“What on earth is going on?” I asked Bobby, the cook.
“Fundraiser day for the local elementary school. Every year Tiny donates a percentage of the day’s meals to Carter Elementary.”
“Are you going to just stand there or are you here to work?” Tiny’s wife Martha was plating orders and throwing them under the heat lamp. I hadn’t seen her since I’d been hired.
“No, no, of course.” I washed my hands and grabbed a ticket to see which orders went to which tables. “By the way, can I take my lunch at 1:00 today? I have…an appointment.”
“No lunches, no breaks today. We need all hands on deck.” Martha didn’t even look up at me as she was throwing orange slices on plates.
“Right, but we are legally supposed to take breaks every shift.”
She looked at me and her watery blue eyes were as serious as could be. “You gonna call the labor board? You’re free to leave if you got a problem, otherwise get these sandwiches to table 24.”
Tears sprung to my eyes as I grabbed the plates. I needed the interview to get a better job, but I needed this job to pay my immediate bills. I just hoped I’d be able to step away and at least call to let them know I couldn’t make it. And hope that they would reschedule me.
* * *
My feet were killing me.Actually, everything was killing me. My feet, my legs, my shoulders. Even my fingers.
I’d made decent money in tips, but I hadn’t had one second to sit down or even go to the bathroom. It wasn’t until we finally closed at 10 pm that I got the chance to check my phone. There were several text messages from Elizabeth Maroni wondering where I was. It was too late to call now, but I’d return her call first thing in the morning.
The night was chilly as I walked to the crosswalk to get my car from the gas station. I could hear music and laughing coming from the Blue Dog, but otherwise, the night was quiet.
Maybe I’d get a package of cookies or something from the gas station for dinner. I didn’t get to eat and there wasn’t anything at home, but I was too tired to go to the market.
Crossing the street, the awareness dawned on me and my stomach clenched in panic. Where was my car?
Frantic, I looked around. The gas station parking lot wasn’t exactly large, and it was very clear that my Honda was not there.
Bursting in the overly bright gas station, the clerk behind the counter was counting out lottery tickets for a woman holding a huge soda.
“Excuse me. Do you know where my car went?”
“Wait your turn, lady,” Lottery Woman said to me.
“I just want to know where my car is. Was it stolen or towed?” My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
The clerk didn’t even look up. “I dunno,” he said.
“Did you see a tow truck or anything?” Why was no one cooperating?
“Nope, I just got here.”
“Dammit.” I pushed the doors open and walked out into the brightly lit gas pump area. What the hell was I going to do now?
I stood out there for a full minute looking around. My apartment was only a couple of miles away. Should I walk home? Was it even safe in this neighborhood? Maybe I should call an Uber or something. Then again, I didn’t want to waste my precious dollars on a ride.
The first thing I needed to do is call the cops and see if the car was stolen. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and walked over to the space where I’d parked the car.
I was about to call the La Playa non-emergency police number when a voice spoke behind me. “It was probably towed. They’re pretty crazy about it in this town.”
I knew the voice before I even turned around.
“Ryder!” I swung around to face him.
“Paige.” He was looking down at me and I couldn’t help but notice those damn eyelashes again.
“I didn’t hear your bike.”
