Gia reminded herself to repeat her gentle breathing exercises as she leaned heavily against the door, but all she wanted to do wascurl up in the corner with her head on her knees. She barely resisted the urge.
Get a grip of yourself, Gia!
Easier said than done when the stranger had clearly triggered her. She pushed herself away from the door after she completed three rounds of her breathing exercise and only felt slightly better. She approached the sink and turned on the cold water. The cool temperature felt refreshing against her trembling hands. She turned her wrist to allow the stream to run over the pounding pulse points.
Closing her eyes, she cupped her palms under the faucet and splashed cold water on her face. Braced against the sink, she let her head hang between her weary shoulders.
This was not a setback. She was not under attack. She was safe.
I am safe.
The words repeated in her mind like a mantra. She willed herself to believe them. A knock at the door made her head jerk up.
“Just a minute!”
She dried her face on the paper towels, rolled her neck across her shoulders, and shook out her limbs like she was getting prepared for a fight.
Feeling rejuvenated and less shaken, she exited the restroom and returned to the dining room. The crowd had dispersed since she disappeared into the bathroom, something she was grateful for. She didn’t know if anyone else witnessed her panic attack, but it was embarrassing enough as it was.
“You okay, Gia?” Minh’s concerned voice found her from across the room, wiping down a table.
“Yup, just peachy!” It wasn’t the full truth, but it wasn’t a lie, either. Minh stared at Gia. Her expression told Gia she did not believe her at all. Instead of elaborating, Gia grabbed the pile of dirty dishes and brought them into the back.
Her parents were preparing for the dinner rush. Needing tokeep her hands busy so her mind didn’t wander, Gia started doing the dishes.
Everyone had their role and tasks to complete. Not for the first time, guilt stabbed at her. Obviously, her family managed fine without her, but knowing her parents worked tirelessly every day while she was gallivanting around the world and pursuing her dreams made her feel… selfish.
Even Minh gave up her dreams and stayed behind to raise her children and work at the restaurant. Being a single parent was difficult, but at least she had her parents. Now, Minh had Gia in whatever capacity she could provide. It seems she fulfilled the “fun auntie” role perfectly.
The dinner rush went more smoothly this time than the previous night. Who knew dry shoes made such a big difference? Her feet were feeling sore, but nowhere near how she felt yesterday.
About an hour before closing time, the bell chimed with the arrival of a new guest. She popped her head up from wiping down a booth to greet the guest, a practiced smile on her face, only to let it fall at who dared to grace the doorway with their infuriating presence.
Jake.
Her eyes narrowed at the way he walked in as if he owned the place. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end like a feral cat as the dining room nearly erupted with excitement, and people greeted Jake like he was a local celebrity. The women were practically falling all over themselves to greet him, while the men in the room all stood to give him the man-shake chest-bump thing they did.
Meanwhile, the older males in the room tipped their heads or hats at him in respect as he walked past. Jake greeted everyone as if he were the mayor of the town, making eye contact with anyone who sought his attention or touching their arm or shoulders in greeting.
All while he ignored her, as if she weren’t shooting daggers at him with her fierce glower.
How was it possible every single person loved Jake, and she absolutely despised him?
It made her feel insane for harboring such animosity toward him.
She wondered how many women in the room had slept with Jake. A spike of jealousy ratcheted up her spine as she turned her glower at all the blushing women who were practically drooling behind Jake’s back.
Has anyone else in here slept with him?
Did Juliana, with her dark hair and bronzed skin, get to see Jake in the throes of passion? Or her friend Delilah, with her blond hair, blue eyes, and cleavage on display?
They had been acting extra flirty with Jake when he walked in, fawning over him like lovesick women and touching his arm flirtatiously.
Or maybe it was the quiet and reserved Lana, the owner of Willowbrook’s only bookstore? She sat alone in the window and only offered a small smile in greeting when Jake walked in, but maybe it had been more of a grimace than anything else. Perhaps it was because she was still in love with Jake and had been turned down when she wanted more.
Jake broke free of his fan club and approached Gia with a knowing smirk on his face. He was undeterred by her glare or thefuck offattitude she was loudly broadcasting with her arms crossed tensely across her chest. She didn’t have a small chest, but she certainly wasn’t as well-endowed as Delilah. And she was all natural, without surgical enhancements—something she was proud of, especially with the pressure to look perfect in Hollywood. It was a line she didn’t want to cross. Botox and facials were fine, but getting under the knife to alter her appearance to please someone else?
Hard pass. No, thank you.
