I grunt. I won’t call her, yet she’ll still be waiting for me tomorrow when I get to school. So damn predictable.
32
Isa
Igot the job.
Just as Josué and I are walking in the door, I get a text from Zheng.
Zheng: My aunt said you can work tonight as a trial run. If it works out, the job is yours. Closing shift 3x a week.
Me: THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!
“You look happy,” Josué says as we drop our bags beside the kitchen island.
I grab two glasses from the cupboard and fill both with water before handing one to him.
“Thanks.”
“I am happy. Zheng said I got the job. Finally, something good. Ya know?”
He nods but his brows are pinched together as he looks down at his glass. “I don’t want to rain on your parade, but are you sure this is a good idea?”
I stiffen. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
He runs a hand through his dark brown hair and lifts his gaze. “Isa, you’ve been through a lot.”
“I know that,” I snap, not liking the direction this conversation is going. Not two minutes ago I was elated. Now, he’s popping my balloon and for no reason.
I chew on my fingernail. “I’ll be fine,” I tell him, determined to make this work. “Today was a good day. No panic attacks. Work will be a cinch.”
He doesn’t look convinced, but he lets the subject drop. I check the time and notice I have forty minutes to get ready and be at the diner. “I need to get ready. Do you want to drop me off and you can keep the car in case you want to do anything?”
He shakes his head. “No. I’m getting picked up by someone from Clan Feloidea. I’ve been putting it off, but since you’ll be working I let them know I was free. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
I nod. “I’ll be fine.”
He still doesn’t look convinced but says nothing as I jog upstairs to change.
* * *
Suzy’s is packedfor a weeknight. Nearly every booth is filled and only two barstools remain empty at the front counter. I recognize a few students from school but, thankfully, I don’t spot the Devils. I don’t think I could deal with seeing Rafael right now.
Zheng waves me over as soon as I walk in the door. “Hey, follow me.” He catches the attention of one of the servers and calls out an, “I’ll be right back.”
She nods and Zheng leads me through a set of swinging doors and down a private hallway to an office. He knocks twice on the door before opening it.
“Aunt Sú, this is Isa.” A middle-aged Chinese woman with jet-black hair looks up from her desk. Her features are severe. Sharp nose, high cheekbones, slanted eyes and thin lips. But when she sees Zheng she smiles, and her entire face softens.
“You go to school with my nephew?” she asks me, a slight accent to her words.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Ah, manners on this one,” she says to Zheng before turning back to me. “Do you have any work history?”
“I’ve worked in my Pack. But no, I don’t have any formal work experience. I’m a fast learner though,” I tell her.
She nods her head, leaning back in her seat to better assess me. “Did Zheng fill you in on the particulars? This is a dishwashing job. It’s not glamorous. You won’t be waitressing and you won’t be earning tips. From time to time you might buss tables if the girls up front need the help but for the most part, you’ll be in the back. You good with that?” She gives me a scrutinizing once-over.
