The Men of CLE-FD updated by Unknown Page B

around the car throwing the gym bag in the backseat and starting the car.  The muscle roar of the car’s engine rumbled beneath his feet.  He loved fast cars and the mustang was his baby.  He’d restored the classic car to mint condition adding a few necessities such as a cd-changer and satellite radio.
    Orlando hit the switch letting the top lift and lower before putting it in gear.  He looked at Regan protecting her forehead from the rays of the sun beaming over her.  “Is the sun too much for you?”
     “Well, I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining, but the sun is sorta cooking my head and I don’t have one of those big floppy hats with me.”
    He reversed the lever retrieving the canvas top locking it in place.  He turned on the air conditioner full blast.  “I’m sorry.  The heat doesn’t bother me that much.”
    She adjusted the vents allowing the air to flow in her face.  “I do prefer summer, as opposed to winter but I get a little testy when the temps near ninety-degrees before noon.”
    “No problem.  The air should cool you and the car in a second,” he said pulling from the parking lot.
    Seated in a small-scale mom and pop diner Orlando found tucked away in a secluded corner of a strip mall, he eyed Regan.  He’d psyched himself into believing he wasn’t ready for a relationship, but he had not closed off to making a new friend.
    He studied her as she scanned over the breakfast menu.  He loved the natural beauty of black women.  Since most people assumed he was black and not Hispanic, he didn’t bother mentioning his heritage in casual conversation.  He wanted his success to come from the hard work he put into saving lives and not because affirmative action put him a position to climb the ladder.
    The waitress came to the table removing a pencil from the pocket of her apron.  “Good morning, Orlando, are you having the usual?”
    He folded the menu and slid it to the side of the table.  He always ordered the same thing when he ate at this establishment.  “Yes, Cathy; I’ll have my usual,” he said smiling at the cheerful young woman.  “Regan, do you know what you want or do you need a few minutes?”
    Regan looked over the top of the menu at him.  “It all looks so good.  May I have another minute to decide?”
    “Sure, take your time.”  He turned his attention to Cathy.  “So how is school, Cathy?”
    “Summer classes are a bummer.  I might not be able to lifeguard this summer at the pool.”
    “That sucks. This summer has been a scorcher bringing many people to the pool.  You were one of the best lifeguards there.”
    Cathy’s cute giggle drew Regan away from the menu and to their conversation. He and Cathy were obviously friendly enough to chat about their personal lives.  She sat the menu on top of Orlando’s waiting for the woman to stop talking and take her order.
    Cathy rested her hip against the table talking to Orlando.  “I learned to swim from the best.”
    “I’m flattered,” he said catching a glimpse of Regan from his peripheral vision.  “I think my friend is ready to order now.”
    Cathy put her pencil on the pad waiting to write.  “What can I get you?”
    Regan forced a smile.  “I’ll have the seasonal fruit platter, a plain toasted wheat bagel, and a glass of water.”
    Cathy finished taking the orders and walked away.  Orlando groaned.  “Please don’t tell me you are one of those women that won’t eat in front of men.”
    Regan shrugged her shoulders.  “I’m not one of those women.”
    “All you eat for breakfast is fruit and dry bread?”
    “When it’s this hot I eat light.  Anyhow, I just peddled a billion calories away at the gym.  I don’t want to that work to go to waste.”
    Orlando lowered his head rubbing his brows grumbling to himself, “Like you have to worry about getting fat.”
    “What did you say?”
    “Nothing worth repeating,” he said regaining composure.  “So, tell me about