Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Sabrina
I stare at Booker as he makes his way out of the diner, sure that I hadn’t heard him right. Everyone else is watching him too. The man has some kind of pull where he makes everyone take notice of him without even trying.
He left his coffee untouched, but I reach into my apron and pull out the money he slipped inside. I let out a small gasp when I see it’s two hundred-dollar bills.
Did he mean to leave them? There is no way. Then again, Booker isn’t the kind of man to make a mistake. Guilt eats at me because I don’t want a handout, and that’s what this is. He knew who I was, so maybe he feels bad for me. Everyone assumes I’m exactly like my father, and I won’t let him think that too. I also don't want anyone to accuse me of stealing.
When I take off after Booker, I hear George call after me. I ignore him and blurt out an apology when I almost run into someone. As soon as I’m outside, I spot the giant black Ford F-250 truck as its engine roars to life.
“Booker!” I call after him, but I’m not sure he hears me until the engine dies back down. I reach the side of his truck just as he's opening the door.
“Careful,” he grits out right as I lose my footing on the slippery gravel. I don't know how it happens, but he's out of the truck with his arms wrapped around me before I can fall. "You always this clumsy?"
If I wasn't already embarrassed, his comment would have sent me over the edge. My cheeks are already warm, and I know it's showing. It’s too bad I don't have an adorable blush. Instead, my face gets giant red blotches across my cheeks and neck. Sometimes on my chest too.
"Kinda," I admit. Booker stares down at me, but neither of us says a word. He doesn't release his hold, and his earthy scent, tinged with a hint of mint, envelops me.
"Sabrina!" Joy calls my name, breaking me from whatever spell Booker put me under.
"Sorry." I push on Booker's chest so that I can step back, but he doesn't release me. In fact, his fingers tighten before he finally lets me go. "I'm good," I call back to Joy, who is watching us. "I'll be right in. He just forgot something." She nods before heading back inside.
"I didn’t forget.”
"Oh." I hold up the crumpled hundreds so he can see them. They were nice and crisp before I almost fell. "I thought maybe..." I trail off.
"The money?" he asks, like that's not what I was talking about.
"Yeah." I hold the money out to him. "You didn't even drink the coffee."
"I got what I came for, little star. Now get back inside," he orders.
"Yes, sir," I respond before shoving the money into my apron pocket and making my way back to the diner.
I don't hear the roar of his truck's engine until I'm back inside. I watch his truck pull out of the parking lot, and for some reason I can still feel his touch lingering on my hips.
“What was that all about?” Joy asks.
“I really don’t know.” Now I’ve got more questions I want to ask him, but when he told me to go back inside, I obeyed. “He gave me a giant tip. Does he always do that?”
“He doesn’t come in here, but he’s generous with things around town. Even though he’s standoffish.”
That must be it. He’s just generous. I guess I’d rather think that than him seeing me as pathetic.
“How much was it?”
“Two hundred.”
Joy lets out a whistle.“That’s more than generous, girl.” She shakes her head. “Be careful. Men tossing money around like that are usually after one thing.”
“What?”
“You’re too sweet for your own good.” Joy laughs. “I’m talking about sex, honey.”
“Oh.” I’m so stupid. Of course that’s what she means. “Right.” I nod in agreement. “Wait. Sex with me?” That only makes Joy laugh harder, and I shift on my feet. I’m not sure how I feel about that. "Does he do that with other girls in town?"
“Nah, not that I’ve heard.” If anyone would have heard it, it would be Joy.
“We need to talk,” George cuts in.
“Don’t be a dick, George,” Joy says, and I have to cover my laugh with a cough. Only she can get away with talking to him that way.
“Stay out of it,” he says to Joy and points at me. “You. My office when your shift is done.”
Great. Now I’ll have to wait to find out why I’m in trouble and it’s going to eat at me all day. I try not to focus on my upcoming doom and work. Meanwhile, my mind drifts back to Booker and the things he’d said.
The offer he made me sounds fun, but he didn’t leave me a card so I could contact him. What I really want to know is what he meant when he said, "I want you real bad . " For the job? It hadn’t felt that way when he said the words.
