Claiming Nina

by Leslie Johnson

  “Great. Come in at five and I’ll have one of the other waitresses run through the basics with you. But it shouldn’t be much different than what you’re used to. With your experience, you should be fine.”

  “Great,” I say, feeling sick. With my experience.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do. If you’re as good as I hope you’ll be, then there will be plenty of work here for you. What did you say your name was?” she asks.

  “Amanda,” I say shyly.

  “Nice to meet you, Amanda. And welcome to St. Simon’s.”

  It’s right on five, and I’m standing at the side door of the restaurant, shitting myself. I can barely think, I’m shaking so hard. This is the worst idea I’ve ever had. I lean against the wall, breathing deeply, trying to calm myself down. Please let this go off without a hitch. I need something to go right.

  “Are you going in?”

  I jump back, my heart racing. A girl about my age stands next to me, her hand etched on her hip as she frowns at me.

  “Yes, sorry, I was just working up the nerve,” I mutter.

  “Ah, you must be the new girl I had to come in half an hour earlier for,” she says, a knowing smile forming on her lips. Her long blonde hair is tied back in a messy ponytail, and her dark eyes sparkle as they stare at me.

  “Is it that obvious?” I mumble.

  She chuckles, narrowing her eyes at me. “Don’t stress, honey. It should be a piece of cake. With all your experience and all.” I feel my face heat up. She laughs and clasps her hands together. “I fucking knew it. You’re totally raw, aren’t you? As in, you have zero experience?”

  I must look like about to pass out, because she reaches forward and takes my hand.

  “Hey, don’t stress. Everyone lies on their resume. Just next time, maybe tone it down a little. But you’ll be fine. Especially with me showing you the ropes.” I smile, liking her already. “I’m Amber, by the way.”

  “Amanda,” I say, feeling more relaxed by the second. That is, until she motions for me to come inside. I follow her in and glance around, feeling overwhelmed. I don’t even know where to begin. She throws me an apron, which I wrap around my waist and tie up. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “Look, it’s really easy. You write down the order and then put the details in here, and press this.” I watch as she rings through an order, making the whole process look simple. She laughs again. “You’ll pick it up. Lily isn’t going to fire you on your first day.”

  “Lily seems nice,” I say. She seems understanding. As in, when she learns I’m the world’s worst waitress, she might not fire me.

  “She’s great. You couldn’t ask for a better boss.” She scans the room, and her face brightens. “Perfect first customer for you. Take those drinks to table seven. He’s a sweetheart, and he tips well. He’s always in early because of his kids.”

  She nudges me in the direction of table seven. I pick up the tray of drinks and walk over, praying I don’t make a fool of myself. I’m almost at the table when I look up and realize I’m staring into the eyes of the guy from the library.

  I stop, my hands wobbling as I lose my grip on the tray I’m holding. I cry out as I try to keep my balance, but it’s hopeless. I watch helplessly as the three drinks I’m carrying upend in the poor guy’s lap. The entire restaurant goes quiet, with everyone turning to see what the commotion is all about, while I stare at the ground, mortified and wishing I would just disappear.

  Oh shit.

  Four

  Adam

  I gasp, the freezing cold liquid coating not only my shirt, but my pants, my keys, and even my phone. The poor girl looks horrified as she rushes forward, grabbing a handful of napkins from off a nearby table and placing them on my crotch.

  “I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot,” she whispers. Her eyes widen and she jumps back when she realizes what she’s doing.

  “Don’t stress. It’s fine. It’ll dry. I’ve been wetter than this before.”

  Her eyes grow even wider, and I laugh because my comment had no sexual meaning at all until she gave it one. I stop laughing when I realize she’s on the verge of tears. I reach out and touch her hand.

  “Just relax. It’s fine. Just take a deep breath and calm down, okay? It’s really not a big deal.” She nods and yanks her hand away from mine.

  “Okay. I’m okay,” she mumbles, more to herself than me. She mutters something under her breath and then looks up at me, her dark eyes full of shame. “I’ll grab you a towel.”

