thirty living in Tyler, Rossview, or the surrounding areas doesn't know Carter and Owen?
"I went to Rossview High, didn't I?" I bite, my tone dripping with bitchiness. What's it to her? "Sorry, yes, I know them," I amend when Gina's lips curl into a catty sneer.
Technically, Owen and I haven't met. He graduated before Carter and I entered high school, but he was a football star at Rossview, immortalized on the walls outside the gymnasium. His family is neighbors with Carter's. The Coopers and Henrys are affluent members of Rossview. The Womicks are not.
"Are you seeing one of them?" Gina asks after a beat of silence.
My finger stills over the button for the nachos Carter ordered. "Am I seeing one of them?" I hit the nachos and close out the screen. "How is that any of your business, Gina?"
"There's no need to be defensive. I figured since you're new I should tell you what's up—"
Oh, she'd tell me what's up? My shoes squeak as I turn on my toes and face her. "Yeah, no," I say with meaning. "You're new." From what I've learned in my four days on the job, the girl moved to town last year. "I'm from Rossview. I consider this my home. That boy at my table? I spent four years around him, and if they asked to sit in my section, they had their reasons. I'm serving food and drinks, and that's all. That's what's up."
Gina puts distance between us, her jaw dropping, and I have no clue what in the hell comes over me, but I close the gap she created. "But, if I decide to serve him, or any of them, something other than what's on the menu, it will be my business. Got it?" My heart hammers against my ribcage as I leave my co-worker standing slack-jawed.
As if he's waiting for a glimpse of me, I find Carter's stare when I step around the corner and into view. He tips his head with a subtle smile and turns to Owen and speaks. My oh my, what a pretty face he has. Pretty is a ridiculous compliment for a guy, but, damn, it's true. The man is perfection. Owen is rugged and appealing in a messy way, the twins are gorgeous while quirky—a side effect of their personalities—but Carter…
I release a deep sigh and scrape my fingers through my hair—Carter Cooper flips my stomach and turns my mouth dry. He's done it since day one. I’m embarrassed he affects me this way after three years of college. I know guys from all over the country, and none of them short circuit my rational thought process the way one glance from Carter does.
Stop. These thoughts are nothing but the remnants of a high school crush.
I return to work—checking in with my tables, clearing an empty glass, grabbing a credit card to run a check—all the while ignoring the party of four burning holes in my back as they watch my every move. Another waitress delivers their drinks while I'm busy, buying me an extra five minutes. When my continued ignoring of them risks my job, I settle on employing the 'walk by and nod' technique. If I'm lucky, they'll return my smile and need nothing.
"Hey, Jess?" Finn waves his empty beer bottle and holds up two fingers, signaling his brother.
Ugh, screw you, luck.
I stop on Owen's side of their oval tabletop, though they're squished together and facing the television. "Another round for the lads. You two good?" I scan Owen and Carter's drinks while keeping my eyes at chest level. A benefit of every table being bar height is the ease on our backs. A downfall? Being face-to-face with customers when I don't want to be.
Owen says he's all set, but Carter is silent. He tips his full bottle, and if I had the guts to meet his eyes, I'm sure he'd signal he's fine, but I refuse to look for my own good.
Oh, stupid, stupid eyes. My gaze falls on him despite my best effort. "You good?" I verify with a detached smile.
Carter's light eyes flare, and the corner of his mouth lifts. "I'm good, thanks."
His deep tone shoots thrills up my spine, and I retreat and slam into a human wall. Hands grab as we steady each other. "Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me," I say, catching my breath and blinking up at the stocky guy before me.
"No harm, no foul." He smirks, his eyes taking me in before he releases my elbow.
Fifteen