Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
LEGS
I get a full, blissful night’s sleep for the first time in what feels like a million weeks. I have a little extra pep in my step as I board the bus in the morning, treating Gene with a huge smile and a large slice of devil’s fudge cake I brought home from dinner just for him.
“Dear sweet baby Jesus, you’re a goddess,” he whispers reverently, making me giggle.
“I thought you might like that. Oh—” I rummage in my bag and produce a fork and a little carton of milk. “I got you these, too. I know the milk won’t keep for long, but I have it on good authority that now we’re grown-ups, we can have cake for breakfast.”
“Well, I think I heard that too.” He grins, nodding for me to take my seat.
I sit near the front, beside the window, and lean against the glass. I smile as we pull away from the curb. I just know today is going to be a good day.
When I get to the diner, I realize I spoke too soon. Susie is down with the flu bug, and the diner is extra busy today. Del and I have been rushed off our feet, at least, that’s how it seems. By the time I finally sit down, my back is aching, and my stomach feels like it’s going to eat itself.
“Here, get that down while I grab us some drinks.”
“Thanks, Del.” I take a bite of the turkey salad sandwich and groan in appreciation. It’s nothing fancy, but damn, everything tastes like heaven when you’re starving. By the time she comes back with a glass of apple juice for me and a coffee for herself, I’m halfway done.
“You want me to make you another one?”
“No, I want you to eat yours,” I tell her pointedly.
“I’m not pregnant,” she reminds me.
“No, but last time I checked, you were still human. So eat, woman, before you pass out.”
“I don’t remember you being this bossy when I hired you.”
“What can I say? I think you’re rubbing off on me.”
“Heaven forbid,” she mutters, making me chuckle. We eat the rest of our food in a comfortable silence. We might not get a chance again once the early birds get here for dinner.
“Thanks for today, Hazel. I couldn’t have coped without you. Hell, I think I might have to hire someone else, at least part-time.”
“It can’t hurt. Maybe put up a post on the local college noticeboard. Students are always looking for flexible part-time hours.”
“That’s not a bad idea, actually.”
I take a long sip of my juice before setting it back down on the counter. “You’ve been here since opening; I know you’ve got to be exhausted. Do you want me to close for you?”
She shakes her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want you catching the bus home that late.”
I sigh. “What about if I open for you then?” It will give you a few extra hours in bed. I promise to wake you if it gets busy.”
She mulls it over, which tells me just how tired she must be. “Okay, fine. Just while Susie is sick. I can’t afford for us both to be out and if I keep burning the candle at both ends, I’ll only end up sick, too.”
“And here was me thinking I needed to twist your arm.”
“I’m too freaking tired to argue. On that note, I gotta admit, you look a little perkier than usual this morning. I’m jealous.”
“Death metal guy didn’t play his music last night, and I finally got a full night’s sleep. I didn’t even have to get up to pee.”
She holds up her glass to toast me. I clunk mine against hers. “Here’s to assholes finally realizing they’re not the center of the universe.”
“Amen to that.”
We finish just in time as a crowd of construction workers pushes through the door. With a sigh, I wash my hands and head to their table with a smile on my face.
“Hey guys, welcome to Deli’s Diner. My name is Hazel. I’m gonna be your server today. Can I get any of you drinks while you look at the menu?”
“You can take a look at something,” one mutters, but I ignore him.
“We’ll all take a coffee, sweetheart. Except Garret here, who’ll have milk.”
“No problem. I’ll get right on that for you.” I spin around, but when I feel a hand on my ass, I sidestep and glare over my shoulder at the offender. “I’m not on the menu, so please keep your hands to yourself.”
He holds them up with a lazy grin, but I know his fucking type.
There is nothing repentant about him. I’ll end up having to reprimand him again before they leave.
I stomp over to the kitchen, more pissed that none of his buddies said anything.
That’s what always winds me up more than anything.
The boys-will-be-boys mentality means that all their peers give them a free pass for their shitty behavior.
“You okay?” Del asks with a frown when I walk in.
“Yeah. One of the construction workers got a little handsy. Hopefully, he takes my words to heart.”
