Shit.
“What… uh… What did they say?” I ask.
“Oh, just that they saw Olly and you down at the Farmers Market this morning. One of them said something about Olly looking at you like he wants to, and I quote, ‘eat you like a juicy peach.’”
Do these ladies have no self-control? Oh, who am I kidding? They’re my spirit animals, minus the gossip.
“He doesnotlook at me like that.” But that doesn’t stopmefrom looking athimlike that. His thighs. I dream about those fuckers wrapped around my neck as I suck his dick within an inch of his life.
“I think it’s time you start opening your eyes, Jasper.”
“Yep… Oh, no, you there? I think you’re cutting out. Must… be… a… bad… signal.”
Marcus sighs into the phone. “Fine. Just call Jacob, please.”
“I will.”
AfterdroppingJasperoffat Ink Me for his shift, I unloaded this week’s fresh catch and finally got around to fixing the light out by the dumpsters.
Now I’m about to have a long overdue conversation with Darcy when she pops her head in my doorway, and I gesture to her. “Have a seat. There’s something I wanna run by you.”
She gives me weary eyes but sits down. “It’s nothing bad, I swear,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s just… Well, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I want to take a step back from The Diner. Focus on something I enjoy doing. Not that I don’t love The Diner. And I’ll still be around, still be helping on busy nights,” I’m quick to reiterate.
She pats my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “It looks like your timing of hiring Dillon was perfect.”
Sometimes, things fall into place without realizing you needed them to fall into place.
“Yes, it was. However, I was also considering adding a new assistant manager and with that, promoting you to manager. I understand there will be additional workload and stress, but I would compensate with a significant raise. The Diner has always done well, and my grandfather had great business sense. In my opinion, this is the ideal direction for the restaurant, and it’s the right time.”
Umm, she’s staring at me. I can’t tell if it’s a good stare or…“So, what do you say?”
“Are you sure, Olly? I mean, I barely have a high school diploma. I’m just a waitress.”
Now it’s my turn to pat her hand. “We both know that’s false. You’ve worked here for over eight years. Your knowledge of running this place surpasses any degree. You’ve pretty much been the assistant manager since you started. Plus, I’ll let you choose who you hire to fill your old position. I believe in your ability to do this, Darcy.”
She squares her shoulders and nods her head. “Ok, let’s do it. I’m in.”
“Perfect. How about if next week we sit down and hammer out the details? I’ll make a home office for myself, so you can have this one.”
She looks at me in surprise. “I get an office?”
“Well, yeah. Trust me, you will want a place to run and hide when you’re doing the scheduling.”
“I never thought…” she trails off, her eyes scanning the small office.
“I know it’s tiny, but you can decorate it however you want. This chair is on its last leg, so please pick out a new one. Let me know and I’ll get it ordered.”
Darcy’s smile is the stuff of dreams. “I accepted my fate as a waitress. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just, I don’t know. I love this industry but always dreamed of something a little more, you know?”
I nod my head because I do. People’s perception of the food industry is often negative, overlooking the hidden beauty within it.
It’s all the genuine conversations that happen around a warm meal. That’s why our weekly family dinner carries such importance for me. People from different backgrounds coming together for food and conversation.
“Well, I’m happy that you ended up here, Darcy. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Softclassicrockplaysquietly through my kitchen speakers. Mazie seems to enjoy it, although her eyes are growing sleepy.
There’s homemade angel food cake cooling on the counter, fresh strawberries cut up and ready to go, and… I even plan on making whipped cream from scratch.
