by A. M. Myers
As soon as I walk in, it’s like I never left and I hear someone squeal my name before my friend, Mia, is bolting out from behind the counter and barreling toward me. She crashes into me and I laugh as I wrap my arms around her.
“Hey, Mia.”
“Oh my god, I’m so happy you’re back. I missed you so much. How are you doing?”
I release her and hold my hands up. “Whoa, girl. Take a breath.”
“Sorry,” she breathes. “I’m just so excited.”
“I gathered.”
She puts her hand on my arm as her eyes soften and her head tilts. Theo and I have dubbed it the sympathy tilt and it’s something we’ve seen way too much in the past few days.
“How are you?”
I force a smile to my face, trying to keep my mind focused on work and getting through the next eight hours. “I’m good, Mi. How are things here?”
“Oh, you know. Same old, same old.” She rolls her eyes and I laugh. Working as a waitress at Sunrise Diner is only one of two jobs I currently have and the one I prefer since my boss at the gas station a couple blocks over is a total jackass.
“It can’t be that bad.”
She wraps her arms around my waist as we walk toward the door and go into the hallway that leads to our manager’s office, the kitchen, and the walk-in freezer. “You know how it is.”
I grab my timecard and meet her gaze over my shoulder, arching a brow.
“People have been especially fussy lately. One lady even tried to order sparkling water yesterday.”
I snort as I hang my purse on the hook and double check that it’s zipped up before slipping my card in the machine.
“She did read the menu, right? Most of our entrees cost less than ten dollars.”
“That’s what I said and then she complained to Roger.”
Glancing past her, I see one of our managers pouring over paperwork in the little office. At the mention of his name, he glances up and I wave.
“Glad to have you back, Tate,” he calls and I let out a laugh.
“Let’s see if you’re still saying that in an hour.”
“Did I hear a feisty little redhead out here?” a voice booms from the kitchen and I roll my eyes as Mia laughs.
“See, everyone missed you.”
“No,” I call back, shaking my head. “You heard a woman who’s gonna kick your ass if you call me little and feisty ever again.”
Shaun pokes his head out from the kitchen and flashes me a wide grin. “Feisty as ever I see.”
“Don’t make me get my pepper spray,” I warn him, a smile teasing my lips and he backs up into the kitchen, his hands up.
“Careful, boys! She’s filled with hellfire, today.”
Mia laughs and Roger shakes his head as I pull the level down on the machine before slipping my card back in its holder.
“And don’t you forget it!” I yell back before turning to Mia. “Who’s on tonight?”
“Just you and me, bestie.” She slips her arm through mine and I smile.
“Perfect. It shouldn’t be too bad. It is only Monday, after all.”
Mia jerks away from me, covering her ears with her hands and singing to herself.
“Don’t you dare jinx us, lady.”
She slips through the door and I giggle as I grab my apron off the rack, slipping it around my waist and tying it neatly in the back. Once I have my ticket book and a couple pens, I meet Mia behind the counter.
“You’ve got this half,” Mia says, motioning to one side of the diner. “And someone just sat down at table thirteen.”
“Okay.” I grab a menu and a roll of silverware off the counter and as I turn toward the dining room, Mia puts her hand on my arm.
“Also, if you need anything tonight, just let me know. I've got your back, girl.”
I smile as she releases my arm. “Thanks, Mia.”
“Don't mention it,” she calls over her shoulder, balancing a tray of drinks out in front of her.
Mia started working here at the diner shortly before I did three years ago and thankfully, she wasn’t put off by my standoffish behavior or resting bitch face. I’ve never been good at making friends since we moved around so much when I was younger but she just took control and essentially made me be her friend. When she introduced me to her two best friends from middle school, they essentially adopted me into the group. We’re not super close but I’m glad that if I don’t have Theo here with me, I still have them to lean on – even if they don’t understand what I’m going through right now.
Shaking my head, I suck in a breath and brush away any lingering sad thoughts and slip into work mode easily enough. Thank God, too, because if I fall apart tonight, I don’t know how I’ll ever put myself back together. With the menu and silverware in hand, I walk over to table thirteen and flash a wide smile as I lay the menu and silverware in front of the man sitting there.
“Good afternoon, Darlin’. My name is Tate and I’ll be your server this evening. Can I get you started with something to drink?” I ask in my “customer service” voice, which is sweet as sugar and annoying as hell. It helps me get better tips though and I’m not in a position to give those up. My mind drifts to the check I got yesterday and the envelope of cash in my bag. I guess that’s not really true anymore.
The man in front of me glances up and I have to physically stop myself from gasping and taking a step back. He’s so damn handsome in this rugged sort of way that makes me think of log cabins and sex by fire light and his whiskey eyes inspect me from head to toe before his brow furrows.
“Coffee. Black,” he snaps before dismissing me with a vague hand gesture and any attraction I felt toward the arrogant bastard dies a quick death. He turns back to the menu without another word and my fingers twitch to rip it out of his hand and teach him a thing or two about common decency.
Prick.