“He fucking better, or I’ll show him exactly what we think of that kind of behavior around these parts.”
I chuckle as I pour a glass of milk and place it on a tray before heading back out. I fill the tray with empty mugs and carry it with one hand before grabbing a coffee carafe with the other. I walk back to the table and place the carafe down on it. “Who wanted the milk?”
A guy at the far end waves at me, so I place the glass in front of him before putting an empty mug down in front of all the others. “Help yourself to the coffee. I’ll go and grab you some sugar and creamer.”
I exit to the condiment table and grab what I need before carrying it over to them. I put it all down on the table before leaving them to it so I can brew the second pot of coffee. I give them a few minutes to read the menu, then take the fresh carafe to them. “Did everyone get some?”
“Oh, I’m gonna get me some alright,” Handsy guy jokes.
“For fuck sake, Jim, leave it. She ain’t interested,” the guy who ordered the coffee tells him.
“Everyone’s interested in me. Some fillies just like to play hard to get, right?” He looks at me with clear lust in his eyes.
“No.” I look back at the rest of the table. “You guys ready to order?”
“Sure, thang,” the coffee-ordering guy says before ordering a stack of pancakes with bacon and eggs. I look to the guy next to him, who goes for a burger, and make my way around the rest of the crowd before landing on Handsy.
I look at him and wait. He grins in what I think is supposed to be a charming way, but it comes off as more of a leer.
“Are you eating or not?” I don’t bother trying to hide my annoyance.
When he still doesn’t reply, I grab the half-full coffee carafe and the empty one.
As I straighten up, I feel the asshole’s hand glide up the back of my thigh before he cups my pussy through my jeans.
I jump and accidentally, on purpose, turn into him and tip the jug of hot coffee onto his crotch.
He screams like a bitch, while I stand and watch him with zero fucks given.
“Jesus, lady, don’t just stand there, do something.”
“How about you rub it better for him?” I tell the coffee-ordering guy as Del steps up beside me.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“The guy rolling around the floor decided to try his luck yet again. I wasn’t expecting his hand to grab my pussy any more than he was expecting coffee in his lap.” The guys at the table are finally starting to look uncomfortable.
“You know what? I think you all need to leave, and take this asshole with you,” Del snaps.
“We didn’t do anything,” the burger-ordering guy sputters.
I look at him and shake my head. “Yeah, and that’s the problem.
I’m here to serve you food, nothing else.
What if I were one of your women? Or your mother, daughter, or sister?
Would you still do nothing? Would you expect the other men to step in like none of you did?
Or do none of you care that your friend just sexually assaulted a pregnant woman after being told no repeatedly? ”
My words crash down on them. Some even look remorseful, but it’s too late for that.
“Time to go. Consider the drinks on the house,” Del tells them, not leaving my side as the men move past us, grabbing the guy from the floor and dragging him out.
“I’m going to fucking sue you,” he shouts, holding his dick.
“You can try. I have this place wired with so many cameras that there will be no hiding anything. You can explain to a judge why you did what you did and see what they think of your wandering hands and your willingness to proceed without consent” Del snarls.
His face pales, but before he can say anything else, his friends pull him out the door.
It slams shut behind them with a loud clang. I look at Del and apologize.
“One day, I really will get cameras,” she mutters.
“I’m so sorry—”
“Absolutely the fuck not.” She holds her hand up to me and scowls. “Don’t you dare fucking apologize for someone else’s behavior. We don’t victim-shame ever.”
I swallow around a lump in my throat. “You’re the best boss I’ve ever had.”
“How many jobs have you had?”
“Paying ones? Three.”
“Really?”
“And your last boss?”
“Midas.”
I told her about Midas so I’m not surprised when she scrunches up her face. “You’re right. I am the best boss you’ve ever had.”
We both stare silently at each other for a minute before we dissolve into fits of laughter.
I’m tired when I climb off the bus, but not as bad as I have been lately.
I’m hoping now that I’m my second trimester, the exhaustion will ease off a bit.
Another full night’s sleep won’t hurt either.
