“What am I going to do when you leave? I think I’ll starve!”
Scott gave her a grin before rubbing the back of hishand across his sweaty forehead. The grill must be hot today. People always wondered why restaurants were so chilly. No one wants their cook sweating over their food. Hailey realized if she told her guests the manager was turning down the air conditioning, they always just believed it was happening. Bamboozled!
“Too hot back there?” Hailey prodded.
“Only when you’re around.”
“Ha! You’re crazy,” Hailey shook her head at him. “Where are you moving again?”
“Chicago. I got an in at a fancy restaurant out there and I’ll be closer to family.”
“Oh, what kind of restaurant?”
“It’s Italian, my specialty. Better gig than this place. How many tables have you had?”
Hailey sighed, “Just two. Raking in the big bucks today.”
“Same here,” Anne added. “I spent more on gas getting here than I’m making today.”
The day shifts were always a hit or miss. Today was definitely a miss. Between her two tables, she made ten bucks so far. This is why she had to pick up some shifts at the gym for some stable money. Also, free gym membership.
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a late lunch rush,” Scott added.
“Here’s hoping,” Hailey said before feeling a handon her arm.
Anne pulled her aside and whispered, “You know he wants you, right?”
Hailey got confused because she assumed she was talking about her useless boyfriend. “What? No, I just told you I’m thinking about leaving him.”
“Not Gage! I’m talking about Scott. Can’t you tell he’s flirting with you?”
Hailey took a peek back at Scott and caught him looking at her with his brown eyes before turning back to Anne.
“You’re crazy. He’s just being nice. Plus, he’s moving, not to mention he’s married. What would he want to do with me?”
“I can think of a few things he’d like to do with you,” Anne said while waggling her eyebrows.
“Ha! Well, that’s not happening. I’m not interested in him like that. He’s not my type.”
In fact, maybe her type had much lighter hair, though Hailey shook that thought away.
Anne gave her an appraising look before moving on. “You have to come to the party! Who else am I going to talk to?”
“Literally everyone else there?” Hailey chuckled. “Everyone here loves you so you’ll be just fine if I can’t make it.”
“Fine. But, try atleast?”
“I’ll try, but no promises.”
Anne gave her a knowing look. If Hailey could choose between going out to a party or sitting at home on her couch binge-watching “The Office,” she would always choose the latter. Especially because Friday night was Bridget’s bachelorette party. Two parties in one week? Talk about overkill.
Of course, socializing would be good for her, but it was so much effort for Hailey so if she didn’t have to go somewhere she always found a reason to get out of it. She’d claimed so many headaches over the past year and celebrated when plans were canceled.
Hailey started daydreaming about her weighted blanket at home and looked forward to getting back under it. Of course she wouldn’t flake on Bridget’s bach party, but she would likely be exhausted for the next week so going out after a shift didn’t sound amazing to her.
“Holy crap, I’m actually getting a table,” Anne said, breaking her away from her daydreams.
“Oh shiiiiiit, I hope they order all the liquor and tip you big.”
