Page 37 of Gravity

“Whatever.” She brushes me off and moves past Ryan. “Welcome to the team, Shortcake. Don’t piss me off and we’ll get along just fine.” With that, she heads out the back, leaving me irritated with her standoffish attitude.

Ryan looks at me and raises his brow. It seems Lacy is not one of the friendly ones to work here. “She can be a little frosty at times.”

“No shit.”

He laughs. “Right. As much as I would love to stay and chat, I need to take a break. Are you hanging around?”

“For a bit.” I yawn, stretching my arms. “I’m too tired to move right now.”

He smiles, heading out of the bar. “If you’re still here when I come back, I’ll bring you a blanket.”

“You’re too kind,” I shout, hearing him laugh as he disappears out of sight.

As my body relaxes even more, I rest my arm on the bar, tucking my hand under my chin, and look out of the window. The patio area is still busy, the customers enjoying the sunshine and good food, but inside has settled down as the lunchtime trade has passed.

Closing my eyes, I enjoy the calm that is around me. Working a waitressing job had not been what I’d had in mind for the summer. I had hoped I’d get some work in the Aquarium, regardless of what it would have entailed, but there had been nothing going. Anything would have been good for me in that place, allowing me to be around the sea creatures and the turtles for the day.

“Keeping you up, Shortcake?”

I jump at the sound of Grayson’s voice. “What? No. I was just…” My cheeks instantly heat at the sight of him, but I roll my eyes and groan, attempting to hide my sudden reaction to him. “God, my feet are so sore.”

He laughs. “Yeah, Ryan texted to say it was a little busy.”

“A little? Jeez, I can’t wait for when it’s really busy then.”

He takes a seat on the barstool next to me and his sandalwood and musk fragrance makes my stomach tighten as it hits my senses. He’s dressed in dark wash jeans and a black dress shirt that’s rolled up at the sleeves. Like always, his large frame instantly gives me that sense of protection I’ve always got when around him, covering me with a warmth I never tire of.

We hold each other’s gaze for a second before a soft smile spreads across his lips. “So, apart from your feet, how did your first day go?”

“Well, I didn’t drop food on anyone’s lap, so I guess that’s a bonus.”

“Give it time.”

“Oh, thanks for the vote of confidence. Some friend you are.”

He grins. “Everyone’s done it. Even me.”

“You have?”

“Sure. A large amount of chocolate ice cream over a very white dress.”

My eyes widen. “Oh no.”

“She deserved it though.”

“She did?”

“Fuck yes. I didn’t like the way she was treating and talking to my staff. She kept complaining that her order was wrong and that everything served was cold. Which it wasn’t. So, I gave her something to actually be pissed about and accidently but very much on purpose chucked her dessert in her lap.”

“Grayson Bennett. I never knew you had it in you.” I laugh.

“She caught me on a very bad day, and I wasn’t having any of it. Her face was a picture when I told her I wasn’t going to pay for her dry-cleaning bill because her attitude was disgraceful. She soon left with a face like she’d swallowed a wasp. She brightened up my day that’s for sure.”

“I always brighten up your day, Grayson,” Lacy says rounding the bar and standing to face us. “That’s why you can’t get enough of me.” She leans toward Gray and rests herself so her breasts are on show even more than they were when she entered the building. But it’s when she gives me a sly smirk that I have to swallow the irritation she’s just inflicted.

“Lacy. I didn’t think you were on the schedule to work today.”

“I swapped with Clara.” She leans closer. “And when I knew I’d be working with my favorite guy, I couldn’t say no.”