Love Like Crazy

by Crystal B. Bright

  Clinton shook his head and moved on to another task. Good. She needed the break. Morning couldn’t come fast enough.

  At the end of their shift, Avery stretched her arms over her head. She so wanted to go to her apartment and take a nap. Too bad she had another job to go to right after she put all the cleaning supplies away. With classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, working overnight during the weekdays cleaning office buildings with her father, and work at Uncle Pig’s almost every day, it left little time for Avery to rest or even think sometimes. The busy schedule also kept her out of trouble. Left to her own devices, she could get into some things that would make her parents sigh heavily.

  “I hope you don’t think we’re done with our conversation.” Clinton pushed his cart into the closet on the first floor, then did the same with Avery’s.

  “Conversation? Doesn’t that involve two or more people talking?” Without sleep, Avery could be very snarky.

  “Fine. Just listen. I don’t want you coming here to clean with me anymore.” He shook his head. “It’s too dangerous.”

  Avery crossed her arms over her chest. “It isn’t. Nothing happened. I walked into the bathroom. I didn’t hear him in there. He apologized for scaring me, and you came in on the rest.” She would leave out his proposition and the fact that her heart had pounded so hard she thought it would come crashing through her rib cage.

  “I’m not talking about him. I know you can handle yourself.” Clinton put his hand on Avery’s shoulder. “I’m talking about getting your hopes up that you can be a part of all this. You can’t. You know that, right?”

  Avery tried smiling for her father to give him some assurance that his warnings had gotten through to her. Like Laz had said, she wanted to dream about the possibilities, both as a singer and as someone who could be on that man’s arm.

  “Dad, I’m fine.” She patted his hand. “I’m down to my last few weeks of school before I graduate. I’m paying my bills on time. I’m not on drugs. And on a good day, I remember to floss my teeth.”

  Clinton chuckled.

  At least she had gotten her father to loosen up a bit. “I didn’t pay attention to anything that man said, and you shouldn’t either.”

  She unzipped her coveralls and stepped out of them. Her clothing underneath didn’t smell like chemicals. Avery would be fine going straight to the diner. She could do her four-hour shift and then zonk out at home.

  “And I’m not going to let you do this building alone. For one, it’s not safe for you.” Avery pointed to her father. “And second, I need the money.”

  “I’ll still pay you.”

  Avery shook her head. “You’ll pay me when I earn it. I don’t want money for work I’m not doing.” She held her father’s hand. “Trust me when I say that I’ll be fine.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to go to the diner.”

  “You work too hard. You should slow down.” Clinton walked with Avery to the back door.

  “Work hard, play hard, right?” She smiled.

  “No playing until you have that degree and better-paying job.” He kissed her cheek. “Coming over for dinner tonight before we have to work?”

  Avery did miss seeing her mother, and she longed for a great home-cooked meal. She had to remember her studies and other obligations. She barely squeaked by on that pop quiz.

  “Probably not. Maybe Sunday night.” She threw her coveralls in the backseat of her car before she pulled off and headed to job number two.

  By the time she arrived at Uncle Pig’s Diner, the place had already opened and customers filled the dining room. That meant Pig would be squealing mad that she arrived a hair late.

  Avery darted through the front door to the back area where she locked up her purse and grabbed her apron.

  “You’re late.” Pig stood in the doorway leading to the dining room.

  “No I’m not. I’m really early for my next shift.” Levity would have to help her in this situation.

  Avery approached him so that she could get to work. “I’m sorry, but I am here.” She wanted to couple that statement with the fact that she could barely stand and needed ten years of sleep.

  Pig took a step to the side, which, for a normal-sized man, would have allowed her to get by without any problems. With him, she still had to brush against his protruding belly.

  “Hurry up. We’re drowning,” Mona said to Avery when she passed her.

  Avery grabbed her pad and pen before going out to the dining room area.

  Graciela snagged Avery first. “You get the back area.”

