling and instincts.

“I’ll live a little with the cheese and the wine and all of the pastries.” Lucy admitted with a laugh before taking another sip out of the bottle of wine she still had clutched in her hand. “Though I draw the line at eating things we usually try to keep out of our gardens.”

She pursed her lips slightly and smiled. “Always had a thing for British accents. I’ve gotten pretty good at deciphering between north and south ones too.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Judging by the ‘bless you’ comment, I’d say my money was on the right end of the bet.”

“Lupus?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. “Normally when I hear someone doing research for a cure, it’s cancer or AIDS or… I don’t know, sickle cell anemia. What made you do that?”

He smiled softly at her accent comment, he never really knew how to respond to it given that he had had no say in him developing one. “Well, the schools I attended were in the Eastern region of England... about two hours from London.. so I suppose I have more of a Southern accent than a Nothern one” The schools he had been enrolled in had given him the stereotypical well educated wealthy Englishmen accent. 

He nods in agreement when she comments on being right about his day, she certainly wasn’t wrong. He took another sip of his tea while she asked about his research. “Lupus is somewhat common but it’s not widely known about... and as you said, Cancer, AIDS, and even sickle cell anemia have people researching them with foundations and charities set up to help those unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with them... lupus has next to no one trying to help its victims, so I figured I would try” 

At his reply, she turned her back to him to get the tea. “You got it.” she said, getting the water warm. As she busied herself, she asked over her shoulder, “Not from around here, are you?”

She turned back to him and put the mug with the tea bag in front of him. “You seem like you’be had a longer day than me. Part of my job is listening, so…” she shrugged with a gentle smile.

He smiled a little wider when she started to get him some tea. Her question made him pause though “Technically I am, I’ve just spent more time abroad than at home” He said with a soft shrug. She wasn’t the first to ask him something like that and she probably wouldn’t be the last.

He sighed with relief when the beverage was put down before him “Bless you”  It was said as a thank you as he picked up the mug and took a sip of the hot liquid. Her next comment made him blink a little “Is it that obvious?” he asked as he slowly lowered his mug back to the counter.  “It’s nothing really... I’m just researching cures for Lupus but I hit a few dead ends today, it’s a touch  disheartening”