The Waiter Part 2

Part 1 here -

Beth had taken a little bit more care over her appearance than she’d meant to. What was she doing? She was falling into the trap. Her friends would scoff if they could see her now. She'd usually laugh at women like her, but here she was, sitting in a cafe like a stupid cow waiting for a boy half her age to take advantage of her. Madness. 
She looked around the cafe, she was the only person sitting on her own yet the only one not engrossed in their mobile phone. What was the world coming to? She tried to smile, put negative thoughts out of her mind; she didn't want the forlorn look of a constipated dog on her face when the waiter walked in.

She’d worked out a strategy while she was getting ready; she’d entertain him, let him show her the town but not charm her into bed, she’d pay for his coffee, maybe a meal but she wouldn’t let him milk her dry. She knew the game and would play it by her rules. Mind you in her mind she’d decided not to accept his invite just an hour or so ago yet her mouth had betrayed her. So no matter what decisions she made now, she didn't know if they'd hold up under the scrutiny of his eyes and his smile.

She smiled when she saw him enter the café, he’d changed into his civvies and he looked even younger. No doubt people would think she was his mother, or they would if it were not so obvious he was her toy boy. She felt herself blush as the words crossed her mind like a neon sign. He smiled at her and sat down opposite her signalling to the waiter.

They drank coffee and chatted. Beth laughed at Adin’s attempt at pronouncing her name. Betting Betan, Beton, he just couldn’t do the th sound for the life of him. But other than her name, his English was really good. He explained he was working at the hotel to fund his way through college. He was training to be a journalist. He was not what she expected at all to be honest. He was kind of shy, his voice soft, his face blushed as he struggled with her name. He asked loads of questions and actually was listening to answers and when their coffees were empty he paid for the drinks himself and then offered a walk.

Town looked different with a local guide; he pointed out things she hadn’t noticed, took her down streets she never would have walked down and then suggested going to a restaurant she never would have known was there. It was only after a while that she realised she was smiling and laughing. Adin had stopped asking questions and started telling stories and anecdotes, his initial shyness receding as he relaxed.

The meal was fantastic and at the end he again insisted he would pay, although Beth was sure that there was a nod and a wink with the staff working there. Whatever, this was not in the script, surely she was meant to be his benefactor not the other way around. He was up to something, something didn’t chime quite right. But what was it? 
The afternoon involved more walking, more stories and more coffee, this time Beth insisted on paying. Then Adin walked her back to the hotel and they said their goodbyes.

The bleep of her phone roused her from her slumber, she’d been snoozing contentedly after a tiring day. She’d been a bit disappointed, even offended that he’d not even tried to kiss her, let alone get into her hotel room. He’d been the perfect gentleman. Was there something wrong with her? Did he not find her attractive? But as she lay here now building up the strength to look at her phone and see the message from that sleazeball back home, she was actually glad there’d been no physical contact, he’d made her feel special without making her feel sleazy.

She picked up her phone and smiled at the message on the screen. It wasn’t from sleazeball, it was from Adin.

‘Thank you for a lovely day.’

The smiled broadened at the next line.

‘What would happen if I’d kissed you?’

‘I’d have melted in your arms, my boy, I’d have melted in your arms.’  She said to no one in particular.