I fill with excitement. The diner is not my dream job, but it’s better than nothing. At least I’ll have some money coming in,andI get to work with Hazel.
I throw my arms around her neck and hug her. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. For the record, you’re an idiot. Leaving that stud of a man like you did was a terrible idea.” She pauses for a moment. “You could have at least given him my number.”
I knock my shoulder into her and laugh. “What would Officer Joe think?”
Her eyes glaze over, and a smile forms on her lips.
“Now, who’s fantasizing?”
She throws a pillow at me as I get up to get ready for the diner, and I swear I hear her mumble, “Throwing away perfectly sexy men. What is wrong with this girl?” as I exit the room.
* * *
“Hi, there,” I say, my voice cheerful. It feels so good to finally be doing something. “My name is Ember, and I’ll be your server today. What can I get for you?” I scribble the order onto the notepad in my hand and head back to the kitchen.
“You’re doing great,” Edgar says.
“Thanks.” I give him a friendly smile. “Who knew I was a natural waitress?”
“You’re a natural at everything,” Edgar tells me.
I take the compliment with a smile but can’t help the uneasy feelings his words cause me.
“Why the hell is it so busy?” Hazel exclaims as she bursts into the kitchen. She tosses another order at Edgar, who suddenly looks irritated. I’m not sure if it’s because of the continuous stream of orders or because she interrupted us.
“I’m still not giving up,” she tells me as we stand there, waiting for our orders.
“On what?”
“You and the hottie from the other night. After the look that man put on your face…”
“Hazel,” I scold her.
The sound of something clanking makes us both turn in Edgar’s direction. He looks furious, and that uneasy feeling increases exponentially. There is something just not right about the guy.
Hazel grabs my arm, pulling my attention back to her. “So?”
“Not here.”
Edgar slams a couple dishes on the hot plate. I toss a quick thank you his way before grabbing them and carrying them out to the table.
“Does everything look okay?” I ask.
“Looks perfect, dear,” the lady with kind eyes says.
I let out the breath I had been holding without even realizing it. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“You’re doing good there, kid,” Chuck, the owner, compliments.
“Thanks, I’m trying.”
“I can see that. You want to try a little longer?”
“What do you mean?”
He looks around the place. “I know it’s not much, but I also know you need a job that doesn’t ask questions.”