He was a good guy, a cop for goodness sake. He had to wonder about me, especial y since I spent time with his friends. Now he’d figured me out and obviously wanted to rescue me. Although, I wouldn’t mind being rescued by Eddie, what happened after that? What happened when he realized that I wasn’t interesting and exciting? What happened when he found out I was real y Just Jet?
I didn’t want to know.
“He’s what?” Mom snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Nothing. We’l see. Just don’t get excited, okay?” She nodded but she stil looked dreamy.
Wonderful.
I thought about the fifty in my wal et.
“You’ve been cooped up in here for days. I’m wheeling you down to Chipotle for lunch. Ada, you comin’? My treat.” Ada smiled, “I’d love to, I never go anywhere.”
“Al right ladies, we’re movin’ out.”
Food, I found, was always a good way of getting people’s minds off things, including handsome cops with fancy trucks.
* * * * *
I made it to Smithie’s on time because Lenny picked me up and took me in. The minute Smithie saw me, his eyes rol ed to the ceiling and he shouted, “It’s a f**kin’ miracle!” I smiled at him as I handed him my jeans jacket and purse and he handed me my apron and an envelope.
“Your cel ’s stil in the pocket. The envelope has your tips from last night. Your f**kin’ flea-bitten, ratty-ass sweater is behind the bar.”
“Thanks, Smithie,” I said.
I opened the top of the envelope, which was tucked in and flipped through the notes. I kept a running tal y of my tips, mental y paying bil s and buying groceries the minute I made the money. As I flipped through the notes, I decided I’d done a miscalculation because, if my calculation was correct, there were two hundred more dol ars than I expected to be there and that was impossible.
I’d remember an extra two hundred dol ars. I’d remember an extra two dol ars.
It was packed last night but the tips weren’t that good.
I flipped through it again and the two hundred dol ars were stil there.
“Smithie, I think you gave me part of my float.” And part of everyone else’s float too.
Smithie’s head was turned away, looking at the stage and he didn’t look at me when he spoke. “Nope. That’s what was in your apron after I cashed you out.” I stared at him.
“Smithie, there’s an extra two hundred dol ars in here.
Maybe you accidental y gave me…”
His head turned to me, “It was in your f**kin’ apron.”
“Smithie…” I started again.
His hand went up and he had a funny look on his face. It was then that I knew he’d slipped in the extra money.
I’d started at Smithie’s in the days when Mom was stil bad. Back then, I’d drag in after visiting her in the hospital.
He knew about Mom and my job at Fortnum’s and now he knew about my car.
knew about my car.
My heart clutched, my eyes fil ed with tears and I opened my mouth to speak but he leaned in to me.
“Don’t f**kin’ cry and don’t say another f**kin’ word. I don’t want this gettin’ around. As far as you’re concerned, that was your take last night. Do you f**kin’ understand me?”
I nodded.