"Yeah, it wasn't serious, but it shook the team up, and because they're not local, they need to get a new van."
I walk around the middle of the room, which is clear of all furniture at the moment. Each team opens on a Sunday and closes on the following Sunday, giving the next team five days to get their kitchen up and running, as well as any decor changes they may have requested. Which means…
"Fuck. Are they fucking kidding us?" I run my hand through my hair, pulling it tight. "What are we going to do? We have three days to contact all of our suppliers and get them to deliver two weeks early. The recipe cards haven't arrived from the production team because they're not supposed to be ready for another two freaking weeks."
Sky comes over and takes my hands in his. "Hey…hey…look at me. We're gonna make this happen, okay? The production team will help us with what they can, right? They've been cool so far."
He’s right. Apart from the constant questions about whether Sky and I are a couple or not and incessantly trying to catch us in an intimate moment, they’ve been pretty good.
“Okay, I’ll ask Tanner to move my shifts. Can I go home with you tonight? I don’t think I’ll be able to settle on my own.” I hate to ask the question, but I'm too wound up to care.
"I was counting on it. Now, let's go back before you get in trouble."
My face gives me away when we leave the room because Molly looks at me and then Sky. As soon as I'm behind the bar, she pulls me to the staff area.
"Are you okay? Is everything okay between you and Skyler?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?"
She shrugs. "I don't know. New relationships are tough—"
"Wait…what?"
"Oh, stop pretending. You're not the first, or even the second, guy here to shack up with a customer."
"I'm not…" I start, but she gives me a look that shuts me up.
"Anyway, what's wrong?"
I give Molly a brief summary, and she declares a staff meeting at the end of the shift.
Tanner raises a brow but doesn't shut her down.
Sky spends most of the rest of my shift, sitting at the bar and nursing a cider while snaking on a bowl of chips I gave him. I am most definitely considering future forms of stress relief, and I can't have him drunk for it.
He also seems to disappear outside a few times, and every time he comes back, he looks a lot happier.
As soon as we close the bar and start cleaning, Molly takes it upon herself to gather the troops. It's crazy how much that girl is a natural on stage.
"I spoke to a few suppliers, and we're going to start getting deliveries tomorrow morning," Sky says. "But the production team has an issue with their printers and can't get the menus to us in time."
"Are we supposed to sing the menu to the diners?" I ask, trying to keep my temper in check as I clean the tables.
"I volunteer as a tribute," Molly says, raising her hand.
Even in my currently stressed state, I consider the merits of that. Molly does have a beautiful voice.
"How about Auden?" Rainn says.
"Who's Auden?" I ask.
"He used to work here, but now he runs Imprescott Designs with his boyfriend, Carter. They're a bit upmarket, but they're local, and the advertising will be good for their business."
"Anyone up for picking up Judson's shifts?" Tanner asks.
A few hands raise.
"Okay, now that's arranged, Judson and Skyler, go home," Tanner says.
