a kind voice. I look up, so many questions on the tip of my tongue. “We’ll probably be busy again, it’s the last JV home game of the season.”
“Let me just put my stuff in the back and I’ll do a quick check of the bathrooms and make sure we’re okay on silverware while I have the time.” Happy for the excuse to escape her too knowing eyes I push past the swinging doors of the kitchen. Gus is standing over a deep stockpot, slowly stirring the contents. He looks up at me and gives me a grunt and wave before his attention returns to his pot.
Maggie definitely isn’t wrong. We’re slammed most of the night. Tables full of younger kids from school, none of them looking for trouble, but a few are loud and obnoxious. They thin when the game starts, but we still have a steady stream of people coming and going all night.
I begin to feel the effects of actual tiredness, or the effects of not being around the guys, as the evening gets closer. When I’m busy running around and my mind is too absorbed with everything I have to do, I’m okay. It’s the second I have a chance to breathe when I realize just how exhausted I really am.
The door chimes again, and I turn to greet the new customer, making sure we have an open place for them. Delaney and three of her friends are looking around the small diner, like they might be searching for someone. I know it’s not me because they’ve all passed over me like I don’t even exist, which is fine by me. I get a slight thrill knowing I don’t have a booth available that will seat four, so they’ll have to sit up at the bar with Maggie.
Feeling the pressure of someone’s hand on my shoulder I turn. “Excuse us.” The father of a family passes me with his group in tow, leaving the diner.
“Damn it,” I curse under my breath. Moving over to the table they just left, I stack their dishes and glasses. I back my way through the doors to the kitchen and drop the plates next to the washer. I’ll have to come back to rinse them, I need to get the table wiped off. They had two kids, and there is salt and ketchup all over. Snagging the towel from the bleach water, I wipe down the table and pocket the three singles and change left behind in my apron.
I know Delaney is behind me before I even turn. I can hear her snooty voice and smell her floral perfume. I wrinkle my nose, she smells like an old lady. It’s probably some expensive stuff, but I think it smells like she’s been walking around a craft shop for too long.
Fake smile in place I turn and motion for the table. “All yours. I’ll give you guys a minute to look over the menu, can I get you anything to drink?”
“Oh my God, she actually does speak,” one of the girls snickers.
Sliding into the booth, Delaney peers up at me all wide-eyed and innocent looking. “Wow, who knew?” Her eyes go back to her friends, and they completely ignore my question about drinks so I don’t linger.
After checking on a few tables and refilling some drinks, I make my way back over to them, order pad and pen in hand. “You guys know what you want to order?”
“We were actually just wondering, what’s it like to clean up everyone’s leftovers? I mean, clearly it’s something you like to do, you do it here, and we all know how hard you’re trying with several guys at school.”
Heat rises in my face. I know what she’s implying, even if it doesn’t make sense. “Did you say you need a few more minutes? No problem.” I turn my back to them. They aren’t worth my energy. I know the truth now, Dante was never her boyfriend. She was the one trying to make it seem like he was.
“Hey,” Delaney calls before I get too far, “we can’t wait all night. We’d like to order.” Her voice is clipped. My back goes rigid, but I turn back to their table.
“Laura, when you’ve finished up over there can you help me for a minute?” Maggie calls from the bar.
“Sure thing, Maggie, I’ll be right there.” This isn’t the first time Maggie has saved me from a customer, but I’m damn grateful she has. Now I have