"We're tag teaming lunch again?" Jamie's question comes from behind me, and I jump jerking the coffee pot but without spilling any of the hot liquid inside.By the time I turn around to face him, there's a genuine smile in residence on my face. "Yup, it's the dream team together again." I smack him on the arm with a move that's so reminiscent of my mother my breath hitches.My new coworker doesn't notice my slip and turns back to the other side of the counter to start our prep for the upcoming lunch rush. He balances on the heels of his feet and leans into the case, his muscles flex stretching his black polo shirt as he moves plates around. I might spend a few too many minutes watching him with my back against the opposite counter.The restaurant is peaceful now so my time isn't interrupted with a needy customer. It's the quiet time of day, the time that pays the least in tips. People stop in for a muffin or coffee — quick orders that don't require them to sit. Then as we get clo
Bonnie's was swamped at lunch giving me legitimate reasons to ignore Trey as he sat in his little corner table. Oh and the tips. My apron pocket bulges with the cash left on the tables and there's always more from those who paid with credit cards. If this is the underpaying shift, I can't imagine what a dinner would net me. Screw fifty, at this rate I might be able to pay my debt off by forty-five.Jamie and I made a great team even though it was a steady flow of customers. My steps were light as I raced around, bouncing from the high of being busy. It was a great shift — except for the fact Trey's still here.He didn't leave. Six hours and five cokes he sat at his little perch and watched me. I waited for him to at least visit the bathroom so I could sneak in, bus his table, and sit someone else there, but as if he could read my plan the man never moved. Even after drink number five. Is he a camel? All that earlier bravado leaked away the longer he sat there... for six hours.Th
Against all the wishes I made over the last five minutes, Trey is still here when I step past the counter into the main area of the diner. He still hasn't touched his salad and his eyes track my movements across the white titled floor — probably so he can intervene if I try to make a run for it. He's right to be concerned. I considered it while in the back."You're here."I sit in the wooden chair on the other side of Trey's small table and cross one leg over the other.He leans his body further over the table. "You promise to stay here?""Yes."Trey's eyes narrow for a fraction of a second. "Say you promise.""Fine," I blow out a breath in frustration. "I promise I'll sit and hear you out. Now talk."The legs of his chair scrape on the floor as he stands. "I need to take a quick break. I'll be back."He doesn't look behind him, but walks with deliberate and quick steps to the back of the restaurant toward the bathrooms. I laugh at him. I guess he's not a camel after al
"I'm so confused." I shake my head. "You were dating but not dating? Were you sleeping together, but not sleeping together too?" The question slips out, hostile tone and all.Trey's eyes fall to the table. "There was a time we were sleeping together semi-regularly."It sounds like he's tried to work his answer in a way it almost sounds clinical so it won't hurt so much, but Trey obviously doesn't understand women. Those words suck regardless of how much sugar you put on them."There was a time?""Mari and I haven't had... that part of our relationship in a while. Way before August," he references the time we were on the beach together. "We've both dated other people in secret over the years."I flinch at her invading my special memories. "You get how ridiculous this sounds right? Did I fall into a San Francisco based soap opera? This is really the world you live in?" I want to believe him, but the whole explanation feels too crazy to be real. Even if he's serious, when has a
I'm a moron. It's the single explanation for why I'm even considering leaving the apartment on my Friday off."You've already agreed to go, so you'll have to come out sometime." Aspen slumps against the bathroom counter beside me."Why did I agree to it?"She jumps up to sit on the counter and leans against the mirror while giving me the once over. "Tell me again what happened in his car."My face heats at the allegation in her question. "We walked four blocks so he could drive me home two." I still can't get over the fact he drives the little car around even with parking. "Then we talked.""Uh huh. You 'talked.'" She air quotes talked. "Remember I was here when you tried to sneak in the door that night."I've already explained this twice, but I try once more to make Aspen believe me. "I'm not kidding. I told him about my mom and the job thing." I don't mention I cried for most of that conversation and Trey sat quietly beside me and rubbed my back. It was sweet, which is co
"Um, I don't know." I scan the menu again and try to read some of the selections this time. "Let me guess, you're getting the steak?" I peek my face over the tall menu and smile at him."Of course. You should try it.""Okay." I give in without any fight and cringe, thankful Marissa isn't here to see how bad I am at making him work for it.Our table is small so our legs and knees are mushed up in the space between us. After a few more seconds of footsie, we settle into a comfortable position of his knee, my knee, his knee, my knee. It takes mere minutes before I realize there is way too much knee touching going on for me to remain unaware of it for the rest of the meal.Our waitress returns at the perfect time, right before I made a ridiculous comment about how warm Trey's knee is against mine. I don't even want to know how he'd respond.Trey takes my menu. "Give us an order of the sweet potato fries and two filet mignons." He stops and turns his head to me. "Do you like mushr
Aspen's fingers move on her phone screen as we ride in the backseat of Licorice, the black Escalade driven by Jake."Mar and Amanda are going to meet us on the hill," Aspen relays the information I assume she read from her text. "That's the best thing about them having to drive in. They always get there before us."Her brown eyes brighten a little with the declaration as she shoves the cell phone in her back pocket. Jake takes a turn a little quicker than normal and I'm forced to grab on to the door handle to stop myself from sliding across the leather seat."Drive slower, Jake. We don't want to get there too early." Aspen taps him on the shoulder in a playful gesture. She loops the long scarf around her neck and pulls on the end tightly. "Do you think it will snow this year?"I look out my side window curious to what prompted her question. Everything looks normal as people walk the streets in the same thin fleece jackets they've been wearing the last few weeks. "Has it ever sn
Yesterday morning when I agreed to take the job with Raven Digital Arts, I had no idea Trey would expect me to start today. Monday. As in within twenty-four hours. I thought I'd have more time to prep for this. A week to talk myself out of it. Find a better job. Like maybe one of those people who stand by the side of the road and wave the giant signs at passing cars. I could do that.I was so excited to find out more about Marissa's date that I didn't think through my actions. Now I'm here. Here, as in the office of RDA. Sitting behind the big wooden desk in the lobby."Sit here and I'll go grab you the new employee forms." Finn sounds happier than I am about the fact I'm now his employee. He opens the door to the back where the offices are and I'm left alone in the white tiled room.Not even Bonnie could get me out of starting today. She took the news well when I called her last night. There wasn't a weekend or night shift available, but she put me on the standby list in case so