Natalie
“Hey, pick up!” I holler at the line cooks with a smile. They blow me a round of kisses and I laugh at them before dinging the bell for good measure. I haven’t spent a lot of my time in Queens, but I’m beginning to like it here.
Besides, I love Greek food, and working at a cute little ma-and-pop Greek diner in Queens is way better than that Dino-disaster in midtown. I mean, why did I need Manhattan so badly, anyway? The crowds, the tourists, the smells…
This here is manageable, and to be honest, the people are completely sweet and compassionate. I’ve only been here a few days, mind you, but, so far so good. I admire them, running this bustling little place through sweat, and tears, and hard work.
Fuck Manhattan!What’s there to miss? Bagels still taste great here, and I don’t have to wait in line so long. I can always take the train to Josie, assuming she’ll let me step foot on the subway before she calls a car, and there’s unlimited tzatziki, which suits me fine.
No, the only thing to miss about Manhattan is Roger.
As mad as I’ve been at him, I keep turning our argument over and over in my head. Our first night was amazing. And, yeah, it led to where we ended, but it was only supposed to be a fling, right?
A flingIstarted no less.Catch and release,I’d said after that night even if he was already pulling at my heart. So can I really blame the guy if he went out partying, when we weren’treallyinto each other yet?
I certainlycouldblame him, and Idid. But now that the pain has dulled, I feel like I’ve made a huge mistake. The more I think about it, the more I realize it was admitting my feelings for him the night before that got me so worked up.
I can’t believe I told him I loved him. He didn’t say it back, but the way he held me felt like a response. Or, was I all wrong? I sigh heavily, and one of the line cooks gives me a sympathetic eye.
“It’s coming, don’t worry, don’t worry!” he says, and I wave him off. Good, let him think I’m sighing about moussaka. It’s no good to give them my sob story, although something tells me they’d love to hear it.
I’ve never been super close to my family, so it’s nice to feel a little like I’m part of one. I wonder what advice they’ll give. They would definitely tell me to call him, and a part of me would agree.
But, what the hell would I say? ‘Hey Roger, sorry about yelling at you — uh, can you come pick me up?’
It’s all too ridiculous and humiliating. And, frankly, why does he keep buying all the places I live in! ‘Weird flex’, as the kids would say.
This was one of the many reasons I chose not to divulge where I’m currently situated. I don’t need to be rescued, and I certainly don’t need a landlordslashguardian.
What I need is my food order. I’m about to give the guys some hell again, when one of the cousins comes barging in.
“Hey, lamb, you’ve got a new table in. I’ll bring your food, don’t worry. They take too long, eh?” She barks over to the line and they erupt into apologies and excuses. I laugh and shake my head, wiping my hands on my apron to grab my notepad.
After working under the pressure of chief editor atChic, everything here seems easy. Work seems easy. All I need to do is come in, take orders, collect tips and keep things clean. There are no deadlines hanging over my head, or meetings, or unreasonable board members, orGabbys.
Here, I’m anonymous. I come in, I do my job, and I go home. It’s not so bad.
I push my way through the swinging door. While I’m running through the list of specials in my head, I look up to see my table.
There’s a man sitting in the booth, his back to me. My stomach turns. Something about the back of his head… I slow my pace until I’m only a couple of feet from him.No fucking way.
“Blake?” I choke as I face him.How does he keep finding me?I haven’t told anyone where I was headed, or where I started working. Just Josie! And she would never give me up, shehatesBlake.
“Look at you,” Blake smiles sinisterly. “Cute. I like the apron.”
He reaches for the edge of the fabric, but I slap it out of his hands. “You look like a sweet little New York housewife.”
“I don’t know what you’re doing here, but you need to leave,” I say tightly, trying to keep my voice down. I need to get him out of here without causing a scene. The last thing I want to do is lose this job because of Blake.
“Can’t a guy come in for a cup of coffee?” he asks as he throws his hands out.
“Fine,” I turn and grab a cup, my hands shaking with fury. One of the cousins eyes me through the kitchen window and frowns. I give them a smile before pouring a cup and turning back around.
“Thank you,waitress.” Oh, he’s really twisting the knife now. “Gotta say, the apron suits you, but this?” He gestures around, looking disgusted. “You deserve more than this, don’t you think?”
I don’t know what to say. I know anything Idosay will just give him fuel and rile me up, so I keep my mouth shut. I won’t let him take anything else from me.
“Come on, Natalie,” he says, his eyes shining with false sympathy. “Haven’t you had enough?”