out their breaks and lunches. I’ve never had the balls to risk my paycheck. I sit down in the break room and put my feet up on a chair, rubbing the kinks out of my lower back. When my time is up I despondently reenter the chaos that is Oblivion. I approach the hostess stand to check on my tables, and as I do Kennedy and Henley, two other waitresses, are talking in hushed tones.
“He hasn’t been here all summer.”
“Did he get hotter?” Henley fans herself with a menu.
“Is that even possible? And look at his friends. They’re yummy too.”
“I heard he hooked up with Gen. She said he was a beast in bed.”
I follow their line of sight, interested in the beast, and my heart stills. Kent, Jake, Zeke, and two other guys I haven’t met are in the waiting area.
“I’ve got them,” I tell Kennedy and Henley, grabbing five menus. “Put them on table ten.”
“You sure?” Henley eyes me uncertainly. “You know who he is, right?”
“Yes.” What’s with that look? I can handle him. “I live with him.”
Their jaws drop.
As I approach Kent and his friends, I prepare myself. He isn’t like most men to me. He seems to extract strange, unwarranted reactions.
He spots me before anyone else, giving me a little private nod.
He looks so good tonight. His shirt is tight and dark blue, hugging his biceps and gripping his abdomen. He’s done his hair for once, leaving the fair mess tamed and styled. He takes me in as well, his gaze traveling over my face, my legs, and the words over my breasts.
“Hey,” I greet him, smiling shyly.
His smile is easy and crooked. “You’re kind of cute in your uniform.”
I dismiss the thought that I tried to be and quickly shield my body with the menus. “I thought I was supposed to be doing the flirting. Tips don’t make themselves, you know.”
“You flirt with men for tips?” He frowns, looking around the restaurant as if he can spot which ones.
“No, not particularly. I’m not good at it,” I admit.
“That’s because you don’t have to flirt. Men should be groveling to get your attention. Don’t settle for anything less.” Seeming to snap out of it, he chuckles and then runs a hand down his face. “We should practice that.”
“Flirting?”
“Yo, it’s Kent’s roommate,” Jake says, thankfully interrupting us.
“Roommate Kent’s it’s yo!” Zeke chimes in, grinning at me. “You want to dance later, I’m your man.”
“Where’s your girlfriend?” Kent barks, glaring at Zeke.
Zeke frowns. “Relax, Kent man. I’m kidding.”
“Well, stop. No one thinks it’s funny.”
Kent moves to block Zeke from me as I lead them to their booth. I hand them their menus and then look over my shoulder for Wayne. He’s busy at the register.
“Okay, guys, the first round is on me. Whatever you want.”
“I want a beer, a shot of tequila, and a Swiss mushroom burger with fries,” Kent says. “What time is your lunch?”
“Midnight.”
“Come hang out.”
“I will.”
After I take everyone’s order I bypass the POS system and go to the kitchen myself. “Joaquin?” I give him my most special hopeful face. “I need this order filled. I’ll be back to pick it up in a few.”
He looks it over. “You never ask me for favors. Is it a guy?”
“He’s a guy.”
“You’re cheating on me?” He pouts at me.
“What can I say? You’re married.”
“Fine. I got you, girl. You know that.”
“Thank you, Joaquin.”
“You got it, pretty lady.”
I head to the bar and eye Theodore, the bartender, flirting with a group of girls. He’s preoccupied. I quickly fill six shots and six beers, precariously balancing them all on the way over to the guys’ table. Kent helps me empty the trays. Our fingers brush when we reach for the same shot glass. The small contact makes my breath come faster.
“Have fun,” I tell him.
He makes a face as he takes his shot. “It helps when you flirt to stick your chest out. I don’t know about everyone else, but tits to me are key.”
I roll my eyes and leave, checking on my tables. He’s always such a pig. For the ten minutes I was with Kent and his friends I was sure I was gone forever. My tables are in a sense of disarray without me. When I’m done making sure they’re situated, I duck into the kitchen and get the order for Kent’s table. As I’m approaching I notice a woman chatting with him. He has his arm over the back of the booth as he fingers