Life of the Party (Wayward #1)

CHAPTER 20

Work was slow. Charlie and I joked about living in opposite land since Monday night was so busy. A few tables were scattered about the restaurant, but the pace was easy and welcome.

Grey was there, sullen as usual behind the order window. As if to make up for his personable slip the other night, he ignored me more than ever, if that were possible. I squared my shoulders and set my chin stubbornly like I couldn’t care less. Like I wasn’t aware of his every move and breath and word.

Like I couldn’t feel him there, his presence, whenever he was close.

Brad came by earlier than I told him to. I looked up in surprise from plating salads to see him suddenly at the entrance of the station, leaning on the wall.

“Brad? What are you doing here?” I wondered, relieved by the distraction.

“I wanted to see you.” He smiled, his amber eyes twinkling. He looked good in his tight jeans and button-down shirt, a cowboy hat groove in his freshly gelled hair.

I blushed beneath the fondness of his gaze. “…Are you hungry?”

“I could eat.” Brad smiled. “It probably wouldn’t hurt to have something in there to soak up all the beer.”

“Probably not.” I agreed. “Red Wheat burger? Two patties?”

“How well you know me.”

“Go sit anywhere, and I’ll bring you a Pepsi.” I offered. “Oh, and Brad?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll try to do better, you know, service-wise.”

He grinned at me again, laughing. “See that you do. ”

With a smile, I wrote down Brad’s order and stabbed it on the puck, then began to pour his drink, discreetly aware as Grey sauntered up to the order window from somewhere in the back of the kitchen. He grabbed the sheet and stared at my scribbles for a second, then threw some burger patties on the grill and dropped a basketful of frozen fries into the vat of hot oil.

I did my best to ignore him, thinking about Brad and the party instead, how…good it felt to be wanted again.

Charlie came into the waitress area and replaced the coffee pot in the machine, nearly stopping in her tracks when she saw the smile on my face. “What’s happened to you?” She teased. “You’ve lost your perma-frown.”

“Oh, I’m going to a party tonight. I’m just excited.” I glanced up at Brad’s table.

She smirked, following my gaze. “Oh yeah? Who’s the guy?”

“Just some guy from school.”

“Really? He’s pretty cute. Are you going to the party with him?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “But it’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

“Maybe…for now…,” she stared up at Brad in the corner of the restaurant, her eyebrows raised in approval. “Do you like him?”

“I barely know him. But he’s…he’s not what I imagined, I guess. He’s funny.”

“Funny’s good.” Charlie nodded. “You could go with him now, Mac, if you want. It’s like a graveyard tonight. I can totally handle it.”

I hesitated. “Really? Are you sure?”

“Yes. It’ll be good for you. Go out, have some fun, forget about…” She didn’t say his name, in case he was listening, but Charlie motioned her head towards Grey.

“Yeah.” I looked over at him, forgetting myself, regretting it the moment I did.

Just the sight of his face behind the line was enough to pang me, to remind me I was only fooling myself. I wasn’t over him, not yet, no matter how much I tried.

Brad’s amber eyes lit up when I told him I could go early.

“Awesome. You grab the food; I’ll run to the liquor store. What can I get you?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Whiskey?”

He looked surprised. “Most girls get…coolers or something.”

“Well, I’m not most girls.”

“No kidding.” Brad agreed. “You like to party, don’t you?”

“You could say that.” I smiled coyly. More like, lived for it.

He grinned widely. “I’m really glad we’re going out tonight, Mackenzie. ”

I thought about that for a moment, and my answer was sincere. “I am too.”

We smiled at each other as he left. I made my way back to the station, excited for our evening to begin, eager to get as wasted as I possibly could.

Grey was staring at me as I approached the order window, like he was impatient, like he’d been waiting for me. It took me by surprise; normally he kept his head down so we couldn’t talk. Hesitantly, I leaned against the counter. After nothing but silence from him for so long, this sudden attention made me wary.

“Can I get that order to go?” I broached cautiously, aware of his eyes on my face, the heat of his stare.

“That’s not what it said on the slip.”

“I know. He…changed his mind.”

“Who is this guy anyway?” Grey asked suddenly, surprising me again. He must have overheard my conversation with Charlie. His eyes were narrowed, glittering angrily. “Some cowboy? Why the hell are you going out with him?”

I blinked at him a moment, stupefied. The look on Grey’s face told me he was used to having women fall all over him, all the time, no matter how badly he treated them, no matter how hurt and rejected they’d been. I could tell he expected the same from me, and I’d felt that way once, too, before—like it didn’t matter what he said or what he did or how he behaved, I’d take whatever I could get. And though my stupid, foolish heart couldn’t seem to stop loving Grey…I had enough pride, enough confidence to realize I did deserve better. That he couldn’t treat me like total garbage and just get away with it.

I met his gaze evenly, my dark eyes daring him to disagree. “That’s none of your fucking business, is it?” I retorted.

Grey’s face lost its hardness. He seemed struck, startled by my words, staring at me with…wonder, almost. He dropped his head, his jaw flexing as he bent to transfer Brad’s burger into a styrofoam container.

“Here.” He mumbled, placing it on the counter.

I took the order and grabbed my things without another look back, like I was totally confident, totally in control. Thankfully, Grey couldn’t hear the way my heart was pounding. Couldn’t see the way my hands were shaking, as Charlie stopped me with a whisper.

“Take this with you, too, just in case.” She insisted, handing me her vial.

I gasped. “Charlie, you’re the best. Seriously.”

“Have fun.” She gave me a squeeze. “I’ll call you tomorrow…and I expect details. ”

“Okay.” I laughed, tucking the vial excitedly into my purse, waving elatedly as I headed for the entrance of the restaurant. I grabbed the silver door handle and pulled, but a sudden hand over the jamb prevented the door from opening.

I looked up in curious surprise.

It was Grey. He stood beside me, his arm above my shoulder to hold the door shut. I was amazed to find him standing there, in his white-checked kitchen attire, a black hat on his head, his blue eyes steady and intense on mine.

We stared at each other a moment before he spoke.

“Don’t go, Mackenzie.”

“What?” I blinked in disbelief. “Why not?”

“Just…because. Why are you doing this?”

No one could answer that question better than Grey. I looked up at him, baffled, lowering my voice so we wouldn’t attract any attention from the few tables present.

“Why am I…are you kidding me?” It was because of him I was searching for someone else, because he didn’t want me. And now he was staring at me with such intensity, my poor confused emotions were roiling. He didn’t care about me. So why did he suddenly care what I did? Who I went out with?

“You want to go out with this guy?”

“Yeah, I do. He’s a nice guy…and he’s actually interested in me. He wants to be with me.” I said pointedly.

Grey frowned. “I don’t trust him.”

“You don’t trust him? Okay…” I sighed and shook my head, rubbing my forehead in total bewilderment. “Grey, what the hell do you want from me?”

He hesitated. “I just…I don’t want you to go out with that guy.”

I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t. Why now? Why? A week ago, this kind of concern would have made my whole day…but now I was just confused, frustrated…saddened even, by his sudden interest.

“Get out of my way,” I uttered quietly, avoiding his gaze.

“Please, Mackenzie.”

“No.” I shook my head.

Grey dropped his hand from the door. “Fine. Go. Have fun.” He muttered.

I didn’t waste a second. I whipped the door open and stepped into the warm summer night, welcoming the fresh air on my heated cheeks, leaving Grey behind.