Diamond
“What can I get for you ladies?” A masculine but soft voice wedges its way in the middle of our conversation, causing me and Aveena to look up at my dad’s employee.
Parker Haynes stands by our table, flaunting his Colgate-commercial smile and the dimples I spent most of freshman year obsessing about.
Aveena shoots me a suggestive side-look before ordering the meal she always gets on her birthday. She likes to remind me every chance she gets of my big, fat embarrassing crush on one of my dad’s waiters.
I used to think I’d marry this kid.
Swore on my life Parker would eventually notice me and we’d roll off into the sunset together. It was a no-brainer. Parker’s sweet, handsome—in a golden-boy type of way—has the shiniest curls I’ve ever seen, and most importantly, he knew I existed. Granted, I could hardly see him ignoring his boss’s daughter and coworker.
If it wasn’t for me scoring my first gig as a dog sitter and quitting my job at the restaurant, I’d probably still be fantasizing about what our children would look like.
To my surprise, when I give Parker my order and peer into those blue eyes with specks of gold, I feel nothing. No butterflies, no heat rushing to my cheeks, not a sliver of attraction.
Parker would never be the kind of guy to back me up against a wall and describe the thousand ways he wants to get me off. He’d never stand in an open window and risk his life just for a “breath of fresh air.”
He’s not like Finn.
Not that Finn Richards is what I want in a man.
Fuck no.
You hear that, me?
I don’t want him.
Now, stop giving me dirty thoughts about him grabbing my throat and kissing me until my lips bruise.
“Awesome,” Parker says once we’re done ordering. “Be back with your drinks.” He leaves us with a charming smile I’m sure earns him plenty of tips.
I spot my sister speed walking through the restaurant as soon as he leaves. Dark circles sit under her eyes as she edges her way through the crowd. She’s most likely running late for her shift.
Again.
Catalina’s been slacking on the job lately. Between her new relationship with her ex’s best friend, her full-time job at my dad’s restaurant, and her studies, she’s walking, talking proof that you can seem physically fine and be a complete mess inside.
In her defense, we’ve all been there.
And by we, I mean all of my siblings.
We’ve all worked at my dad’s restaurant at least once—well, except for Charlie, but his time will come. We’ve all turned up late before, broken a bunch of plates, and gotten an earful from my dad, who does not give his kids special treatment.
“Shit.” Aveena’s voice rips me back to reality, and I glance at my best friend from across the booth. She’s got her eyes fixed to her phone, a worried scowl slapped on her face.
“Something wrong?” I question, and Vee drops her phone on the table.
“Ashley needs me to get some herbal tea for her voice. She’s got a performance tomorrow.”
Oh hell no.
“And it couldn’t wait until after your birthday?”
“My mom says it’s urgent,” Aveena explains.
“Nope, not happening. Give me that.” I pluck her phone from the table and turn it off.
“Dia…” Vee releases a sigh, but it doesn’t sound genuine. She sounds like deep down, she’s relieved, damn near happy about my intervention.