Chapter 14
“Okay, we’ll see you then. Bye.” I hung up the phone, made sure the appointment was logged in the computer system, and then focused on the customer patiently waiting at the reception counter.
I shot her a bright smile. “Hi, thanks for your patience. What can I do for you?”
She smiled back. “Hi, my name’s Brittany. I have an appointment with Homer at 12:45.”
I looked at the computer and clicked the mouse. “Great, you’re all checked in. He’ll be out in just a few minutes. Can I get you something to drink? Water? A soda?”
“No thanks, I’m good.” She tossed glossy brown hair over her shoulder. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Is Homer seeing anyone?”
“Seeing anyone?” I repeated.
“Dating,” she clarified.
“Oh.” I frowned. “I—uh—don’t know, actually.”
“This is my second visit,” she whispered conspiratorially. “And I’m dying to ask him out. But he’s kind of aloof, so I don’t know if he’ll say yes.”
I’d worked at Three Kings for a week, and Homer had yet to warm to me. Whenever I had a question, I asked Virgil or Roman, steering clear of the grumpy Jackson brother entirely.
“Yeah, sorry.” I shot her a smile of commiseration. “I don’t have any insight for you.”
“I’m gonna go for it,” she announced. She took a seat on the leather couch and picked up a magazine.
My stomach rumbled and I was dying for a hardy meal. But the guys hadn’t come out and requested lunch orders yet. I grabbed the banana from my bag and wolfed it down.
Homer appeared from the back hallway. He glanced at me finishing off the last of my snack and frowned. I hastily tossed the peel into the trash. He turned his attention to his pretty client, who not so subtly straightened her spine which thrust her breasts forward.
“Brittany,” he greeted. “You ready?”
“Sure thing.” She stood and picked up her purse and sauntered toward him. His expression didn’t change as he guided her toward his tattoo chair.
The front door opened. I looked to the entrance, a smile of greeting waiting on my lips. Brielle strode through, a brunette ambling in behind her.
“Hey, girl,” Brielle greeted.
“Hi,” I said.
“I brought you and the boys lunch,” Brielle announced, setting the brown paper bags onto the counter.
“How did you know I was famished?” I asked with a laugh.
“Just luck,” Brielle said. “Evie, this is my best friend, Jazz. Jazz and I own part of Pie in the Sky, but also, we’ve been friends since high school.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, looking at Jazz.
“Nice to finally meet you, too, new girl. I wanted to meet you sooner, but Brielle said not to startle you with my exuberance. How are the guys treating you?” Jazz asked.
A long, fat braid slid off her shoulder as she leaned forward and began to unpack the brown bags.
“They’ve been great,” I said honestly.
“Even Homer?” Brielle inquired with a knowing smile.
“Even Homer.”
Jazz looked at Brielle and rolled her eyes. “She’s loyal.”
“Yeah, since we all know Homer is a grump,” Brielle added. “How’s Savage?”
“Perfect,” I said with a sigh. He gave me a ride to and from work every day. And he’d spent every night the past week in my bed.
“Aww,” Jazz said with a smile. “I love the beginning stages of a relationship. All sex and talking.”
There was more sex than talking with Savage, but I was definitely not complaining.
“I heard about what happened at Spurs,” Brielle said. “That must’ve been intense.”
“I kinda wish I’d been there,” Jazz said.
“You didn’t miss anything,” I stated.
“Yeah, because you got Savage to walk away, right?” Brielle asked. “That’s what Roman told me.”
“Savage walked away from a fight? Interesting,” Jazz murmured, peering at me.
With the Jackson siblings, it was apparent that my private life wasn’t going to remain so private.
Duly noted.
Virgil appeared from the back. “Aw, you guys brought us lunch? Awesome. I’m starving.”
Brielle handed him a container. “Your favorite.”
“What’s your favorite?” I inquired.
“Grilled cheese with tomato and sweet potato fries, and a side of chipotle aioli for dipping.”
I looked at Brielle. “I thought Pie in the Sky was a bakery.”
“It is,” Brielle said. “But Brooklyn expanded it into a café.”
“Ah,” I said in understanding.
“We didn’t know what you liked, so we brought a few sandwiches,” Jazz said.
“Oh, thanks,” I said, feeling grateful and at ease. “That’s nice.”
“Roman gets the BLT.” Brielle looked at the containers that all had shorthand writing on them, found the BLT and set it aside.
“Homer gets the turkey avocado with sprouts.” Jazz rolled her eyes and moved it to the other side of the counter.
“You can have your pick,” Brielle said. “Ham and cheese, chicken pesto, or the caprese.”
“Chicken pesto, please,” I said.
“Awesome,” Jazz said. “That means I get the caprese.”
“And I get the ham and cheese,” Brielle said. “Yay.”
“I’ll wait to eat,” I announced.
“Why?” Brielle asked. “Dig in now while it’s still warm.”
I glanced at Virgil who had already opened his sandwich and was chowing down. “Eat,” he insisted.
The banana had done nothing to satiate me. I was still hungry. My appetite lately had been insane. No doubt all the calories I was burning because of Savage.
“Okay, if you insist,” I said, opening the box with the chicken pesto sandwich.
“So, how do you like working here?” Jazz asked as she stole one of Virgil’s fries. He lightly smacked her hand, but then offered her the chipotle sauce.