  Avery rolled her eyes. “Not again.” She shifted back and forth in her spot and almost felt like a moody child. “I don’t mind taking that if I can also get the bar.”

  “No can do.” Mona shook her head. “That’s my spot.”

  “Hey, this is what happens when you roll in late.” Graciela shrugged. “You lose the best tables, although…” She looked secretive as she leaned in close to Avery. “You have a special surprise in your area. It almost made me change my mind about giving it up to you.”

  “What? Lottery winner sitting in that section or something?” Avery laughed.

  “Oh, this guy definitely won the good-looks lottery.” Graciela fanned her face. “I don’t know if you noticed this hot guy at Songbirds that night we were there. He’s here.” She nodded over to the section that Avery would be serving.

  Avery gasped as soon as she saw Laz Kyson sitting at a small two-seater table near the back corner of the restaurant. He kept his head down like the weight of the world hung on his shoulders. Even distressed, he looked good.

  “I tried hard to get him to sit in my section, but he said he needed coffee and quiet.” Graciela sighed. “At least you can look at him.”

  Avery kept her stare on him. No way could she run from him now.

  * * * *

  Laz couldn’t believe his dumb luck. He had driven from New York down to Virginia, making sure to hit as many clubs and bars that he could to find some talent. Who knew he would find the one person he wanted to get in the men’s room at Charisma Music. Then he messed it up. He came on too strong with Avery.

  Avery. What a sexy beast, even in her janitorial attire and without a stitch of makeup. He could only imagine what she would look like if given over to a stylist team. Hair, makeup, wardrobe. She would go from sexy to stunning.

  Her looks didn’t top the thing that made her incredible. Laz could still hear her melodic voice in his head. The first time in a long time, he thought about the possibilities with her, beyond work. Would she date him?

  Laz shook his head. He didn’t do this trip to find someone. He had a job to do, and a job to capture.

  “Welcome to Uncle Pig’s.”

  Laz heard the woman’s voice but continued keeping his head down.

  “The specials today are strawberry pancakes combo, and a chorizo-and-egg burrito meal.”

  He didn’t respond. Neither sounded good to him, but he had lost his appetite the day Kat accused him of sexually assaulting her. Losing Destiny Starr really wrenched his desire for food. He couldn’t stomach much more.

  He only decided to come to this nearby diner to keep from holing himself up in his hotel room. Maybe he should go visit his father and sister on his way back home. He hated retreating, especially before meeting with Chantel and Truman, but he would have to this time.

  “Something to drink? Coffee? Tea?”

  This one wouldn’t let up.

  “Coffee. Black.” He rubbed his forehead.

  “Coming right up. I’ll give you time to look over the menu.”

  She left before Laz could tell her that he didn’t need anything to eat. After downing what he suspected would be substandard coffee, probably lukewarm to boot, he would head back to Charisma.

  Part of him still wanted to meet with Chantel a
nd Truman. If he could get to that powerful duo, he could show them his passion. Another part of himself longed to see Avery again. Who knew a janitor would get him thinking about romance?

  Laz heard the mug hit the table before the soothing coffee aroma wafted up to his nose. He finally sat up to acknowledge the patient waitress.

  “Thank you for…” He stopped when he saw who had been serving him. “Avery?”

  She blinked. “You remembered my name, or…” She peered down at the plastic nametag in the shape of a pig bending over that she had pinned to her apron.

  Laz shook his head. “No. I remember you.” He looked around the place. “I swear to you. I didn’t know you worked here. I’m not stalking you.” He held his hand up to her like a shield or barrier.

  He didn’t need this woman accusing him of wrongdoing.

  She nodded. “I know. I guessed.” A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “This is the first time you’ve looked up since I’ve been in here today. Rough night?”

  “Probably easier than yours.” He lied to her. Laz had spent the night alone in his hotel room thinking about the voice that had him spellbound and the woman who had him mesmerized. “I got to get some sleep.” She didn’t need to know he only managed to get an hour of sleep at the most. “Did you work all night and come straight here?”

