Free Little Fish by Kari Ware Page A

really hadn't been to Calder. But in all truth, a lot of it had been Calder's own fault. Still, he seemed like he almost resented talking about our parents.
    "Divorce brings out the worst, y'know. I'll be right back." I waited silently, awkwardly, for him to dismiss me in some way, but he remained quiet. Gracelessly, I walked towards my next table to take the order of the elderly couple that had been sitting for nearly ten minutes waiting. From the corner of my eye I saw Leila rush by.
    "Can you get table twelve, Winnie?"
    "Not my section, Leila. I'm table ten down."
    She scoffed in irritation, so I ignored her as I scribbled down the breakfast orders being quickly prattled off to me. Calder was still sitting in front of his coffee, unmoving and silent as I rushed past him a couple more times. It wasn't until I spilled coffee all over an important-looking business man wearing a tie that looked about as expensive as my entire apartment that I couldn't help but notice him smirk at me from three booths down.
    "Oh, God, I'm so sorry! I can't believe-" But I really couldn't finish the sentence, because honestly, I could completely believe that I had just done that. He looked furious, but he was silent as he jumped out of his seat and looked down at the stain on his dark blue suit pants.
    "It's… alright." He finally stated, storming off towards the bathroom. My face was hot with embarrassment, and I put my palm to my head as Leila, almost on cue, brought out the mop for me. I think it made her feel less stupid to see me completely screw up. With a sigh I started mopping up my spill, and Calder came over and leaned across the back of the booth before me.
    "So…can I still play the big brother card or what? I don't really know how this works."
    I glanced at him through my eyelashes as I mopped. "Depends on what it is. I'm not doing your homework for you."
    "Ha." He replied, more of a word than a laugh. "Well actually, I have this party to go to this weekend. My boss's big four-oh. And since my girlfriend and I broke up a little bit ago, I need a date." He grinned wide, his perfectly aligned teeth staring me in the face. I sighed; it was like high school all over again.
    "Let me do some recon and I'll call you tonight, okay?"
    Calder brushed his hair back out of his face with his fingers. "I knew I missed you for a reason, Win. Cash is on the table. I'm glad to see your coffee-making skills have improved." He patted my shoulder as he walked past me, and I heard the bell on the door ring behind him as he left. Good to know you haven't changed a bit since we were teenagers, I thought to myself as I carried the mop and bucket back through the kitchen. I pinched the brim of my nose and leaned against the wall for a moment. I was ready for the day to be done.
    The man I spilled coffee on had obviously left while I was in back, but as I walked past the table I could help but notice the stack of crisp, green bills sitting on top of a napkin. I could clearly see four fifties, and I leaned over to nudge them aside as I looked at the note.
    Next time I would prefer to not be assaulted with hot coffee.

II.
    The next morning, I didn't go into work until eleven. I decided I'd let Calder treat me to coffee, since I was going to set him up with my neighbor Anna as a date for his stupid party. I wasn't bitter that he hadn't invited me, but I was a little miffed that at how juvenile he could make me feel. Like I was still his little sister whose life he'd make miserable if I couldn't find him a warm body to press up against for an hour or so. Which was hardly the case: I was the one that had let Calder into my life. It wasn't like I owed him anything. Still, it somewhat bothered me that I had so quickly fallen into this old routine. Some independent adult I was.
    I waited in my living room, lazily hanging my legs over the arm of the couch as I stared at the clock on my cellphone. 10:36, it read, and I couldn't help but sigh. How typical. He wasn't