When he glances up again, I expect him to offer me a smile or some sort of apology for his incredible douchiness but he simply arches a brow as if to ask why I’m still standing here, breathing his air. Oh, this guy’s a real piece of fucking work.
“You want anything to eat?” I ask, keeping my voice perfectly sweet because I’m afraid if I break, I’ll just end up clocking him. And that would be bad for both of us. Even though I know about ten different ways I could kill this guy before he even realized what was happening, I’ve never once had a problem with self-control. I’ve always been able to keep a handle on my emotions… until now. Although, with the week I’ve had, I suppose that makes sense.
“I’ll let you know,” he mutters before turning back to the menu and I feel a growl building in the back of my throat. With a curt nod, I spin on my toes and walk away from his table, my hands balled into fists. One thing I have never tolerated well is a rude customer and this guy just took the fucking cake for worst patron of all time. Mia is leaning against the counter and when I storm past her to the coffee machine, she follows me, squealing.
“Oh my god,” she whisper screams, fanning herself. “That man is hotter than the inside of a car on a summer day and he could not keep his eyes off of you as you walked away from him. He was like glued to your ass.”
She smacks my butt and I laugh despite my irritation.
“Actually, he was pretty rude to me.”
Her face falls but only for a second before a slow smile stretches across her face and she claps her hands. “Uh-oh.”
Roger pokes his head out of the door to the hallway. “Did I just hear someone say “uh-oh”?” he asks and I shake my head.
“Nope.”
“Damn it, Tate. It’s your first day back. You can’t be mean to customers.”
“It’s about to go down,” Shaun says in a deep voice through the pass through and I grin at him before turning back to Roger and laying my hand over my heart.
“Roger, I’m as nice to the customers as they are to me. It’s called human decency.”
“It was so nice when I had a whole week with
out any complaints that my waitress was a bitch.”
I shrug, grabbing a mug and filling it with coffee before holding it out to him. “I suppose you could take his coffee to him.”
He shakes his head and shoos me away. “Keep it in check.”
Mia claps and posts up at the counter so she can watch it all go down as the guys in the kitchen gather around the pass through.
“Y’all are something else. I’m simply going to take his order.”
“Hell. Fire,” Shaun whispers and I laugh as he winks at me.
“You egg me on and yet you never get in trouble, Shaun.”
He nods. “Uh, yeah, cause it’s entertaining as hell and I don’t get in trouble because I’m back here. Now, go be sweet to the customer, Tate.”
Curling my lip, I turn back to table thirteen and meet golden eyes. A ghost of a smile teases his lips and I square my shoulders before pasting a smile on my own face. As I walk back into the dining room, I feel Mia following behind me and my smile quickly becomes real. There was no way she was staying at the counter. With my head held high and a black coffee in my hand, I walk back over to his table and notice him watching me out of the corner of his eye as he scans the menu. It’s subtle enough that if I were anyone else, I’m not sure I would have noticed.
“Coffee, black,” I snap as I set the mug down in front of him a little too forcefully. Thankfully, it doesn’t spill on him. “What do you want to eat?”
He chuckles, leaning back in the booth and spreading his arms out over the entire back of the seat. Jesus, he’s huge.
“I knew you were being fake,” he says, his voice smug and I blink, my anger returning full force. One thing I’m not is fake.
“Excuse me?”
“Before, that sweet voice you used on me was fake.”
“I think the word you’re looking for,” I spit, crossing my arms over my chest. “Is polite.”
He laughs, flashing me a brilliant smile and my insides turn to mush. Oh, hell, what is happening to me right now?
“I meant what I said. It was fake.”
Mia laughs quietly behind me and I suck in a breath, trying to calm myself before I go off on this poor unsuspecting man. He really has no idea who he’s dealing with. Planting my hands on his table, I lean forward, locking eyes with him.
“Maybe it was but it’s because I have to deal with douchebags like you all day long and I have bills to pay. Now, what the fuck do you want to eat?”
“Tate!” Roger yells through the dining room and I flinch as everyone turns to look at me and silence descends. I force a smile to my face, pushing off the table.
“Excuse me.”
Everyone’s eyes are on me as I walk into the back and trudge to Roger’s office. I know that I went too far but there’s just something about the man at table thirteen that riles me up in the worst way.
“What were you thinking?” Roger asks, sighing as he walks into the office behind me and I sink into a chair. “I know you’re having a tough time lately but you cannot talk to customers like that.”
“I know, Roger, but did you see what a prick he was being to me?”
“It doesn’t matter. You will go out there and apologize to him.”
Do I really need this damn job?
The thought crosses my mind for only a moment before I realize that without something to do everyday, I would lose my ever-lovin’ mind and for the most part, I do enjoy this job.
“Fine,” I snap, shoving myself out of the chair. I will go out there and apologize but I’m done waiting on him. Walking back to the hallway, I press my shoulders against the tile and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm down before walking through the door. As soon as I’m behind the counter, I feel his gaze on me again.
“You fired?” Mia asks and I shake my head.
“No. I have to go apologize to him and as soon as I do, will you take that table?”
“Are you sure?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
Turning back to the dining room, I square my shoulders and suck in a breath before marching over to his table and pasting a smile on my face.
