Adrienne had a point, but Jessie still cringed. She couldn’t imagine how stressed Dawn was with her kids constantly being sick.
“It’s fine, Ma. I don’t mind covering for her where I can. I’m just glad it’s not a class night.”
“I won’t let you fall behind in those! That degree is going to be your ticket to taking this place to the next level once I leave. Or, at the very least, keeping it running.”
Jessie wanted to sit in the corner and scream, but the pride in her mom’s eyes had her smiling as she grabbed the last of the dirty plates and walked them back into the kitchen.
“Here, let me take those,” Duke said. “I’ve only got a few more minutes until I’m all done here anyway.”
“Thanks.”
Jessie grabbed another bucket of silverware that needed to be rolled in napkins before she could call it a night.
“How many more weeks of night classes do you have?” Dolly asked as she came back out into the diner. Jessie heaved the container up onto the counter top before she plopped into a tall chair.
“They just started back up, Mom. I think ten, and then there is the final week where all the projects are due.”
“And it’s three classes a week, right? You need all those nights off?”
There was the guilt, flooding through her veins right on schedule. She wasn’t even interested in the classes. But Jessie knew it was better to have the degree when she took over the diner, and that was all really important to her parents. “I’m sorry. I know it’s going to be a stretch.”
“Actually, the Murray twins were in here this afternoon asking for hours. They’re seniors this year, can you believe it? Saving up for a car to head off to college with in the fall. I told them I’d look at the schedule.” Dolly’s eyes dropped to the paper in front of her on the counter. “But if you’re going to be off all those nights, I don’t know who I’m going to schedule them with.”
“I’ll take the closing shift, Dolly.” Adrienne smiled as she continued to fold silverware into napkins at the counter.
“What?” Jessie scoffed. “Since when do you like closing shifts?”
“Eh, I’d rather have my mornings free.” She shrugged. “I kind of like being a night owl. Besides, I’m seeing a new guy and he doesn’t get off work until late at night, so he can come pick me up.”
“Well, that’s that then,” Dolly laughed. “This college degree is a big deal, Jessica. I’m so proud of you. You know all of us are.”
Jessie turned, waving a set of cutlery at her friend. “Don’tthink I’m just going to let that ‘boyfriend’ comment fly by under the radar. I know I’ve been busy, but I need the details. Right. Now.”
Hawk watched Jessie from the sidewalk. Probably a little creepy—he fully admitted—which is why he wouldn’t delay his entrance for too long. But he couldn’t help himself. There was just this raw gut feeling that she would mask how she was feeling the second he walked in. He needed a glimpse at the real Jessie for a moment. Then he’d know how to step up. How to help.
It’d been like that for days. She wouldn’t say yes to a date, and he got it. She was exhausted and working so fucking hard when she should be resting, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t get creative with spending time with her. Closing shift at Dolly’s was quickly becoming his favorite time of the day. Well, night, actually.
She sprayed some cleaner on the table in front of her and started swiping large circles over the top with the cleaning rag in her hand. Her face was still so damn pale, and the way her body sagged screamed of her exhaustion. Not waiting another second, Hawk strolled up to the door and into the diner.
“Hey.” Jessie smiled as he walked up to her. “What are you?—”
Hawk took the bottle and cloth out of her hands and smiled as he pressed a kiss into her hair. “Hey, mama,” he whispered. “Go sit and enjoy the show.”
“Hawk.”
“I saw you glancing out the window waiting for me. Go. I’ll take care of all this now. Tell me about your day.” He smiled over his shoulder. “How did you feel? Did you remember to eat small meals?”
She crossed her arms and huffed as she sank down in the booth. “How could I not with all those texts from you?”
“Oh, so you did see them?”
He saw the lightest hint of pink dust her cheeks. “I did. I’m sorry I didn’t reply. It was busy.”
He nodded, spritzing the cleaner over the dirty booth. God, how the hell did people let ketchup get all over the place while they ate and never think to wipe it up before leaving?
“How was your nausea?”
She shrugged her shoulders. And he knew what that meant without her even having to say it out loud.
