1
Omniscient POV
Moving back to Baton Rouge wasn't exactly part of the plan.
After leaving during his freshman year, Mir never thought he'd end up right back where he started. Life had a funny way of humbling people though.
For the past few weeks, he'd been crashing at his best friend's apartment while trying to get his life together. Filling out applications. Getting turned down. Filling out more.
Finally, his best friend came through.
"I got you a job."
Those four words took a weight off Mir's shoulders.
It wasn't nothing fancy—a server at a restaurant—but a job was a job.
And today was his first day.
⸻
The dinner rush had just started.
Plates clinked together.
The hostess hurried customers to their tables while servers squeezed past each other with trays balanced on one hand.
"Behind."
"Heard."
"Table twelve need ranch."
Mir looked around, trying to take everything in without looking lost.
His manager walked by, patting him on the shoulder.
"You'll be aight. Just smile and don't forget to write the order down."
Mir laughed.
"I got you."
His manager pointed toward a booth near the windows.
"Your table."
Mir grabbed his notepad, straightened his apron, and made his way over.
A woman with long curls sat across from a tall man dressed in all black. They looked comfortable together, laughing about something before Mir reached the table.
He smiled.
"How y'all doin' this afternoon?"
"We good," the woman answered with a smile.
"What can I get started for y'all?"
Instead of opening the menu, she looked up at him.
"..."
Mir blinked.
"My bad," she laughed. "You fine."
A smile slipped across Mir's face.
"Appreciate it."
"I ain't never seen you here before."
"First week."
"I knew it."
She nodded like she'd solved a mystery.
"Ain't no way I'd forget a face like yours."
Mir looked down at his notepad, trying not to smile too hard.
"I just moved back."
"Oh, so you ain't from Baton Rouge?"
"Nah. I'm from here. I had moved away for a minute."
"Makes sense."
She stuck her hand out.
"I'm Sage."
Mir shook it.
"Mir."
"Just Mir?"
"Sahmir."
"Oh okay Mir."
Before he could answer, the man across from her finally spoke.
"You gon' let the man do his job or you finna flirt with him all night?"
Sage rolled her eyes.
"I'm multitaskin'."
Then she looked back at Mir.
"My bad."
She pointed across the table.
"This my boyfriend, Enzo."
Enzo looked up from the menu and gave Mir a small nod.
"What's good?"
"How you doin'?"
"I'm straight."
That was about all Enzo said.
He leaned back in the booth, watching the conversation without saying much, his expression hard to read.
Yeah... this nigga definitely think I'm tryna steal his girl.
Sage caught Mir glancing at Enzo and laughed.
"Don't mind him."
"I ain't say nothin'," Enzo muttered.
"You ain't gotta. Your face do enough."
Mir laughed.
Enzo shook his head.
"Whatever."
"Aight," Sage said, finally opening the menu. "Lemme get the blackened salmon, loaded mashed potatoes, and a sweet tea."
Mir wrote it down.
"And for you?"
Enzo closed his menu.
"Ribeye. Medium. Mac and cheese. Asparagus."
"What you drinkin'?"
"Water."
Mir nodded.
"I'll have that out in a few."
He tucked the notepad into his apron.
"Y'all enjoy."
As he walked away, Sage watched him disappear through the kitchen doors.
"He cute."
Enzo reached for his water.
"I can see."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
"You think he cute?"
Enzo looked toward the kitchen.
"...He straight."
Sage laughed.
"'He straight' mean yes."
Enzo smirked into his glass.
"I ain't say all that."
About twenty minutes later, Mir walked back over balancing two plates.
"Blackened salmon."
He carefully set Sage's plate down.
"Loaded mashed potatoes."
Then he placed Enzo's plate in front of him.
"Ribeye. Medium. Mac and cheese. Asparagus."
"Appreciate you," Enzo said.
"My pleasure."
Mir started to walk away.
"Hey."
He turned around.
"Yeah?"
Sage smiled.
"Can I get your number?"
Mir froze for half a second.
His eyes shifted from Sage...
...to Enzo...
...then back to Sage.
I don't know what kinda freaky shit they got goin' on... but she fine, so I'ma go with it.
He reached into his apron.
"Yeah, fasho."
He pulled out his notepad, scribbled his number across the top sheet, tore it out, and handed it to her.
"There you go."
Sage folded the paper before slipping it into her purse.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
Mir smiled.
"Aight then... y'all enjoy y'all food. Have a great afternoon."
"You too," Sage called after him.
Mir walked off to greet another table.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Enzo looked across the booth.
"You waste no time."
Sage shrugged then grinned.
"I know."
Enzo shook his head.
Later that evening, Mir finally clocked out.
His feet hurt.
His back hurt.
But...
First day wasn't too bad.
After getting home, he showered, threw on a pair of basketball shorts and an old T-shirt, then flopped across his bed.
His phone rested against his chest while he mindlessly scrolled through Instagram.
A few minutes later—
Buzz.
A text.
Unknown Number.
748--***
Is this Sahmir?
Mir frowned.
Who...
He unlocked his phone.
Mir
Yeah. Who's asking?
Three dots popped up almost immediately.
748--***
Hi 😊 this Sage from the restaurant.
Mir laughed under his breath.
Damn... she actually texted me.
He started typing.
Mir
Oh yeah 😂 I remember you.
Another bubble appeared almost instantly.
Sage
Good lol. I was makin' sure you ain't gave me a fake number.
Mir smiled.
Nah... she funny
