I nod and follow her orders. As I turn into the back alley behind the diner, I see a man camped out next to the dumpster. I hop off my bike and cautiously roll past him.
“Got a dollar?” he asks.
“Leave him be, Ted.” Maggie’s voice startles me, and I gasp too loudly not to be embarrassed. “He works here now. Can’t ask him for change if he’s gonna be here most days. Keep it tothe customers.”
Ted puts up his hands in a placating manner, and Maggie motions her head for me to enter the back entrance. “Don’t mind Ted. He’s harmless, and I give him food when he asks. Not money, though. Don’t give him money.” She leads me to the storage room, instructs me to put my bike in there, then adds, “Well, get your apron on and get that ass movin’.”
She shuffles off, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Her whole energy is off-putting yet endearing, and I really like it.
I do as she says and make my way to the dining room. I’m the first server here besides Maggie, so the place is all mine until my co-worker, Gilda, gets here. Then I’m assigned to section 2 for the rest of my shift.
Nerves percolate in the base of my stomach as I scan the area. I did this yesterday, but it’s official now.
Don’t fuck it up, Felix.
And for the most part, I don’t! It’s not crowded, and I develop a rhythm as time passes by. People are gruff, but it’s early, so I don’t take offense. I only mess up one order, which isn’t terrible for someone’s first official day.I think I’m getting the hang of this!
I work the whole morning, waiting for Torren to arrive, but he never shows.
Just after 1 PM, Maggie comes out from the back with her hands on her hips. “Well, kid. You did it. I didn’t think Hargrove’s kid had it in him to do some real work, but you proved me wrong!”
I shift on my feet, nervous that I’m being exposed. “Did you know who I was when you hired me?”
“Of course! I read the fuckin’ papers. I’ll tell ya, the hat andapron are a wonderful disguise. You look like just another goofy kid from the patch.”
I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere.
“I’ll keep you on the morning shift for the rest of the week. Work for you?”
Yes!If I stay on the morning shift, I’ll have a better chance of seeing him. “Absolutely.”
Maggie pats me on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow, kid.”
Hopefully,he’llshow up tomorrow, too.
Wednesday
It’s just after 8 AM, and Gilda’s here. Things are flowing when Maggie flags me down, motioning for me to meet her at the bar, and asks, “We got a shipment out back that I need to sign for. Hang out at the counter and work at the cash register when needed. I’ll have Gilda check on your tables while I make sure they didn’t stiff me on supplies again.”
Cash register. Maggie showed me how to do that. I can do this.“Absolutely,” I reply with maybe a bit too much gusto.
“Your enthusiasm is sweet, kid. We’ll see how long it lasts.” She walks through the double doors leading to the kitchen, and I take my spot at the bar.
The jingle of the front entrance pulls my attention toward it.
There he is.
The entire energy of the place shifts when he arrives—like the air becomes electric.
Torren struts into the restaurant like a cocky son of a bitch, head held high, and his black leather jacket hugging his arms in all the right ways. When he looks my way, he stops dead inhis tracks.
“What the hell are you doing back there?”
Fuck me.
Literally, fuck me. Hard.
“I work here now,” I say with a sly grin.
