Page 19 of Hating the Boss

He perked up at that. We said goodbyes to our opponents before we made the short drive back to my place, stopping at the grocery store on the way.

As I popped the lids off two bottles of ice cold beer, Anton unpacked the brown paper bags of groceries. Olives, pepperonis, pepperoncini, and mushrooms were spread across the granite countertops as he made himself at home in my kitchen. He knew his way around. He had made us plenty of food here, finding his rhythm with opening drawers and cabinets. While he cooked, I turned on that night’s basketball game.

“Always sports and business, huh?” he asked, as he stretched the pizza dough between his fists, carefully spinning it in a circle out in front of him.

“What else is there?” I shrugged.

“Hmm. I don’t know. Women,” he said sarcastically. “Are you ever going to date again?”

I took a swig of beer and leaned against the countertop, staring out to the living room, only half watching the game. My mind was suddenly consumed with the memory of Sarah’s face, but I immediately pushed it away. That was ridiculous.

“You and I both know how well it went last time I had someone weighing me down,” I said, pressing my lips tightly together.

Anton nodded solemnly before expertly tossing the pizza dough above his head and catching it. He didn’t press any further, knowing better.

My ex had been this flash of lightning, taking me by surprise with her vivaciousness and lust for life. She was exciting. Sexy. Intoxicating. She made me feel like I could do anything, and often pushed me to do more than I thought I was capable of. At first, I loved that about her. I had this fire in me to prove myself to her. To be the man she saw I could be. But after a while, I grew exhausted. It never seemed like it was enough. The work. The money. The frills. I realized that she wasn’t so much into my potential, but in what she could gain from me. I was a meal ticket, not a partner.

Anton was the only person in my life who saw me as the same nineteen-year-old kid sipping beer, eating cheap pizza, and playing video games. Yeah, he gave me shit about working too much, but he understood me.

Which was why I had the urge to tell him about Sarah. It felt like she was constantly in my thoughts, whether I was aware of it or whether it was subconsciously. I needed to get it out, especially knowing I would see her again the day after tomorrow.

But I knew if I told him I hired her because she was hot, I would look like an idiot. I could handle being chided about working too much, but not about Sarah. Not yet, at least. I hadn’t been attracted to someone like this in a long time. I didn’t know what that meant, so I figured I would keep it to myself for a little while longer.

Anton brought out two full plates of pizza with a thick, doughy crust and an overload of toppings. My stomach growled at the sight and smell of sizzling cheese and homemade sauce. I turned up the game and took a bite of the savory pizza that I never grew tired of, focusing my brain on something other than those caramel eyes that were burned in my brain.

Chapter 9 Sarah

“How is that order coming?” I asked, drumming my fingers on the metal of the kitchen window. I gave the cooks a warm smile. I knew they were working as hard as they could. It was a Saturday night, after all. The restaurant was packed with our regulars and people from out of town.

Colonie was a hot spot in Brooklyn, with its locally sourced food and always changing menu. People kept coming back to try something new, or order their favorites that remained constant. Eggplant Caponata or Campanelle with maitake mushrooms. I had heard both orders more times than I could count.

I was waiting on the Eggplant Caponata now, the hum of the restaurant behind me as the cooks shouted orders to each other, among the harmony of plates being stacked and gas stoves clicking on. Brittany stepped up beside me, ripping a ticket from her notepad and placing it on the counter.

“It’s busy out there,” she said breathlessly.

“I know. Good night for tips.”

“Definitely.”

“Order up!” yelled the cook, sliding over my plate of eggplant.

“Thanks!” I said, gliding it over and balancing it on one hand. “See you out there.” I nodded at Brittany.

We had both taken jobs at Colonie when everything had gone down at Brandfield Enterprises. I needed work, and I had convinced Brittany to apply with me. She had a few nights a week where she could work after her day shift at a Brooklyn boutique, and she could use the extra cash to buy fabric for her sewing she did on the side. With our little experience of waitressing through high school and college, we were surprised we were hired. Colonie wasn’t exactly a Michelin Star restaurant, but it was a higher end neighborhood spot. It paid minimum wage, but the tips made up for it.

I balanced my plate of appetizers as I eased my way through the long wooden tables. The idea was for everyone to sit family-style, whether you were actual family or strangers. It was the owner’s vision of bringing people together, in all stages and walks of life, to enjoy good food. Finding my table, I placed the dish in the center of the table of what looked to be a date. They were in that initial stage of being goo-goo gaga over each other. I could tell by the way they looked at each other, their shy smiles and hushed murmurs. I left them quickly, not wanting to invade their moment.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had been on a date. I felt a prickly hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was Saturday nights like these at the restaurant that reminded me of the loneliness I often tried to swallow down and forget.

“You okay?” asked Brittany, meeting me in the back in a brief moment of reprieve.

“Just painfully aware of how single I am.” I shrugged. “Look at those lovebirds.” I nodded toward my table.

“Well, that’s just gross.” Brittany playfully stuck her tongue out.

I nudged her with my shoulder, noting her sarcasm. “You still babysitting with me tomorrow morning?” I asked.

I had promised my friend Juliet that I would watch her daughter Blair while she went to a charity brunch with her husband, Chester. My former boss.