  I study her as she rushes away. I don’t know what it is about her, but she has me intrigued. She has no accent, but I’m pretty sure she just swore at me in Russian.

  “Everything okay here?”

  I look up and see Lily. “Everything’s fine. Your new waitress just gave me shower,” I chuckle.

  “Oh God.” Lily winces. “Send me the dry cleaning bill, and I will fix it up.”

  I shake my head and scoff at her ridiculous suggestion. “You know I’m not going to do that, Lil. Seriously, I’ll run it through the machine and it’ll be as good as new.” She sits down in the vacant seat next to me and grins. “I sure know how to pick them, don’t I? I had a girl leave me yesterday because she ran off with her teacher.”

  “Don’t be too hard on her,” I say, nodding back at my waitress. “She seems like a good kid. What’s her story, anyway?”

  “I don’t really know much about her, to be honest,” she shrugs. “I haven’t seen her around. And I’m pretty sure I know everyone in this town.”

  “Because you’re always up in everyone else’s business?” I joke. She reaches across the table and slaps my arm, a throaty chuckle escaping from her lips.

  “Careful what you say there, Hoffman,” she warns, her green eyes sparkling. “I’ve got plenty on you, remember?”

  I don’t doubt that’s true for a second, considering the shit I used to get up to when I was a kid. Lily and I have been friends since grade school. That was one of the good things about coming back here. The few close friends that survived over the years were still just as strong.

  I turn my attention back to my mystery girl.

  “So, what’s her name?” I ask.

  “Who?” Lily asks, confused.

  “The waitress.”

  “That’s Amanda, Daddy,” pipes up my ever-helpful daughter. She stares at me with her wide eyes. “Don’t you remember her from the library?”

  “Tell me more, Sadie,” Lily says, flashing me an evil grin. “You met her already?”

  Sadie nods, her expression serious. “Daddy thought she was pretty.”

  “Really?” Lily laughs while I cut in to proclaim my innocence.

  “I did not say that,” I interject, scowling at Sadie. “You said she was pretty.”

  “Oh, so you don’t think she’s pretty?” Lily teases. “Why are you asking me about her, then?”

  I feel my face heat up. “I’m just taking an interest in the community. Is that so wrong?”

  “No, you’re taking an interest in Amanda,” Lily giggles, and Sadie joins in, while Mason rolls his eyes and busies himself with my phone.

  “Yes?”

  I look up and see Amanda standing there, towel in hand, looking panicked at the mention of her name. Lily smiles and gets to her feet, patting her on the arm.

  “Go take a five-minute break, and then come back and continue your shift. Don’t worry about this, okay? Aside from showering my customers in soda, you’re doing a good job.”

  The relief on her face is obvious. She nods and even manages a smile.

  “Thanks, Lily.” She turns to me. “And thank you too. I’m sorry for the unwanted shower.” She awkwardly hands me the towel, which I take—even though my pants are almost dry, thanks to her pat down.

  “Don’t mention it.” I grin. I hesitate, wanting to say something more, but she’s already gone.

  As she walks away, I glance at my kids, who are busy doing their own thi
ngs. If they weren’t here tonight, would I have asked her out? Technically, she does owe me a drink. I shake my head. Probably not. I’ve been out of the dating game for too long, and besides, I have to be ten years older than her. That would never end well.

  I look over at Amanda again as she sneaks out the side door, aware that I’m not the only one with my eyes on her. I reckon every guy in the place is checking her out too. A wave of jealousy hits me, and I have no idea where it came from. I don’t have any claim on her. Besides, I don’t even want a relationship.

  Relationships are complicated, and I’ve had enough complications to last me a lifetime.

  Five

  Nina

  It’s been nearly two weeks since I arrived at St. Simons, and the time has flown by. I can’t get over how satisfying it feels to collapse on my bed after a twelve-hour shift. It’s painstakingly hard work, and by the end of it I can barely move, but it’s all mine. It’s the most satisfying thing I’ve ever felt.

