“First, don’t yell at me. Yeah, I walked here alone, but it’s literally like two blocks, and I’m just so pissed off that I had to get the hell out of there on my break.”
I nod slowly, watching as she breathes hard and grinds her teeth together in absoluterage.
“Wanna talk about it, pretty girl?”
“I want to fuckingpunch something.”
I cross my arms over my chest and let her pace and work off some aggression. I’ve never seen her this angry, and it’s spectacular and a little frightening, all at once.
“Who pissed you off?”
Her eyes narrow on me, and I worry that I should have waited to speak to her, but then she blows out a breath and seems to sag as she lets just a little of the rage go.
“Angela is a stone-coldbitch.”
“This is the one who lied to you about why she needed her shift covered last week?”
“Yeah. Listen, I don’t give two fucks if she doesn’t want to talk to me. I don’tcare.”
“Don’t blame you.”
“But apparently, me giving hernoreaction has pissed her off all over again, and now she’s stealing my tips.”
I straighten, the rage she let go now filling my chest. “Excuse me?”
“All of my cash tips. I’ve had sixteen tables already this morning, which is a shit ton. Looks like tourist season is starting early. Anyway, only five of those put their tips on their credit cards. The rest were cash.”
“And she’s swooping by to snatch it up before you get the chance?” I guess, and she nods emphatically.
“I caught her. But when I called her out on it, she just shrugged and said, ‘Well, I guess if you were a better server, people would tip you.’”
“Oh, fuck that.”
“Right?” She jabs her finger into the air, pointing at me. “Right? I’m so mad. I bet she’s copped more than fifty bucks from me.”
“You need to talk to someoneright now, Sarah. Not me, but Gordy or Sunny.”
“Oh, I plan to. I just knew that if I did in that moment, I would make a scene and probably get fired.”
“Make the fucking scene.” I stalk over to her and take her hands in mine. “For once, just make the goddamn scene, Sarah. Throw the biggest fit that Angela has ever seen, and make itcrystalclear that she’s not to fuck with you ever again.”
“I’m going to,” she decides and grabs my face on both sides, yanks me to her for a hard kiss, and then pushes away. “I’m going to right now.”
She stomps away, and knowing that I can’t miss this, I march right behind her, locking the gallery door on the way.
Her stride is hard and purposeful, and if I were Angela, I’d be damn scared right now.
“She thinks she can fuckingstealfrom me?” Sarah rants, her voice shaking with anger. “I won’t have it. I willnothave it.”
Make that terrified. I’d be terrified if I were Angela, and I make a mental note toneverpiss her off like this.
It’s a wrath no man has any business evoking from a woman. Not if he values his neck, anyway.
Sarah yanks the door of the diner open, and I have to move fast to catch it so it doesn’t slam in my face.
“You,” Sarah says loudly, pointing at Angela. “In the back, now.”
“I have customers,” Angela begins, but Sarah snarls at her.