I glance down at the paper, then fold it neatly and slide it into my purse.
“Let me think about it,” I say. Too much money to ignore—especially after a year of surviving college on ramen.
I look up at the balcony, ready to give Hunter one last glare.
But he’s gone.
And as I scan the room, I realize—no one else here could possibly be Thor.
He was probably just messing with me.
11
FAITH
“It’s been an absolute blast having you guys here!” I exclaim to my crew later that week, sliding them their heavily discounted check.
The couples—Maya and Grant, Alex and DJ. Then there’s April, along with Chris and Finn, our other guy friends.
They’d graced us with their presence for several days, and we filled our time with everything from four-wheeling the back roads, to laughing around bonfires, to sampling the local dive bar scene.
But without a doubt, Mont du Marquette was the pinnacle.
After waving goodbye, I glance at my payout for the night—and my heart sinks.
My generous friends left me a hundred-dollar tip. The rest of the evening’s tips bring me to a grand total of… one hundred twenty-two dollars.
Yeesh.
I sigh. This isn’t going to fund my senior year of college partying.
Actually, forget partying. This isn’t even going to cover my train ticket back to Greene State.
Time for a new plan.
After my shift, I decide it’s time to pitch my daddy on the idea of working at Holloway’s Hideout.
But I can’t just tell him I think I’d have more fun—and make more money—working there.
No, I need a strategy. A smarter angle.
“I’d be like a double agent,” I say, trying to sound casual as I wipe down the bar. “If I worked at Holloway’s Hideout, I could find out the tricks they’re using to get people in the door.”
Daddy frowns. “I don’t know, Faith. I thought that was a one-time thing, you going over there.”
I don’t mention that my friends and I went back three more times this week.
And had a ridiculous amount of fun every single night.
“Daddy…” I glance around the restaurant. It’s quiet. Too quiet for a Wednesday, which used to be one of our better nights. “Please? I love working here. You know that. But do you even need me right now? This way, the other servers can make more money with bigger sections, and I can get experience elsewhere. And once we do the expansion, I’ll be better for it.”
He looks down at my hands.
I’m twisting my engagement ring again. I’ve stopped sleeping in it.
A conversation with my parents is coming. Just… not yet.
One thing at a time.
