chose the wrong damn night to pick up a shift at Magnolia’s. The night dragged on. And on a Saturday—a night that we were almost guaranteed tips, I’d hardly served three tables. And yet, my manager refused to release any of the waitstaff.
I wiped down my two-top that just paid, flicking a glance at the bill. They tipped okay—I’d seen much worse from students on a date, that was for sure. I centered the vase and flower on the table and reset the condiments.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a flash of emerald green as the front door swung open. When I looked up, Reagan and Harrison crawled into one of the bar top tables. Her skintight green dress hugged her slim curves, standing out in a sea of beige and black.
Clutching the rag, I headed over. “Hey guys, what are you doing here?” I did a quick wipe down of their table before flopping onto my elbows in front of them.
“Whoa, it’s so quiet. Like a funeral is happening here,” Reagan said.
“Yeah, weird juju tonight,” I answered.
Harrison gave me a sympathetic half smile. “Sorry. I can promise that we tip well, though.”
I rolled my eyes. “Too bad I won’t be the one to get it. The bartender waits on this section.”
Reagan leaned over, looking beyond me to where Dave poured a beer. Her eyes drifted up and down as she wet her lips. “Mm, he can serve me for sure.”
Harrison shook his head, busying himself with the menu.
“Him?” I cast a glance over my shoulder at Dave. “He’s so old, though.”
Reagan scrunched her face. “Oh, come on. He can’t be older than what? Thirty?”
I shrugged.
“Well, I’d still rather have you as a waitress,” Harrison said. “When are you going to get licensed as a bartender so you serve us at the bar, instead?”
I looked again toward the bar. This time I saw Dave’s dark gaze collide with Reagan’s, and he smirked.
When I turned back around, I was met with Reagan’s raised brow. “Seriously, what’s his story?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. I thought I heard him say he was married, though.”
She shook her head. “No ring.”
“No intelligent bartender would wear a wedding ring,” Harrison chimed in.
“See? Harrison knows what’s up.” I winked.
As I turned, I slammed into Dave, who was smoothing his crisp white dress shirt. “Hey now,” he joked, nudging me with an elbow. “Don’t be stealing my tables when it’s slow.” He flashed Reagan a smile.
“Dave, these are my friends, Harrison and Reagan. Take good care of them.” I rested a hand on his shoulder before pushing off to see how long I’d have to wait before getting another tip.
At the hostess stand, I was peering around Alexis to see the seating chart when Ross, my manager came up behind me. “Sorry it’s been so slow, Stevens. You wanna be cut?”
Thank God. “Sure. Thanks for letting me fill in, though.”
Ross smiled and placed a hand on his bulging belly. “We miss you around here. You ever wanna come back, there’s always a spot for you.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. Ross was a good boss. And in the restaurant business, that was sometimes hard to find.
“Actually—you wanna work over Parents’ Weekend?”
I grinned. Oh, hell yeah. Parents’ Weekend was the best.
“Guaranteed to be a good night for tips,” Ross continued as if he had to convince me to come in. “And most of our student servers want the weekend off because their own parents—” Ross’s face dropped, his cheeks turning a ruddy color. “Crap. I’m sorry, Shelby. I wasn’t thinking.”
A knot bulged in my throat at the thought of my mom. “It’s okay, Ross. I’d love to take a shift. At least one night that weekend.”
He sighed and ran a hand over his goatee. “Perfect. I’ll put you on the schedule and let you know.”
I glanced at Reagan and Harrison, whose drinks just arrived, and untied my apron. “You cool with me having a drink or two with my friends over there?”
He chuckled with a glance at the bar, the heaviness lifting from his sagging features. “Hell, not like we have any other customers hanging around. Knock yourself out.”
My phone buzzed, and Tate’s message blinked at me.
Want to come over tonight when I’m done with poker?
Sure. I’m at Magnolia’s with Harrison and Reagan. I’ll swing by after.
“So, what are you two doing here?” I sank into a seat, and even though it wasn’t a busy night at all, my feet still throbbed from being on them all day. Dave