"Sorry, did you need something?" This is the first time she's approached me and I hope like hell it's personal. Even if I'm almost certain it's not.
"I was just seeing if it's okay for me to head out. Everything is cleared up and put away." Her phone is in her hand and she looks nervous to be asking.
"Sure, is everything okay?" Surely, she would have asked earlier if it was an emergency.
She lifts her head up, staring at the ceiling and sighs. "Yeah, for the most part. But these kids are pushing all of my buttons today." She finally brings her attention back to me, "sorry, that was totally unprofessional."
"It's okay." I hold up my hands, "I may not have kids, but I know how hard it can be with teens."
Her head tilts to the side. "How?"
"I have a little brother. He's in high school, and as much as I'd like to say I'm the cool older brother, I don't understand what he's talking about half the time."
"Ah, so we're in the same boat."
I shrug, “pretty much. But if you need to go, that's completely okay." I watch her type out something on her phone. "You have the shift for tomorrow night, right?"
"Uh huh." She's not paying much attention as she heads toward the door, but she stops as if someone just hit the brakes. "Actually, I may be a tad bit late. My son has games tomorrow, and they should be done before I have to come in. But, you know, just in case I'm not here early, you know what's going on."
"No problem," I wave her toward the door. This is my shot to ask her to dinner. But she's out the door before I can say another word. "Damn it."
Lisa comes up behind me and pats me on the shoulder. "Smooth."
"Shut up," I push her hand away, "what was I supposed to do? If I would have asked her on a date when she clearly had her hands full with her kids, I would have looked like an asshole."
"You're not wrong there." She grabs my arm and pulls me toward the bar, "for someone who is a notorious flirt, you aren't so great at it when it comes to Joan."
"Whatever." Our coworkers are filing out the front door, and I pull out a barstool, taking a seat. "What would you have done?"
"I literally warned you away from asking her out a few hours ago, and now you're asking for my advice?"
"I'm a glutton for punishment."
"Maybe don't try to relate to her so hard. I know you think you're on the same footing because you help your mom with your brother, but you're not. You get to go home at the end of the day. She doesn't."
"So, I'm supposed to just be myself?" Sighing, I run a hand through my hair, "that hasn't worked so far. I figured I would switch it up."
"Yeah, don't do that. She'll either come around, or she won't." She pats my shoulder and heads toward the door. "I think you may have finally found someone resistant to your charm." And with that my best friend walks out the door. She definitely knows how to make an exit.
Hmph. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever admit I've met my match.
4
Joan
Ten minutesuntil I have to clock in, and I’m five minutes away. My fingers tap, tap, tap against the steering wheel while I wait for this stupid light to turn green. There isn’t even anyone at the other lights. While I enjoy the smalltown vibe, I don’t love the traffic situation. It’s worse than the city in some ways.
Finally, the light I’ve been stuck at for what seems like ages is green. As much as I want to haul ass through this light and town to get to work, I don’t need a speeding ticket on my record. Not when I’m about to begin driving lessons with Isaac.
Everyone in town must be at the bar and their own sporting events because the traffic is light as I make my way to Out of the Ashes. Could I have gotten a job closer to home? Probably. But I don’t think the work environment would have been quite as laid back as it is here.
Pulling into the parking lot, I glance at the time. Two minutes. I’m cutting it close. Being to work a minimum of fifteen minutes early is something I always strive for, but I couldn’t make that happen today. Isaac’s game was delayed because the one prior to it went into overtime. Being a sports mom isn’t for the faint of heart.
I throw the car in park before turning it off and grabbing my phone and wallet. The wind catches the door as I swing it open and I have to hurl myself at it to keep it from hitting the car next to me. Another expense I definitely do not need.
My phone is vibrating in my hand as I press the button to lock the car. I swear if it’s one of the kids, I might scream. The phone stops vibrating for two seconds and starts again. A quick glance at the phone, and I sigh as I swipe across the screen. “Please tell me you aren’t already fighting.”
“Abby won’t give me the charger and my phone is about to die.” They act like it’s the end of the world if their phone dies. I remember a time when we didn’t have phones glued to our hands. But, alas, the advancement of technology has hit us full force.
