29. Adam
Adam
I walk into my restaurant on a warm April morning. Dylan has a month and a half left in school and that leaves me with a month and a half to hire more people. Namely, another assistant manager. So I have a few interviews lined up today with several more throughout the week.
We used to only open for nights during the week in the off-season. But with more offices requesting working lunches and retirement parties, my employees decided that being open more won’t hurt because they are the ones who work harder than me.
When I settle into my desk chair, I send out a few emails to the applicants wanting to schedule interviews. Hopefully, I get responses in a timely manner.
With Jeff and I splitting the night shifts during the week, I have free nights for the first time ever.
Me: Hey, you.
It’s the middle of the school day so I don’t expect a response from Emily for a while. I tackle more items off of my to-do list before creating another one. The staff that is in for the day shift and I eat lunch together. It’s a way I’ve managed to keep the closeness up with my employees.
Jeff comes in half an hour earlier to relieve me. I let him in on what’s on the schedule for tonight. It’s a Wednesday, so it shouldn’t be too busy.
I’m walking out to my truck when my dings.
Emily: Hey, yourself.
Me: I have a question for you.
Emily: I may have an answer…
Me: Would you like to go on a date with me?
Emily: You mean making out in my apartment isn’t your idea of a date? I’m shocked.
Me: Smartypants.
Emily: Can’t help it. But to answer your question, I would love to go on a date with you.
Me: How does 7 o'clock sound?
Emily: Perfect.
Me: I’ll pick you up.
I drive on clouds all the way home. Dylan should be getting home as well, so I get to spend some time with him before I need to get ready.
“Dylan?” I call out when I’m inside the house. Jenny is at the kitchen table doing homework and I wave to her when she looks up.
“He just went upstairs.” She tells me and sets her pen down.
I look to the stairs and then back at Jenny.
“What?”
“I have a huge favor to ask you.”
Jenny leans back in the chair and crosses her arms, quirking her brow as she asks, “What’s in it for me?”
“Free food and a night with the best kid ever?” I phrase it for her and hopefully, it sells.
“Night, huh? And where are you going?”
I purse my lips and take my hat off my head to ruffle my hair. “I have a date.”
Jenny’s legs get tangled around the chair as she rushes to me. I hold her shoulders steady and she waves them off.
“You should have led with that!”
It’s my turn to cross my arms over my chest. “I’m supposed to consult with my twenty-year-old babysitter that I have a date?”
“Considering it was the Ice Age the last time you dated, yes.”
“Watch it.” I say and flick her on the nose.
What started as Jenny being Dylan’s babysitter, has turned her into the little sister that I never had.
“Ouch,” she says and rubs her nose. “But, Adam, this is huge. Oh my god, my group chat is going to freak out.” She murmurs the last part as if I’m not supposed to hear her.
“You’ve been talking about me to your friends?”
“You’ve been the topic of many conversations for the last two years.”
“Is it too late to fire you?” I ask jokingly.
She laughs as if I said the sky was green. “Like you could find a babysitter that Dylan adores more.”
Jenny isn’t wrong about that. But I’ll never inflate her ego more than what it’s already at. Heavy footsteps barreling down the stairs has me turning right in time to catch Dylan.
“Hey, buddy.”
“Hi, Daddy. What’s for dinner?”
“Is that all I’m good for? Cooking you dinner?” I tickle his neck before his squirming gets to be too much and I have to set him down.
He runs to the living room and turns the TV on. I look at him and shake my head. Jenny snorts before getting back to her homework.
I riffle through the fridge for anything that’s defrosted. When I come up blank, I pull out a bag of chicken nuggets from the freezer and go about getting them cooked. While Jenny and Dylan are eating, I rush up to my room to get ready for my date.
At fifteen after, I head downstairs to say bye to Dylan. I give Jenny a knowing look when she does a weird dance in the kitchen. That generation is one I’ll never understand. I make sure I have enough blankets in the backseat and that the mattress pad isn’t too flat. When I’m satisfied, I peel out of my driveway and make the drive to Emily’s.