Chapter 295: Miss Me Sweetheart?
I pushed open the door to Jona’s Diner and stepped inside. The warm scent of grilled meat, butter, and herbs immediately washed over me.
It was a welcome change from the dry, dusty air of the desert. The place was far larger than I expected. The lobby alone had a polished wooden floor, dim golden lighting, and a wide staircase curling upward to the upper levels.
My eyes swept across the space. Families gathered around tables, couples whispered to each other in booths, and lone travelers sat at the bar nursing drinks. Everyone seemed relaxed—like they had nothing to fear.
A waitress approached, and I noticed her immediately.
She was beautiful, with shoulder-length dark red hair tied in a loose bun and eyes the color of amber. Her uniform was neatly pressed, and she moved with the kind of calm confidence that only came from doing something a thousand times.
"Good evening, sir," she said, offering a polite smile. "Table for one?"
"Yeah," I replied, returning her smile. "Also... if there’s any way to catch up on recent news, that’d be helpful. I’ve been a little out of the loop."
She tilted her head, curious but not intrusive. "Of course. I’ll get you a private table and something to watch the news on."
She turned and led me up the stairs to the second floor. I followed her through rows of tables until we reached a small, half-enclosed booth near the corner. It had a perfect view of the floor below while still giving me some privacy.
I slid into the seat. "Nice spot."
"I thought you’d like it," she said, her smile widening just a bit. "I’ll be right back with the tab."