“I didn’t think it was possible, but I hate that guy more every time I hear what a prick he was.”
“You and me both,” I said with a laugh as we inched our way closer to the registers.
“The fried catfish is really good,” Enzo commented, nodding to the menu I was still looking at.“I also like the hushpuppies.”
“That sounds delicious.I’ll have what you’re having.”
The line cleared, and I felt his hand on my lower back as he guided me to the open register.
“Welcome to Surf ’N Shack.What can I get you?”a scrawny kid who didn’t look to be older than sixteen asked as he squinted at us from behind his thick glasses.
“I’ve got it, Josh,” an older man said, smiling at the kid.“Why don’t you go to the back and run orders to get us caught up?”
The kid nodded and then took off as if this were the most important task he’d ever been given.
“Sorry about that.Things are a little chaotic today.What can I get for you guys?”
I smiled at him, noting how kind his eyes were as he took our order while keeping an eye on everything else happening in the restaurant.He paid full attention to us as Enzo ordered, but a few times he nodded or shook his head at someone across the room, which made me feel like he might be a manager or something.Whoever he was, he made sure things ran as smoothly as possible.
“Are you the manager?”I asked, catching him and Enzo by surprise.
Enzo put his credit card back in his wallet as I stood there, trying to muster the confidence I had been trying to find all day to help with my job hunt.
“Not technically,” he said, smiling at me.“My parents own the restaurant.I’m just here helping out this week.”
“Oh.”My face fell, earning a slight frown from him.I tried to smile quickly, doing my best to recover.The last thing a possible future employer wanted was an employee who was mopey.
“Why do you ask?”
“Well,” I said nervously as I took another deep breath and blew it out.“I’m looking for a job, and I thought perhaps you guys might be hiring.This seems like a fun place to work, and I know I would love staying busy.”
The guy folded his arms over his chest and studied me.
“You want to work here.”
It wasn’t a question; it was more of a statement.
“Yes.I need a job.My boyfriend and I broke up after I caught him cheating on me—” I paused for a moment when I noticed his frown move from me to Enzo.“No, not him.He’s not my boyfriend.He’s my neighbor, and there’s this other guy, and they’re both—”
I pressed my lips to stop talking when I realized what a mess I was making and ruining any possible chance of working there.Why was I acting so chaotically?This guy didn’t need to know my life story or the embarrassing details of how I had been cheated on.
“I’m sorry.I don’t usually do that.But yes, I am looking for a job.I’ve been looking all day, and I haven’t found anything that felt right until now.”
“Well, I would be lying if I said we didn’t need the help right now.When would you be able to start?”
My eyes bulged as I stared at him in disbelief.
“Seriously?You’re giving me a job?”
“It would seem that way,” he teased.“Unless you don’t want it.”He smiled playfully to let me know he was kidding, but I didn’t miss the way Enzo’s body tightened in response.Was he jealous that this guy might be flirting with me?
“No.I do!I can start tomorrow.”I grinned and held my hands in front of me in some awkward position before lowering them and holding them at my sides to keep from further embarrassing myself.
“Perfect.If you want to come in around seven am, I can show you around before we open.”
“I will be here at seven.”I extended my hand to shake his as I looked for a name tag so I knew what to call him.“Thank you so much...”
“You can call me Capshaw,” he said, filling in the awkward silence for me as he shook my hand, then let go.
