The Sophomore (College Years #2) - Monica Murphy Page 0,108
dishes in a tub so I can take them back to the kitchen, not bothering to check on who’s sitting outside.
That’s my first mistake.
“Hey cutie.”
I ignore the slurring male voice, thinking he must be talking to someone else.
“Sweetheart. Come over here,” the same voice asks a minute later. There’s pounding on the table, making the glasses rattle. “I have a question for you.”
Okay. Pretty sure he’s talking to me.
I glance over my shoulder to see an older guy sitting alone, a few empty beer glasses sitting on the table in front of him. He tips to the side on his stool, almost falling off of it, and I’d make the assumption that he’s pretty drunk.
Ugh.
“Can I help you?” I ask, pasting a polite smile on my face.
“Damn, you’re pretty.” He blinks at me, as if he’s trying to bring me into focus. “Wanna come sit with me? Chat for a few?”
“I’m working,” I say, my voice flat. God, I really hate creepers.
“Yeah, whatever. Think you’re too good for me, don’t ya? Get me another one of these then.” He waves his index finger at the empty glasses. “And hurry. I’ve been waiting fifteen minutes for that asshole bartender of yours to bring me my order.”
“Give me a few minutes,” I tell him as I quickly wipe down the table I’m standing next to.
“I’ve already been waiting. Knowing that guy, he’s gonna come over here and kick me out. It’s happened before.” He barks out a laugh, then burps.
Ew.
With my smile frozen in place, I tell him, “I’ll be right back.”
I hurriedly leave the patio area, bursting through the double doors into the restaurant and stopping by the bar to let Chuck know the guy outside wants another beer.
“The dark-haired guy sitting alone? Yeah, he already tried ordering another beer, and I told him no.” Chuck shakes his head, his expression disgusted. “I refuse to serve him. He’s drunk as hell and belligerent. Had to kick him out of here myself last week. He was picking fights with other customers.”
“Oh.” My smile fades. “Well, maybe you could go tell him that you won’t serve him? I think he’s expecting you.”
“Ha, I bet he is. I’d be glad to.” Chuck wipes his hands on a clean, dry rag before tossing it down. “And if I have to kick him out again, so be it. We don’t get a lot of asshole drunks in this place, but he more than makes up for it.”
“Thank you, Chuck, for taking care of him,” I say. “I appreciate it.”
By the time I’m coming out of the kitchen, Chuck and another guy that works here are personally escorting the rowdy customer out of the restaurant, each of them holding one side of the guy, practically dragging him out. The customer is grumbling and carrying on, and when he spots me, he points a finger straight at me, his face bright red.
“It’s all your fault they’re kicking me out! You bitch!”
Everyone inside the building goes quiet, swiftly looking from him to me.
Oh God. This is so embarrassing.
“Come on, jackass,” Chuck mutters, jerking hard on the man’s arm. “You’re out of here.”
“I’m a paying customer! You can’t kick me out!” the man yells. “Don’t listen to that little bitch! I’m not drunk!”
I never said he was, though it’s fairly obvious. That was all Chuck.
Donna comes to stand beside me, slinging her arm around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s go to the back.”
I follow behind her to her office, feeling numb. I can’t believe that guy made such a scene. Worse, I can’t believe he dragged me into it, when I had nothing to do with what was happening.
Such a jerk.
“Are you okay?” Donna asks once we’re tucked away in her tiny office. “Do we need to write up a report about this guy?”
“What? No, I don’t think so. He’s just really drunk,” I tell her.
“Yeah well, he’s caused trouble here before. Tried to grab one of the girls last week. Chuck tossed him out, but he wouldn’t leave, so I had to call the cops,” Donna explains.
“Oh no.” At least he didn’t try to grab me. “He only said some stuff to me. Nothing too crazy.”
“He did call you a bitch,” Donna reminds me with a sigh as she walks over to her filing cabinet and pulls open the top drawer. “I’m going to have you fill this form out, just to document what happened. That way we’re all covered.”