out of this place before then, but sometimes, like tonight, I have no choice in the matter.
Gigi called off, Hilary couldn’t get a babysitter, and Amy doesn’t get back from vacation until tomorrow, so Kayla and I had to split her shift. It’s now almost one a.m. and close to time for me to get out of this nightmare, which I’ve been at since noon.
Kayla gives me an irritated look once we meet up at the front desk. “I wish they would just fire Gigi already. This is getting ridiculous. Do you know that my shift starts at nine a.m. and ends at five? How do they expect me to function during the daytime rushes when I have to be here right now to cover this bitch’s shift?”
I shake my head while clocking out, and then reach under the desk for some of my things. “I know. I’ve been here all day and I’m tired of this crap too. I’ll talk to Pete tomorrow—after I get some rest—and tell him that he needs to hire someone else because we can’t keep doing this anymore.”
“Don’t you have some vacation days to use up soon? There’s no way I can handle this crap job without you unless he gets us someone else.”
“Yeah, I have to use them by next week or I lose them. You know Logan though. I likely won’t be using them, because I’ll have no reason to. I’ll end up stuck here, taking on late shifts and filling in for incompetent employees.”
“I hope so.”
“Well, that’s real nice. What a friend you are.”
Kayla laughs and reaches for her bottle of soda. “I’m sorry, but it’s true. I need you here with me, so I’m sort of glad that Logan is always too busy for you.”
“Hey!”
“Again, I’m sorry. But you know it’s true. You two have been dating for almost two years now and he’s never taken you anywhere. I mean at all. Not the movies. Not out dancing. Not on any vacations. Nothing. Just dinner that he always seems to get rushed through. It’s a little pathetic. My worst boyfriend was better than that.”
I lean against the desk, somewhat feeling sorry for myself now that I’ve had to listen to it come from someone else’s mouth. “Yeah, well… I knew what I was getting into with him when we met. I can’t complain now, and I won’t. He’s a good guy and he treats me well. What else could a girl want?”
Kayla gives me a duh look and leans in close to me from the opposite end of the desk. “Some excitement. How about that for one? Some wild, crazy sex on occasion. There are two. A guy who takes her places to meet his friends… That’s three. Should I keep going?”
“Okay.” I stand back up and release a frustrated breath, wishing that she’d stop pointing out all the obvious things I’ve been trying to deny. “I guess. But I’m sure he will when he’s not busy. Besides, none of his close friends live around here. He hasn’t seen them since we’ve been together.”
“Isn’t that trip you’re always talking about coming up this weekend or something? Let me guess. He’s not going again?”
“Yes and no. His little brother is at his house now and I guess he’s heading out on Thursday.”
Kayla is quick to perk up at the mention of Madden. “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Madden Parker is here in town and you failed to mention that to me?”
“He’s a manwhore, Kayla. Trust me, you don’t want to meet him or else you’ll end up in his bed with a broken heart just like every single girl he’s slept with.”
“And your point is?”
I laugh and begin walking away. “You don’t want to be one of those girls. Everyone thinks they can handle it until experiencing it. I’ve heard it takes years to get over a guy like Madden Parker.”
“With looks like that I wouldn’t care if it took ten years, as long as I got my one night with that man.”
“Bye, Kayla!”
“Yeah. Whatever.” She waves me off with a dreamy look in her eyes. “I’m daydreaming now. Just go so I can be alone in my thoughts of that sexy as hell rock star since you won’t bring him here for me to meet. Or will you?”
The front desk phone rings and I’m thankful for the distraction.
“Good luck with that.”
“Ugh. You’re lucky.” She throws her head back and grunts, before picking up the phone.