The guilt I feel when I put it into my mouth grows as I chew.
It tastes as good as I suspected it would, but I’m not sure I can handle eating the rest.
Despite knowing I won’t get in trouble, my body’s still reacting as if I’m about to be punished.
I take my time with that first piece, sipping on the milk again after and silently hoping for Katie to appear and help me finish this food.
I know she would eat it in a heartbeat.
The chef is right, it would be a waste not to eat every bite.
I’m talking myself into eating another piece when there’s a creak from the other side of the room. Looking up, I see the entrance door is opening, being pushed inwards.
The chef glances over, and nods at whoever’s there.
I wait, knowing there isn’t another member of staff due to start working tonight.
The bar staff don’t enter the kitchen, and we don’t go behind their workstation, either.
I drop the pastry back onto the plate as Lana walks into the room.
She’s starting to talk to the chef, when she glances around and sees me.
“Oh, there you are, Robin!” she exclaims. “I was looking for you.”
“You were?” I ask, a little concerned.
The chef made it seem like the destroyed pastries weren’t a big deal, but I suppose he didn’t see how that happened. I guess I was right the first time. That Alpha must have reported it to Lana after I bumped into him. I should have been more careful, and I definitely shouldn’t have been staring at him so brazenly when he instinctively put an arm around me to keep me upright.
“I was,” Lana says. “Do you have a minute?”
I nod, because that’s the only answer I can give.
My mouth has dried up, and my hands are getting shaky.
If I lose everything over this, I don’t know what I’ll do.
“You can use the laundry room,” the chef says. “No laundry is being done until later.”
“Thanks.” Lana nods at me and I get up.
I smooth my hands over my clothes, brushing off imaginary crumbs as I follow the head of the school into the adjoining laundry room. It’s brightly lit and eerily quiet in the room with the empty machines.
I stop walking a few steps away from the door, and Lana takes a step and stretches her arm out to close it behind us. My nerves start to multiply, so I fold my arms under my chest, and I focus on the woman who’s been nothing but nice to me ever since I got here.
She’s not going to fire me over something so small.
It wouldn’t be like her. I might not know much, but I know that.
She gives me a wry smile. “How’s your first shift going?”
I press my lips together, wondering if it’s a trick question.
“It was going good,” I start, clearing my throat. “Until I bumped into one of the Alphas and ruined a tray full of pastries.”
She nods slowly. “I heard the Alpha bumped into you, actually. I hope he wasn’t an asshole about it?”
I blink at her. “What? No. He just kept me from falling.”
