Page 78 of Just Ten Seconds

“Four. That’s when we close,” I state, and he glances at his watch. That’s six hours from now. “I don’t think you’re willing to wait that long. Let me put your order in, and I’ll be right back.”

Instead of putting his order in at the window, I walk into the kitchen where Manny is making the eggs.

“Bellissimo is back,” he says with a sly smile. “That boy has never been in here, and now, I feel like he’s a regular.”

“He’s been in here four times in two months. I hardly count that as a regular,” I say, glancing out the window to where Connie is walking up to Dean.

She places her hand on his back as she saunters up to his side. Leaning her back against the bar, she talks to him.

“Where does lover boy want you to go?” Manny asks as he flips an omelet.

“I don’t know,” I answer and then incredulously look back at him. “What do you have, supersonic hearing?”

“I get bored in here, so I like to eavesdrop. I bet if you told Nick you wanted to leave early, he’d say yes.”

“No, he wouldn’t.” I place a hand on my hip.

“Who wants to leave early?” Nick asks as he walks into the kitchen from the storage room with a bag of potatoes.

Manny points his spatula at me. “Dean asked Mara to go out with him today.”

“He didn’t ask me out. He said he’d like to take me somewhere,” I correct. “And I might when I get off work.”

“You mean, the guy with the kid who had her leg cut open?” Nick asks, looking through the kitchen window. I nod. “If you don’t get out there, Connie might take your place.”

I risk a glance and see Connie is now arching her back off the counter and sticking her boobs out.

“If you like him, I’d make your move now before she does,” Nick says as he opens the bag of potatoes and empties them into a bin.

“Connie is kind of the town puta,” Manny adds.

“Manny!” I admonish. “Just because she dates a lot doesn’t mean she’ll sleep with anyone.”

“That man isn’t anyone,” Manny adds, and I gnaw on my thumb.

Nick takes out a knife and starts cutting. “Mara, if you want to leave early, you can.”

I look at him with a deep look of confusion. “What?”

He shrugs as he cuts. “You’ve done more for this restaurant than I could have ever wanted. You color-code the accounting for me and leave me voice notes on my phone to explain why you do what you do. I’ve learned more about finances from you than I ever did from looking at the inside of a shoebox. If you want to get out of here now, I won’t argue.”

His words are kind. That’s why it makes me laugh when he grimaces so much and barks out at people. Most don’t realize that, deep down, he is a big softie.

“There’s the breakfast rush, so I can’t leave before then,” I say.

Manny holds out a plate to me. From its contents, I know it’s Dean’s. “Then, go serve breakfast.”

When I exit the kitchen, Connie is still draped over Dean, who looks to be engaged in discussion with her. As I walk toward them, his eyes shift to mine, and he widens them as if asking for help. I let out a light chuckle.

“Oh, hey, Mara,” Connie says as I approach with Dean’s plate. “Dean was just telling me about the theater. I think I’m gonna bring Brandon by tomorrow. Sounds like a great place for him to meet friends.”

I tilt my head at her. “What an amazing idea.”

“Connie! Get back to work!” Nick bellows at her from the kitchen window.

With a huff, she stands up and places her hand on Dean’s shoulder. “I’ll be back.”

When she walks off, Dean raises his brows at me. “She’s …” He looks off like he’s trying to find the right word.