I thought of myself as a naturally nice person. My mom had raised me with the decency not to be snobby, and I wasn’t one of those rich kids who didn’t know how to treat people. Although I’d grown up sheltered, my heart was made of gold. I knew from a young age that everyone deserved to be as appreciated as the next, no matter if you came from the richest family or the poorest.
When I got back over to the booth, I didn’t turn my legs inward. Instead, I left them outward and crossed them over my lap with the application sitting neatly on the table beside me. The diner was packed, which only heightened my nervousness as I waited for the manager to walk over to me. I watched her as she got closer and stood to greet her.
“I’m Regina.” I stuck my hand out to shake hers.
“Ms. Audrey.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Audrey. I don’t want to keep you long, but I was looking over the application, and I see you asked for prior work experience. Now, I don’t want you to be alarmed, but I’ve never had a job before. But let me tell you a few things about myself. I’ve been singing since the age of five. I got a voice on me that many people cannot believe. If you want me to audition, I have no problem. So, I was thinking that I could come here and maybe entertain some of your guests, and you could pay me whatever you see fit.”
I had it all worked out in my mind. I knew soldiers were stuck here on base day in and day out. They could provide a little entertainment, and I wanted to help with that. Besides, I was desperate. I needed her to say yes.
I could tell by the polite smile Ms. Audrey flashed that she wasn’t going to say yes. I’d seen that smile before. It was the smile my mom always gave when she was already saying no in her head. I knew it well.
“That’s nice. Gina, did you say?”
“Yes, ma’am. My name is Gina.”
“Okay.” She took the application from my hand before letting it fall to her side. “We’re not exactly in the market for a singer right now, but I do have an opening for a cook. The job pays eighteen dollars an hour, and I will give you sufficient hours to make it worth coming here. Although I don’t have what you’re looking for, we’d be happy to have you.”
“I really appreciate that, Ms. Audrey, but I don’t know how to cook. I’ve never cooked a day in my life.”
“Okay, that’s fine. What about waiting tables?” I hesitated to tell her I didn’t know how to do that either. My pause caused her to continue trying to convince me. “I can take one of my waiters off the tables, put her as the cook, and I’ll make you a waitress.”
“I don’t know anything about waiting tables either.”
I dropped my head after letting the words roll from my lips. People were starting to tune in to our conversation, and I was becoming more embarrassed by the second. To make matters worse, I saw him when he came through the door with his eyes already locked on me.
Just as the manager and I were finishing up our conversation, he and his entourage were getting closer to where we were standing. They slid one by one into the booth right next to us. He gave me a sexy nod as he sat with the rest of his people.
I wanted so badly not to acknowledge him, but after the way the butterflies flew in my stomach as soon as my eyes landed on him, I knew there was no way I could act like I didn’t see him. I shot him a quick smile before returning my attention to the conversation I’d all but tuned out. If it wasn’t for her scratching her throat to bring my attention back to her, I would’ve forgotten she was standing there at all.
“I’m sorry, but unless you’re willing to be a cook or waitress, I don’t have anything for you.”
“Please, just give me a chance. Let me audition. I could start right now.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she said, holding up her hand to stop me. “Like I said, we’re not in the market for a singer.” She handed the application back and turned on her heels, letting me know that I’d taken up enough of her time.
In that moment, I knew I was a little out of my arena. I’d stood there, begging for a position that didn’t exist. All my life, I’d seen myself as hyper independent because I was always alone and had to be. But the truth was, although my parents weren’t around, I was never alone.
I had people willing to bend to my every whim, which was why I expected the same thing here. I was used to getting what I wanted. So, when I asked her to create a position for me, I thought,what the hell? Surely, she would do it.This was my firsttaste of knowing what it felt like to not have everything I wanted, and I didn’t like it at all.
Sinking back into my seat, I let my head drop for a second. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I didn’t even have a place to stay. I’d slept in my rental car last night, and I only had a few more days before I had to turn it in. I needed a job, and not only that, but I also needed a place to stay. For the first time in my life, I had to figure things out without my parents’ name or money.
Before I could soak in my unhappiness, he slid into the booth with me just as he had the night before. He pushed his body up as close as he could get to me. I wasn’t in the mood for company, but the way he looked at me let me know he wasn’t going anywhere. If I hadn’t learned anything else about him the night before, I knew he was not only cocky but also pushy as hell.
“So you looking for a job means you planning on being around for a little while? His nosy ass had been listening to our conversation.
“Well, it looks like I won’t get any luck here.”
“Maybe you would if you stopped being so stuck in your own ways.” He hinted at what he’d just talked to me about the night prior.
“This is not me being stuck in my own ways. I honestly don’t know how to do anything but sing. Singing is all I’ve ever done,”
“Just because singing is all you’ve ever done, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something new. You got people here that’s willing to teach you whatever you need to know, but you keep getting in your own way. Why is that?”
I didn’t have an answer to his question. Everything that came out of Ramel’s mouth made so much sense, but it was still hard to hear. As much as I wanted to deny it, he was right. I had to start learning different things, or else I wasn’t going to make it out there in the world alone.
“You’re right,” I agreed, finally letting my eyes meet his.