  I’ve been working my ass off, mainly because it keeps my mind off everything else, and the money is handy too. I’m putting away a portion of each pay so I can buy back my ring. I go in every day to make sure it’s still there. Yesterday he promised me he’d keep it until the end of the month. I know he just feels sorry for me, but the relief I felt hearing that was incredible. It was the first time I let myself relax since arriving here.

  I haven’t heard from Michael, nor have I heard anything from my father since I got here. I don’t know if either of those things are a good or bad sign. What worries me the most is that I emailed Michael the new number to the cheap cell I’d brought nearly ten days ago and I’ve heard nothing. No acknowledgment at all that he even got my email or anything. Maybe he didn’t want to risk answering me, but what if I got his address wrong? What if my father has done something to him and I don’t even know it? I shiver. There are so many unanswered questions, and that scares me, because I know how far my father would go to find me.

  All I can do is take it one day at a time and not get ahead of myself. I’m so thankful for Lily giving me a chance—or should I say, chance after chance. I’m sure I’ve stuffed up more times than she would usually forgive, but for some reason, she just keeps patiently letting things go. I’ve lost count of how many plates I’ve broken, but on the bright side, I’ve kept my drink soaking down to a minimum. I think about Adam and sigh. I haven’t seen him since that night, and, to be honest, I’m glad. Every interaction I’ve had with him has ended embarrassingly, so I hate to see what the next one will bring.

  “So, are you coming out with me tonight? I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  I turn and see Amber leaning against the counter, grinning at me. I open my mouth, but she stops me. “Nope. You’re coming. That’s it.”

  I laugh and throw my hands up. “Fine. Whatever.”

  Her eyes widen. “Holy shit that was easier than I was expecting,” she mutters.

  “Well, you didn’t give me much of a choice,” I point out. “So where are we going? Keep in mind I have an early shift tomorrow—”

  “No, you don’t. I had Lena swap with you. See? I thought of everything. Get changed and meet me back here at eight,” Amber says. “We’re going to have so much fun!”

  I stifle a groan and force myself to smile. “Can’t wait,” I say. I can’t believe I’ve agreed to this, but there is no backing out now.

  Right at eight, I stand out front of The Crab Shack waiting for Amber to arrive. I glance down at my outfit, worried that I’m underdressed. I’m wearing a pair of tight faded jeans that hug my hips snugly and a blush pink sweater that dips down low in the front showing a little bit of skin. With my limited clothing choices, it was either this or my crushed silk gown which is in desperate need of dry cleaning anyway. I really need to go shopping soon for some clothes. Thank God work has a uniform, otherwise it would be obvious I only own two outfits.

  I scan the street in both directions, wondering where she is. She’s barely even late, but I’m nervous, and when I’m nervous, I start to worry. I’m worried not only because of the situation I’m in, but also because it’s been that long since I’ve been out with a friend, that I don’t know how to act. Especially a female friend.

  Because of my sheltered upbringing, friends were kept to a minimum when I was growing up. Michael was pretty much my only friend right through my teenage years. I missed out on so many things that being a teenage girl is all about, from shopping with friends, to going to school dances, to sleepovers and of course, boyfriends. I’ve never even kissed a guy. How is that even possible at my age? I just have to not think about it and be myself. Well, as much as myself as I can be.

  “I was half expecting you to show up.”

  I look up and see Amber grinning at me. She looks hot in a short leather skirt and a cream-colored lace top. Her stilettos are so high that even though I have an inch on her in height, she’s towering over me. She links her arm through mine and leads me down the street.

  “So, where are we going?” I ask curiously.

  “To the only place worth going to in this town,” she giggles. “Wait, don’t tell Lily I said that. The only place besides The Crab Shack, of course.”

  I laugh and find myself relaxing. Amber is so easy to talk to that I can’t help but enjoy myself when I’m around her.

  “So, does this place have a name?”

  “Yes, it does! It’s called Drill. It’s just a funky little bar down by the water. The whole front opens right up, so it’s almost like you’re sitting out there on the sand. It’s really cool. You’ll love it, trust me.”