  “Yeah.” She shrugged. She peered off to the side, and then quickly brought her attention back to Laz.

  Laz looked in the same direction she had. He spotted a big, burly man who looked like a bouncer the way he sneered at Avery.

  “You still look as beautiful now as you did last night.” He topped his sincere compliment with a wink.

  Avery studied him for a while. “Does that normally work?” She waved her pencil at him.

  “What?”

  “The fake come-on line.”

  Laz blinked. “You don’t think I meant it?”

  She snickered. “Last night I was in old coveralls. Today I’m wearing the outfit that the coveralls hid and no makeup.”

  He smiled. “And yet, I can’t stop staring at you.”

  That confession got her to stare at him for a long time while her cheeks filled with a soft rose color. She had a fresh, easy beauty about her. Soft curls surrounded her face with delicate features and the most expressive eyes he had ever seen.

  “Did you mean all that stuff you said last night about being in the music industry?” Avery stepped closer to him.

  Laz’s heart started pounding the closer she got to him. “Yes. I’m looking for the next big thing in music. I think—no, I know— you are that person if that was you singing in the bathroom. Was it? And are you Destiny Starr?”

  Avery waited a beat before she finally answered. “Yeah, but everyone sounds great in a bathroom.” She chuckled. “It’s the acoustics.”

  Laz shook his head. “No, they don’t. Trust me.” He turned his full body to her. “What about my other question?”

  She shrugged. “What about it?”

  “Are you Destiny Starr?”

  Avery chewed on her lower lip before glancing to the left and right. “I hadn’t heard that name in a couple years.” She glared at him. “You’re a little late, aren’t you?”

  Story of Laz’s life. “I got caught up in a lot of different things. I found your disc in a box with other discs. Even without a flashy cover, I chose yours to listen to. Believe me. I listened.” He tapped his ear. “You have a gift. Have you ever thought about singing as a career, not just a way to pass the time?”

  Avery smiled. As she opened her mouth to speak, the wannabe bodyguard waddled over to her. “Lots of other tables in here. Get his order and let’s go.”

  Oh, so Avery’s boss. He definitely fit the name of Uncle Pig. Before leaving her, he gave her a hard smack on her backside. It sounded like a wooden paddle slapping a slab of raw meat.

  Laz thought maybe Avery and this guy must have been an item, until he noticed the disgusted look on her face.

  Before he could stop himself, Laz bolted to his feet and grabbed the large man’s shoulder to turn him around. “You owe her an apology.”

  “What?” The big man scrunched up his face, making his nostrils look like a pig snout.

  “You touched her inappropriately.”

  “I touched her what?” He sniffed and it sounded like a snort.

  Laz got in the cretin’s face and gritted his teeth. “You smacked her ass. Apologize or—”

  The piggy idiot stepped up closer to Laz. “Or what?”

  Faster than Laz could stop himself, he spun the asshole around, grabbed one of his arms, and turned it up behind his back as he pressed him against the wall. It amazed him how fast his wrestling training from high school and college came back to him. He kept his feet planted in a wide stance to give him more leverage.

  “I was going to give you the easy-way-or-hard-way speech, but you gave me no choice.” Laz wrenched the guy’s meaty arm up higher, making the pig dance on his tiptoes.

  “Are you insane? Let me go!” Pig man whipped his head back and forth to try and get a good look at Laz.

  Just like a pig, he couldn’t twist his head far enough or lift it up high enough to see Laz’s face. Because of the layer of sweat covering him, Laz wouldn’t be able to hold on to him much longer.

  Laz felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see Avery, looking concerned.

  “Let Uncle Pig go. It’s okay.” She tugged on Laz’s arm.

  Laz shook his head. “I don’t really know you, but even I could tell you didn’t like him putting his hand on you.” For good measure, he pulled up Uncle Pig’s arm, making him cry out.

