JUNIPER
“How’d you do for tips tonight?” Delaney asks.
I grab the bills out of my apron pocket, leafing through them and frowning. Fifty bucks. My stomach drops and I get dizzy just thinking about the bills piling up at home. That’s not my coworker’s problem though, so I do what I always do. Paste on a smile and pretend everything is okay.
“Every little bit helps, right?” I say cheerfully as I gather my things from the employee locker room.
Delaney nods and sighs, folding her meager tip money up and shoving it into her purse. “That’s true. Have you heard anything about switching to the morning shift? Tips are way better, especially on the weekends.”
“Not yet, but hopefully soon.” My voice is chipper, but my chest is growing tighter by the second. I put in my request for a shift change weeks ago, but Ron, the owner of Big Ron’s Diner, hasn’t acknowledged it.
I was counting on getting on a new schedule, not only for better tips, but so I can be there for my mom during the night. She’s battling lymphoma, which weakens her immune system, making her vulnerable to all kinds of infections and illnesses. As if cancer in itself isn’t enough.
We’re saving up for radiation treatment, but it’s going to take years at this rate to get the money we need. I don’t know if Mom has that much time.
“You okay?”
Delaney’s voice and delicate hand on my shoulder brings me back into the present. “Yeah, of course,” I say with a smile. “Just tired. You know how these graveyard shifts are.”
She nods, but her beautiful amber eyes see right through me. “Here, take half of my tips. You helped me out with a few of my tables tonight. You deserve it.”
“Absolutely not! You need the money to get a place of your own. I worry about you, you know. It’s risky sneaking out to work overnights at the diner. What if your brothers find out?”
“And what if I’m trapped there with them forever? No, thanks. I’ll take my chances.” Delaney flashes me a bright smile, one I can’t help but return. “Besides, anything worth having is worth fighting for, right? I’ve never wanted anything more than my freedom.”
She gives me a quick hug before pulling on a black hoodie, completing her thief-in-the-night look. I wish her luck on sneaking back into her house, and she wishes me luck on scraping up enough money for my mom’s treatment.
I take the hair tie out of my hair, letting the red curls spring free and fall over my shoulders. Massaging my temples, I take a few deep breaths, bracing myself for the day ahead.
I just got off an eight-hour shift at Big Ron’s Diner, ten p.m. to six a.m. It’s a crappy shift, with the diner filled with either drunk people wanting something greasy or truckers looking for a cup of coffee and pie. Neither group tips very well unless you’re flirty and skinny. Me? Well, my tips speak for themselves. I’m not flirty, and I’m certainly not skinny.
I want nothing more than to collapse into bed and cocoon myself in blankets, but that will have to wait. Right now, I’m on my way to Brooklyn to meet a friend’s cousin’s girlfriend to see if I can buy her phone. This was the only time our schedules lined up to meet.
Being broke in New York City means taking advantage of all the connections you have to get cheap and free things. And right now, I need a phone. Mine went for a swim in the sink one night when I was doing dishes. I had a burner phone for a few weeks, but I need something permanent, especially since I’ll be making appointments and coordinating doctor visits.
I push down the anxious thoughts, knowing all my problems will still be there later this afternoon when I’m staring up at my ceiling, begging for sleep to come.
Pushing my way through the mob of early morning commuters, I make it to the bus stop just in time to catch a ride to Brooklyn. I’m supposed to meet Jennifer at her favorite bakery, The Mad Batter. We worked out a deal for me to purchase her phone for a hundred dollars, and she’d keep it on her plan until the end of the month so I can deal with the transfer and other things later.
Normally, I’d be skeptical of such an offer, but I know her. Kind of. I mean, I’ve never met her, but she’s connected through the grapevine to other people I know, so that has to mean something, right? God, I hope it’s not too good of a deal to be true.
I arrive at The Mad Batter at just after six-thirty. The vibe in here is eclectic and fun, with a checkered floor, a few cuckoo clocks, an assortment of teacups, and mismatched tables and chairs. It’s a more refined version of Alice in Wonderland, and I love it.
“I’ve got another early bird this morning!” the woman behind the counter says by way of greeting. She’s absolutely gorgeous with midnight black hair and wide hazel eyes. “Oh, I don’t recognize you.” A warm, genuine smile spreads across her face. “Welcome to The Mad Batter, I’m the owner, Sienna.”
“I’m—”
“Juniper?” another voice sounds from behind me.
I turn to see a leggy blonde in booty shorts and a tight tank top. She’s adorned with huge designer sunglasses, bright red lips, and what appear to be real diamond studs in her ears.
“That’s me. Are you Jennifer?”
The woman nods.
“Aw, Juniper and Jennifer! I love it,” Sienna says from behind the counter. I notice she has a gorgeous sleeve of tattoos. I wish I were brave enough to get beautiful ink like hers. “What can I get you ladies this morning?”
Jennifer steps right up to the counter and orders some over-the-top coffee beverage with more modifiers than I even knew existed. I palm the tip money I got from my shift, not liking the idea of using it on an expensive beverage or baked good. I’m sure they are worth every penny, but I don’t have a lot of pennies to spare these days.