“I love it,” I said as I took a bite of the chicken pesto.
“You don’t have to lie just because Virgil is here,” Brielle teased.
I grinned as I swallowed. “Oh, wow, this sandwich is so good. And I’m not lying—I am enjoying it. The hours are great, and only one of my bosses is annoying.”
“Which boss would that be?” Roman asked as he appeared. “I knew I smelled hot food.”
Jazz handed him the box with the BLT.
“Virgil,” I teased.
“Hey, I’m not annoying,” Virgil said as he literally flicked my ear.
Brielle snorted. “You guys gave me so much shit when I filled in as your receptionist.”
“Yeah, because you’re our sister,” Roman said. “We actually like Evie.”
Brielle threw a fry at her brother which pegged him in the chest and then fell onto the counter.
“No food fights,” Jazz stated.
I took another bite of my sandwich as the four of them teased and joked with each other. It was clear that Jazz was considered a part of the family and Roman and Virgil treated her as such.
Each day, I grew more and more comfortable here. I hadn’t even thought of picking up and moving on. Not now.
“I guess you’re still taking the bus?” Brielle inquired.
“She takes the bus?” Jazz asked.
“Yeah, she can’t drive,” Brielle explained.
“Savage has been giving me rides on his bike,” I explained. “He’s not a fan of me taking the bus.”
The chicken suddenly turned sour in my mouth which filled with saliva. I set my sandwich down.
“Evie?” Roman asked. “You don’t look so good.”
“Her face is pale,” Virgil announced.
“I think I ate too fast.” I hastily placed a hand in front of my mouth and scrambled off the stool. In my desire to get to the bathroom, I slammed into Roman who hadn’t moved out of the way quickly enough.
“Easy there, linebacker,” Roman muttered as he rubbed his chest.
I pushed the door open and made it to the toilet just in the nick of time. My body shook and the back of my neck broke out in sweat. Once I was sure the contents of my stomach were empty, I flushed the toilet and then washed my hands. I cupped my palms underneath the water and drank a mouthful, swishing to rid my mouth of the acrid taste of bile.
I wet a paper towel and bathed my brow and then lifted my hair to cool down the back of my neck. My stomach no longer felt jittery.
As I opened the door to the bathroom, the only noise I heard was the faint sound of Homer’s tattoo gun. There was no conversation coming from the front room.
Four pairs of eyes watched me retake the stool.
“You okay?” Roman asked gently.
“I think I’m getting sick.”
Without pause, Roman placed his hand against my forehead. “You don’t feel warm. Just kind of . . . clammy.”
“Gross,” Virgil muttered.
I glared at Roman. “I’m not clammy. I put a wet paper towel to my forehead. I think I’ll get some air.”
“Take a ginger ale,” Roman said to me.
Nodding, I crouched down to the mini fridge and took the last one.
Homer and Brittany appeared in the front room.
“We brought lunch,” Jazz said to Homer. “We made your usual.”
“Thanks,” he said gruffly.
“I’m ready to pay,” Brittany said to me.
“Why don’t I get you squared up,” Brielle said to Brittany. “Evie’s getting some air.”
“Thanks,” Brittany chirped.
Homer took the box of food.
“See you tonight, Homer,” she called.
He didn’t reply to her statement, disappearing into the back once again.
I sidled around Roman and trekked toward the front door. Cool air hit my cheeks and immediately made me feel better. I sipped on the ginger ale, letting my stomach settle.
The front door opened, and Brittany stepped outside. She put her sunglasses on and had her keys in her hand. “You okay? I heard you throwing up.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just an upset belly.”
“Whew. Anytime I throw up, I start to worry that I’m pregnant.” She shook her head. “So I invited Homer to this place with live music my friend’s playing at. I don’t know if he’ll show, but I hope he will.”
She didn’t even realize I hadn’t replied to her, so lost in her own excitement about a potential date with Homer.
My skin buzzed with terror.
Pregnant. I can’t be pregnant.
There was no way . . .
Was there?
“Anyway, see ya,” Brittany said. With a wave, she headed toward her car.
My phone buzzed with a text.
Savage
hey babe can’t pick you up today. Club shit. I can send a prospect to drive you.
I took a deep breath and replied.
Me
Don’t worry about it. I’ll take the bus.
Savage
Evie, no
Me
let it go. Will I see you tonight?
Savage
not til late. You’ll probably be asleep, so I’ll crash at the clubhouse. I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow.
I stuck my phone into my pocket and then went inside.
Brielle and Jazz were cleaning up the remains of lunch. Roman and Virgil had disappeared. No doubt they’d headed into the back.
There was a weird, tense energy in the room, but I couldn’t figure out why. Jazz’s expression was pinched.
“I’m gonna use the restroom,” Brielle said. “Then we can get out of here.”
Jazz nodded as she put the last box into the paper bag. The door to the bathroom closed and I was about to ask Jazz what was wrong when the phone rang. I answered it and booked a session with Virgil. As I hung up, the bathroom door opened, and Brielle returned to the main room.
“Ready?” Brielle asked Jazz.
Jazz glanced up from her phone and nodded. “Yeah. Bye, Evie.”
“Bye,” I called after them.
The door slammed shut and I spent the rest of my shift watching the clock tick by.