  “Shit. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Okay?”

  Laz let his arm go and took a couple of steps back, keeping his stare on him in case he tried anything. In that moment, he realized that the inside of the place had gone deathly silent. He heard the sizzle coming from the grill in the open kitchen and smelled bacon on the verge of burning in the air.

  He didn’t dare turn around to look at the diners’ reactions, but he could feel their stares on the back of his head.

  Uncle Pig waved his arm around as he rubbed his shoulder. “You’re crazy. I ought to call the police on you.”

  Laz nodded. “You do that. I’ll tell them that you touched your employee in a manner that made her feel uncomfortable, and then threatened a paying customer.”

  Too bad he didn’t have his cell phone out to record this moment.

  “Former employee.” Uncle Pig glared at Avery. “Get your shit and get out of here.” He pointed to the door, but winced when he raised his arm in the air. Then he glared at Laz. “And I have a sign on the door that says I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. You can carry your ass out of here, too.”

  Laz snickered. “Yeah, like I would stay.”

  “Wait. I don’t know this guy. I didn’t tell him to do that to you.” Avery tried making her appeal.

  The way Uncle Pig walked by her, he made it obvious he didn’t want to hear anything she had to say. “I’ll mail your final paycheck. Get the hell out of here. Now.”

  Avery stared at her now former boss as he sauntered away before she turned back to Laz. She growled at him as she removed her apron and threw it in his face.

  After disappearing through a set of double doors, the waitress who had seated him when he came in the diner approached him. “She’s getting her stuff, and I’m pretty sure she’ll leave out the back door.” She smiled a little. “Her car is crappy so I don’t think she’ll go very far very fast.”

  Laz went through the front door and headed around the back of the diner. Just as the waitress had predicted, Avery stormed over to an older model Ford. Once at the car, she kicked the tire before unlocking the door and going inside.

  She managed to slam the door closed before Laz could g
et to her.

  He tapped on the window. “Come on. Roll the window down or come out.”

  “Go away.” Avery turned the key in the ignition. “Bad stuff happens whenever you’re around.”

  The car sounded like it wanted to start, but didn’t. It didn’t even sputter. It gave her false hope that eventually it would turn over and allow her to leave. If Laz had to block her path to keep her from escaping, he would.

  Laz put his hand to his chest. “Did I do something wrong?”

  The question got a hard glare from her. She jumped out of the car. “I don’t know who you are.”

  “Laz Kyson.” He extended his hand to shake hers.

  Avery ignored the gesture and instead put her fists to her hips. “And I don’t care who you are.”

  He lowered his hand but remained in his spot, studying her.

  “Yes, that was a crappy job, and, yes, I hated that jerk putting his hand on my ass. And, sure, I dreamed about quitting this dive someday. But it paid me. I got tips. Now I have nothing.” She put her hand to her forehead. “No, I have rent and bills and school expenses.” She cursed again under her breath.

  “You have your dignity. I think that’s worth a lot.” He moved in closer to her.

  “My dignity won’t put a roof over my head, and I am not moving back in with my parents.” She shook her head.

  He lowered his tone. “You can make a hell of a lot more money with your voice. Let me help you.”

  Avery’s bottom lip moved like she wanted to say something but she didn’t. Barely a squeak came out of her mouth.

  Laz could tell she wouldn’t be an easy sell. “I can also help you with statistics.”

  She blinked. “Who said I needed help with that?”

  “No one. Just offering.”

  “You want to help? Get me my job back and then leave me alone.” She turned to go back in her car.

  Laz held the door open, preventing her from closing it. “How about I find you a better job and become your manager?” He put his hands in prayer form. “Trust me. I believe in you. Please believe in me.”

  “I don’t know you to believe anything.” Avery looked at him for a while. “No.” She snickered. “Dad warned me about guys like you in the music industry.”