  “I’m sure I will.” I grin.

  “My boyfriend might stop by later. Are you seeing anyone?”

  “Nope.” I shake my head. “I don’t know too many people in town, other than you and those who I choose to coat in soda.”

  Amber chuckles. “You gave the rest of us a good laugh, so it was worth it, right?”

  “Sure”—I grin—“I’m glad you could benefit from my pain.”

  “So am I,” she giggles. “And it didn’t look like Adam was complaining too much.” She nudges me in the side, grinning like an idiot.

  “Adam,” I murmur. I blush when I realize I’ve said his name out loud. “Do you know him well?”

  “Not really. He’s sort of that much older than me that I didn’t have anything to do with him when he lived here before, and he’s kept to himself since coming back.” She thinks for a moment before continuing. “I do know his family though, and I know he’s been through a lot. His mother died last year of cancer. That was pretty sad and really hard on his Dad.”

  “It would be,” I mumble. I know what it’s like to lose a mother, so I find myself sympathizing with Adam.

  “Why all the questions about Adam?” she asks curiously. “There’s plenty of guys here who are around our age.” She grins, her eyes lighting up. “If you’re looking to hook up, I’m sure Jake will know someone—”

  “No,” I cut in, a little too harshly. “I’m not looking for any kind of relationship,” I assure her. “That’s partly why I left Chicago. To get away. I’m just enjoying being free at the moment. So, how long have you and Jake been together?”

  “Nearly three years.” She smiles.

  My attempt to redirect the conversation works, and for the next few minutes she gushes over Jake. I relax, only half listening to her talk as I think about Adam. I still have so many questions. Where is Sadie and Mason’s mother? Is he married? So many things I want to know that are really none of my business.

  Amber grabs my hand and pulls me through a narrow roller door, jolting me out of my daydream.

  “This is the place. You go get that table over there, and I’ll get us a round of drinks.”

  I walk through the crowded little shack, with my eyes on the table so I don’t lose sight of it. Music vibrates through my body, and although the place is louder than I’m used to, it’s got a really nice atmosphere. The way it’s
lit up outside, you can see the waves crashing against the sand in the distance. It’s really quite pretty, and just the smell of the fresh air is intoxicating.

  I sit down at the table and toss my bag under my chair. I like that we’re against the wall so I can people watch. I scan the room, crossing my arms over my chest, feeling slightly overdressed. Or maybe underdressed. I can’t decide. But everyone around me is wearing less than I am.

  Amber dances her way back through the crowd, her arms loaded up with drinks. In the short distance from the bar and back to me, she’s been hit on by four different guys. She brushes each of them off with a smile and a kind word. I can’t help but laugh. With her long blonde hair and stunning figure, I bet she gets hit on a lot. Jake must hate it.

  Michael would like this place. Back home, he was always trying to get me to sneak out and go places with him. The few times I did, I had fun, but the fear of getting caught by my father weighed down the whole night. It’s nice to be able to go out and relax and not have to worry about being watched, or how much of what I’m doing is going to filter back to my father.

  “Here you go. I didn’t know what you wanted, so I’m giving you options.” I laugh as she slams drink after drink down on the table, waving her arms in front of them. “Drink up, buttercup.” She winks.

  I laugh again and take the shot first, throwing it back in one gulp, just to calm my nerves. Pretty soon I’m feeling pumped and completely relaxed. It’s like all my worries have left me, and I’m just ready to have some fun. Amber takes my hand and leads me out to the dance floor. I don’t resist; instead, I dance around to the music, something I haven’t done in years.

  Half an hour later we’re still dancing and on our third round of drinks. I’m feeling tipsy, but having more fun than I ever thought I could. I feel a pang of guilt, because I shouldn’t be out enjoying myself like this, not when Michael went to such trouble to make this whole thing happen. I should be more careful and keeping a low profile. I glance around. There are at least half a dozen guys checking me out, which makes me feel uncomfortable. Anyone of them could be working for my father, and I’d be too intoxicated to pick up on the signs.