Joy might be right about what he’s after. Aren’t all men after sex? My father would go through women like crazy and didn’t try to hide it either. My grandparents were different. They were so in love, and they adored each other. How the two of them created my father, I’ll never know.
I’m wiping down one of my last tables when a hand comes down on my ass. I yelp as I jump away, taking a chair with me in the process. With a loud thud, the chair and I hit the floor, and it knocks the air out of my lungs. I roll to my back, and that’s when I see Parson. I hadn’t seen him come in, and I don’t know why he is always freaking here.
"Are you ever going to learn to watch where you're going?" He towers over me but only because I’m laid out flat like a pancake.
“Hey!” Joy shouts as she comes rushing from the back of the diner. “What the hell happened?”
“Think she tripped over the chair,” Parson lies. Joy quickly comes to my side as I start to get up and offers me her hand. I wince when I put my weight down on both my feet. My hip is throbbing from the pain.
“You okay, honey?” Joy asks.
"Yeah.” If Parson can lie, then so can I.
“You sure you’re okay?” Parson asks and then gives me a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. Now that Joy is here, he’s pretending to be nice.
“I’m fine.” It’s a fight to keep the quiver out of my voice.
I’m not sure if I want to burst into tears because of the pain in my hip or because of my dreaded meeting with George. I think it’s all piling up, but I hold it back. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.
“Move it along, Par, we’re closing up.” Joy doesn’t leave room for argument.
“See you ladies later.” He winks at me. My father must have really pissed him off, but I’m not sure how since Parson is closer to my age.
“I’ll finish up out here,” Joy says.
“I can help,” I offer, but she shakes her head.
“You heard me.” Joy nudges me along to the back of the restaurant.
“Thanks.” I’m dying to get off my feet, and although Joy said after a while I’d get used to being on them so much, I’m not sure I’ll have that chance. I know I’m on thin ice with George.
I knock on the door to the small office he has in the back. “Sit.” He motions to the only other chair, and I drop down onto it. George pulls off his glasses, tossing them on his desk before glaring at me. “This isn’t working.”
“Okay.” I can’t argue with him. I know I’m a mess, but I did manage not to break anything else today. But I’m thinking that doesn’t count for much.
“Why’d Booker run off like that?”
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “He barely touched his coffee. Then he was out of here. ” I keep the job offer from Booker a secret.
“Damn it.” George lets out a huff.
“I really am sorry there isn’t more to tell you.”
“I’ll just have to try and get a meeting with him.” He runs a hand down his face, and I think he’s talking more to himself than me.
“So I’m fired?”
"At this rate, everyone will lose their job."
He shoves some of the papers on his desk in frustration, and a few swirl to the floor. When I reach down and pick them up, my eyes run over the documents.
“You want some help with this?” I ask, although I have no reason to be nice to George.
I’ve promised myself I won't be a jerk just because other people are. My grandma always told me to kill them with kindness and never sink to their level. People will eventually bury themselves.
“What?” He glances over to me, seeing the papers in my hand. “Give me those.”
“Sorry, I'm only trying to help. I mean, not to be rude, but this is kind of old school.” I place the papers on the desk and shrug. “If it’s money issues, maybe I could take a peek?” George’s eyes narrow. “I’m not my father, and unlike him I actually have some education under my belt.” What he’s doing at the diner is pretty basic stuff.
“Not like there’s anything to steal.” George scoffs a humorless laugh.
“So?” I ask, and even I’m wondering what I’m doing. I’m not going to sit around here without a reason when I can go home and check on Grandpa and start searching for a new job. Grandpa can be by himself, I just don't like leaving him alone for too long.
“Fine.” George stands. “It’s all yours.” He waves a hand over his desk.
“Really?”
He shrugs again. It might be nice to maybe prove myself. “I just need to call my grandpa and let him know I’ll be late.” When I stand up, I remember the pain in my hip and flinch.
"All right, how about I make some dinner you can take home for him?"
“That would be really sweet of you.”
“Don’t get used to it,” George grumbles before leaving me alone in his office.
I’m not fired. I’ll take my small win and for now breathe a sigh of relief. These moments never seem to last.