Strangely Normal - By Tess Oliver Page 0,84

was relieved when the last of the lunch rush had dwindled. My heart had finally settled to a steady beat, and the absurd trembling in my hands had finally gone away. But I desperately needed a moment alone.

“Charlie, I’m going to take a quick break,” I said and slid into the restroom. The cool water from the sink did nothing to stop the tears that burned my eyes. I sat there alone for a good ten minutes sorting out everything that was going on in my head.

At one point, I convinced myself that I’d overreacted and that I shouldn’t have walked out on them. But then I would replay the horrible moments when Jude had blamed me for everything, and I went right back to feeling justified in having left.

I stepped out of the bathroom still in a haze of mind debates when Charlie grabbed my arm and pushed me back inside. She shut the door behind her. “What on earth was that all about?” she asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“Megan is so pissed, she’s ready to spit bullets.”

“So what else is new? What has you in such a lather?” Charlie often didn’t make sense when she explained things, but this was silly even for her.

“Well, he gave Megan a really big tip and everything, so he must like her. But the guy didn’t take his eyes off you the entire time.” She took advantage of our cozy meeting in the crummy little bathroom to check her hair in the mirror. “And, boy, did Megan notice. She was shooting death rays out of those blue eyes of hers all the way across the dining room.”

“He tipped her big because he’s rich, and he was watching me because we know each other. I used to work for his dad.” I decided not to say anymore. I’d signed a stupid contract when I got hired on that basically told me to seal my mouth shut about the family business even after I left their employment. I was regretting everything about the job now.

“He’s rich?” Apparently that was the only piece of my confession that’d caught her attention. “No wonder he hands out twenty dollar bills like they are quarters.”

“Don’t tell Megan. It’ll only make her more rabid about him. Let her think it’s because he likes her. That will make life easier for all of us.” I reached for the doorknob hoping our clandestine meeting was over.

“Just watch yourself around her, Eden. She can be real mean when she wants, and after today, I think she’s gonna have it out for you.”

Charlie had been right about Megan’s anger. The glares she impaled me with could have cut glass. She finally finished her work and threw her apron dramatically on the hook. “I’m out of this hell hole for the day.” In case we hadn’t realized that she was mad, she made a point of smacking the door open as she left.

My shoulders relaxed. I couldn’t have been happier to see the backside of her.

“She’s not going far,” Charlie commented as she finished sweeping.

“What do you mean? Does she live nearby?” That thought bugged me.

“No, she lives across town, but when she gets a good tip, she goes next door to the bar and hangs out with some of the creeps over there. Sometimes the construction workers head over there after work to play pool and have beers . . . including you-know-who.” Charlie went to the door and peeked out. “But I don’t see his motorcycle out there, so he must have skipped it today.”

It was stupid for me to even think about it or care about it, but I wondered if Jude had been playing pool, possibly even with my new nemesis Megan, the night of the disastrous cookie party.

I helped Rick finish the pots and pans, and Charlie took off to go visit her mother. The quiet in the shop once everyone had gone was comforting but lonely. I went upstairs to shower and halfway through the torturously slow trickle of water, I decided I needed to hear my mom’s voice.

I towel-dried my hair, combed it back, and stuck some coins into the pocket of my jeans. Work had slowed across the street, and I didn’t see any sign of Jude. I locked the diner behind me and then headed to the phone booth.

I’d barely reached the first corner of the bar when Megan stepped out onto the sidewalk with two guys sporting greasy hair and an array of tattoos.