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“Yep. Definitely Emmy. She should be here shortly. Why? Is something wrong?” I asked, a nervous ball forming in the pit of my stomach.

“It’s her turn,” he mumbled, sipping his coffee and letting it splash on the table in front of him.

Instinctively, I grabbed the cloth from the pocket of my apron and mopped it up. “Her turn?” I asked curiously.

“Yeah.”

He wasn’t giving me anything, and I wasn’t about to piss him off. I was in too good a mood to let him ruin my morning, so I offered him a smile and went to greet the cowboys who’d just staggered through the door, looking like they’d been mud wrestling all night.

“Morning, guys, what can I get you?” I asked as they practically collapsed into the booth.

“Coffee. All the coffee,” the one I recognized as Nash begged, barely lifting his head and flashing me a glimpse of the black eye he was sporting.

I stepped backward. It looked painful.

“We’ll take three Sunrise breakfasts, please, Rosie,” the other I’d heard called Jake ordered.

“And I want an OJ as well,” the third cowboy added, only to be smacked up the side of the head.

“Where the fuck are your manners, Sawyer?” Nash scolded.

“Sorry.” He turned to face me, flashing me a megawatt smile that didn’t meet his tired eyes. “Please may I have an OJ as well?”

“Three coffees, three Sunrise breakfasts, and an OJ coming right up,” I recounted, winking at Sawyer before I went to get started.

I’d just found a rhythm when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Cody: Morning, beautiful. Have a great day and make sure you think about getting some help!

Cody’s message lit me up from the inside. Pocketing my phone, I poured the cowboys’ coffee and delivered it to their table.

Accepting their unenthusiastic thank yous, I went back to the kitchen and checked on the orders.

The bells above the door jingled, and an echo of giggles followed.

“Ah, Emmy, my girl. I thought you were going to stand me up!” Mr. Wolens accused as Emmy stepped into the diner, flanked by another girl.

“I’d never stand you up, Mark,” Emmy flirted. “Give me a second to put my purse away, and I’ll be right with you,” she promised with a wink before making her way behind the counter.

When she stepped beside me, I snickered. “A little old for you, don’t ya think?” I teased.

“Age is just a number, Tillie. Age is just a number,” she told me before cracking up.

Emmy tied her apron around her waist, and her friend shifted nervously from foot to foot beside her.

“Oh shit. Tillie, this is Olivia Montgomery. Olivia, this is Tillie, but in here she’s Rosie,” Emmy introduced.

“Nice to meet you,” Olivia greeted, her voice low and her eyes firmly focused on the floor.

“Olivia is my new roommate,” Emmy expanded.

“Roommate? I didn’t even know you were looking for one?” I gasped.

“Yeah, well, it just kinda fit. And I was wondering, if we had any shifts she could help with?” Emmy mumbled quickly.

I turned my attention to Olivia. “Do you have any experience?” I asked, not that it really mattered. If this girl needed a job and I could help, I would.

“I’ve been tending bar in Nashville for the past two years,” Olivia admitted.