“Le Ciel Rouge Reserve,” Sarah cuts in for him.
“Yeah that,” he smiles. “It’s the reco—”
I cut him off, already typing into my tablet. “You can't have that wine because it's very acidic and you have a problem with thatif you have anything acidic after 7:00 p.m. unless you drink a bunch of water which makes you sick so don't be stupid.”
Then I catch myself, my eyes widening, gasping softly. “I-I'm so sorry. I don't… I'm so sorry,” I stutter nervously.
“Youshouldbe. Where's your manager?” Sarah asks, looking around.
“That won’t be necessary. I'm so sorry, it's been a long day and—”
“I don't give adamnif it's been a long day. This is yourjob.Wehave jobstooyou know, and when we come here we expect to be served. We're paying for a level of excellence at this place and you arenotit,” Sarah says with an easy tone that tells me she places herself above me in station.
I bow with a quick head nod and smile politely, “You're so right. If you really need the manager I can go get them for you. But if you would let me, I'd love to make the rest of your night memorable and a pleasurable experience.”
I need to get myself together because I don't want to lose my job.
Sarah blinks at me, still with that simmering flame in her eyes.
“We're not getting any manager. You're doing really well Gabrielle. I'll have that order. I trust you,” he says, smiling at me kindly.
His eyes look so… somber. It's like he's looking straight through my soul. All the guards I've put up around my heart, it's like he's standing on a golden ladder and peeking over them withthe confidence of someone knowing he'll get in eventually. I feel violated.
Swallowing loudly, I nod and turn on my heels to head back with the order.
Why do I feel like crying right now?
-??-
Chapter 28
I call out, “I have the order for table 16,” and hand it off before walking away. There's chatter everywhere, but I find the hallway toward the bathrooms. I brace my elbow on the wall and lean my forehead onto my forearm as I cry.
All the stress from work, the fact that this is my birthday and I'm not going to break, all the pain I feel all over my body, and now the reopened wounds of my heartache are just too much right now. I just cry.
It's quiet back here. Even if someone sees me, it isn't the first time a waitress has cried her eyes out on shift. As long as I get myself back together and don't do it in front of customers, it's fine.
“Why are you working so hard on your birthday?” a deep voice vibrates through me from behind, causing me to almost jump out of my skin.
My whole body stiffens. Turning away from the person, making sure my back is fully to them, I wipe my face quickly, taking a napkin and blowing my nose.
It's Lincoln. I can recognize his voice from anywhere, and I don't want him to see me like this.
I turn only halfway, just enough that he can see the left side of my face. I sniff, force a smile, and keep my eyes on the wall instead of on him as he stands there to my left.
“Um… sir, your order will be out—”
“Gabrielle,” he cuts me off with a gentleness in his voice that I need right now.
Closing my eyes momentarily, I hiccup in an attempt to hold back another sob.
“I'll be right with you just please… give me a minute,” I say, trying to maintain my professionality.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
No, I'm not okay.
I want nothing more than to tell him how not okay I am. How hurt I am. How much pain I'm still in from what he did to me, even though it's a couple of years later. It still feels raw.