Del let me leave early as I’m opening in the morning.
I’m going to hopefully spend the evening being lazy, though I do need to squeeze in doing laundry before I run out of clean clothes.
I climb the steps to my apartment, not seeing anyone else around, like usual. If it wasn’t for the asshole next door and his music, I’d think I lived here alone. I’ve yet to see anyone else. The only indication that people do, in fact, live here is the cars moving in and out of the lot.
I slip my key in the door and push it open, pausing to glance around. My shoulders sag with relief when I see everything is as it should be. I guess I really can chalk up the other night to my baby brain and paranoia.
I toss my bag on the counter and pocket my keys as I walk to the bedroom to grab my laundry basket before I talk myself out of it.
I scoop everything up and carry it to the door before cursing when I realize I forgot the detergent.
I put the basket down, collect the detergent and fabric softener, and add them to the basket.
Before tugging my keys out, I check my pocket to ensure I have my phone handy.
I step out into the hallway and glance at my neighbor’s door.
All is still quiet. I can only hope it remains that way.
I lock the door and hurry to the basement where the machines are.
I hate it down here, but as of yet, I’ve never had to share the space.
I don’t waste any time, though. I separate the colors from the whites, throw a load in, and start her up before settling in on one of the rickety chairs to read on my phone.
I read until the machine is done, then throw the wet wash in the dryer and the last load in the washer. I look at my watch and bite my lip. I don’t want to be sitting here for another hour. Should I risk leaving my stuff here and come back? It’s not like any of it is worth stealing.
“Fuck it.”
I go up to my apartment and shower before making myself a bowl of cereal.
I ate at the diner before I left, but I’ve found that I’m not as sick in the morning if I eat something small before bed.
Once I’m done, I wash my dirty dish and nearly break the damn thing when the bowl slips from my hand as a loud thump and a curse ring out from next door.
I listen again but don’t hear anything else.
Like hell am I going around to investigate.
In fact, I’m making it my mission to avoid the guy as much as humanly possible.
Figuring the wash must be done by now, I head down and grab it.
The dryer is done, so I pull the clothes out and toss them in the basket before groaning.
I forgot about drying the shit in the washing machine.
I contemplate air-drying it in the apartment, but I don’t want it to smell damp, and it’s just not warm enough in there to dry quickly.
With a grunt, I throw it in the dryer, knowing I’ll have to return.
I stomp up the stairs and hurry inside before curling up on the sofa with my book again.
I don’t trust myself to read in bed because I’d fall asleep in no time.
When I feel my eyes drooping anyway, I know I’m fighting a losing battle so I set an alarm on my phone to wake me.
I jolt upright, what feels like ten hours later. When I look at my phone, it’s only been a couple. I squint, wondering how the heck I slept through the alarm.
“I must have been more tired than I thought.”
I swing the door open and freeze when I see my basket of laundry on my doorstep.
All of it has been folded neatly, and I can see the whites have been added to it.
I look around, unsure, before I pick it up and bring it in.
I leave it next to the door while I lock up and walk around to double-check the windows.
I glance out, but the parking lot is empty. Even so, I take my time looking at shadows, just in case. I can’t see anyone or anything out of place, but I can feel eyes on me. Even though I know who it likely is, it doesn’t make it less unnerving than if it were a stranger.
I close the blind, shutting out the world, before getting changed into an oversized T-shirt.
I plug my phone in and crawl into bed, staring up at the ceiling as I try to get my wayward thoughts under control.
I didn’t see anyone out there tonight, but I’m almost convinced Midas is there.
I don’t know if that’s desperation or wishful thinking, but I can’t say I like it.
Anger churns in my belly. Why won’t he just leave me alone?
Does he have any idea what he’s doing to me, or does he just not care?
I don’t even know why he’s bothering with me.
He’s already made it perfectly clear I’m nothing to him, yet here we are.
With a huff, I roll over and bury my head in my pillow. Eventually, my need for sleep wins out. I give in to the only real peace I can find at the minute, blissfully unaware of the eyes watching me from the fire escape.