Lee's smile was radiant. "Really?"
"Yep," I answered.
"Great! When do you need me to start?" she asked.
"The sooner, the better," Cam replied.
Lee seemed to mull that over. "I'll have to shift some of my clients around. You'll mostly need me in the afternoons, correct?" she asked.
Cam nodded. "The shop is closed to customers on Monday, but we're open from two to eight Tuesday through Saturday and three to eight on Sunday. We come in early to prep, so noon to eight would be your usual shift most days once we're ready to have you here full-time."
She nodded. "Any idea when that might be?"
Cam looked at me and I answered for her. "Probably early next year."
"Okay. Can you give me a week to reschedule my cleaning clients before I start?"
"Of course," I answered.
Cam and Lee decided her first day would be toward the end of next week and she left with a smile still on her face.
"Now that the interview is done, on to more important things. Do we want to have lunch delivered or go to the cafe to eat?" I asked her.
"Pizza," Cam replied with a laugh.
"That's the reason we're friends—pizza."
"And because it's one of the only places in town that delivers. Just call it in. And get me a salad."
I shook my head. "Ruining a perfectly good pizza with salad. Maybe I was wrong about the reasons we're friends."
I grinned as she laughed again. But I got us both a salad when I ordered.
* * *
Cam insistedI go home a few hours before closing time because I'd put my foot down and told her she was leaving early tomorrow night and taking Sunday off. I'd wanted to argue about going home, but my feet were killing me. I still hadn't gotten used to being on them all the time. So, after picking up some frozen tamales, refried beans, and chips and salsa at the grocery store, I headed to her place to take a shower and put my feet up.
I'd just finished the former and was eager to begin the latter when my cell phone rang. I glanced at the screen and smiled. It was Ben.
"Hey, you," I said when I answered.
"Hey back. How was your day?"
"Long. Yours?"
I could hear the smile in his voice when he replied, "Same here." After a pause, he asked, "What are your plans for tonight?"
I squinted at the clock on the wall. Eight o'clock. Cam would be home in an hour and a half.
"I'm having dinner with Cam."
"What about tomorrow night?" he asked.
"I'm working at Crave until closing time, then nothing set in stone. Have any suggestions for what I should do?"
"You could come see me."
I stretched my back and winced. Damn, I was sore. "I'd love to, but I don't know if I'm up to it. I'm feeling a few aches and pains from working on my feet all day. I don't know how Cam does it."