“Sir, please accept my apology. I’m having just about the worst week of my life and I was out of line earlier.”
He arches a brow and I continue staring at him, unsure of how much more he wants from me. Finally, he sighs.
“To apologize, you actually have to say the words “I’m sorry”.”
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
“Sir,” I say through gritted teeth. “ I am so sorry. Please accept my apology. My behavior was incredibly rude and it’s been a terrible week for me.”
He nods. “It’s forgotten.”
“Thank you. Our other waitress tonight will be taking over for me.” I turn to leave but he reaches out and grabs my hand, sending a zap of electricity down my spine. My eyes widen as I turn back to him.
“I don’t want the other waitress. I want you.”
I want you.
The words rattle around in my brain, conjuring up images that I have absolutely no business thinking. I can’t look away from him as I search for an appropriate thing to say that won’t get me fired but my mind isn’t working as quickly as usual with his warm grip on my wrist.
“I’m…uh, I’m afraid that’s not possible. Again, I’m so sorry.” I rip my arm out of his grasp and retreat into the back as Mia follows me.
“That last part looked intense. What did he say?”
I shake my head. “Nothing important. I think he’s ready to order, though.”
“Okay,” she chirps before practically bouncing out from behind the counter. If he didn’t like my sweet voice, he’s going to hate hers. That gives me a little satisfaction and I smile as I make my way back out to the dining room to check on my other tables.
One of my regulars, Devlin, walks in and I smile as he saunters up to the counter.
“Tate! You’re back!”
I laugh, nodding. “I am. Where do you want to sit today, Devlin?”
“Right here is good,” he answers, pointing to one of the open seats at the counter and I meet him there with a menu and silverware. Devlin is probably in his mid-fifties and handsome as can be. He’s been one of my regulars pretty much since I started here, coming in a few times a week.
“So, how have you been, Dev?” I ask, propping my elbows on the counter and he grins.
“Missin’ you, Darlin’.”
I laugh, swatting his shoulder playfully. Devlin has always been sweet to me and even a little flirty but I know it’s all in good fun. He’s told me many times about the woman he loved who died and you can see it in his eyes that he’ll never get over her. It’s honestly a little inspiring.
“You’re such a damn flirt. You want your usual today?”
“Mm,” he hums, glancing down at the menu. “Bring me a sweet tea and give me a minute to look things over.”
I nod. “You got it.”
I spin around to get his sweet tea and catch table thirteen watching me again as Mia walks behind the counter. “Damn, that man is grumpy.”
“Looks like he’s got eyes for Tate,” Rico, one of the other guys in the kitchen, says and I roll my eyes but don’t say anything.
I pour Devlin’s sweet tea and set it down in front of him as he continues studying the menu. While I wait for his order, I seat two other tables in my section and get their drink orders.
“You ready, Dev?” I ask when I get back to the counter and he nods, handing me back the menu.
“I think I’m feeling the BLT today if Shaun can hook me up with a little extra bacon.”
“I got you, big man,” Shaun calls out, pointing to him and Devlin smiles.
“Coming right up,” I tell him and glance up as a few more people sit at my tables, quickly losing myself in work.
* * * *
Glancing up at the clock, I sigh. My shift ends in five minutes and I’m read
y to go back to Mom’s house and crash. As I scrub the counter clean, I wonder how long it will take before I can start thinking of it as my house instead of Mom’s. I spent most of my childhood there so why now is it all of the sudden not my home? I feel like I can’t change anything or move things because Mom will be home any minute and she likes her house the way it is.
“Looks like your secret admirer finally bailed,” Shaun says and I look at him before turning toward the dining room. Table thirteen is finally empty and I sigh. He sat there through most of my shift and alternated between reading the newspaper, working on something, and watching me. He was never obvious about it but I knew each time his eyes would find me across the dining room and I spent a good part of the night wondering what his deal is. I mean, who just sits in a diner for seven and a half hours?
“Good riddance,” I reply and Shaun scoffs.
“Sure, you keep telling yourself that, girl.”
“Gigi just called and said she’s running ten minutes late,” Roger says from his spot at the counter. I sigh.
“So you need me to hang around?” I ask and he shakes his head.
“Nancy is already here and we aren’t too busy so you can go ahead and clock out whenever.”
Releasing a breath, I nod and head into the back before grabbing my time card and clocking out. Grabbing my purse, I say good-bye to Roger and Nancy as I head outside, pulling my coat tighter around me. I consider just going to my apartment but decide against it. I haven’t been back there since the night Detective Rodriguez knocked on my door and I have no desire to go back. I’ll need to find someone to take over my lease, though.
Whatever.
It’s not something I want to deal with tonight.
As I walk away from the diner, I sense someone behind me just before I hear footsteps. My heart rate quickens as I reach into my bag and wrap my hand around the bottle of pepper spray.
“Tate!” a deep voice calls and I peek over my shoulder, groaning. Table thirteen.
“I was hoping you’d left.”
He laughs, closing the distance between us and his golden eyes look even more intense under the glow of the streetlight.