Chapter Ten
Savvy
“Y ou good?”
I blink away my daze and find my boss staring at me, eyebrows furled in concern. My cheeks heat because I’ve been busted daydreaming about what happened this morning with Travis.
What did happen?
“Yep. Just need to grab some extra butter for table fifteen.”
Aiden’s eyes narrow as though he doesn’t believe me, but finally moves past it, handing me a small dish of whipped butter. I swivel around and bolt from the kitchen, hoping to escape my embarrassment.
Since table fifteen didn’t actually need butter, I set the dish down near the drink station. I really like my job so far, but today I’m off my game. I’d even been so out of it this morning that Coach Long asked me to stay after class to make sure everything was okay at home.
No.
Nothing is okay at home.
What happened this morning was intense, amazing, and hard to believe.
I’ve also been struggling with the guilt of it. Not that I regret seeing Travis as he pleasured himself because of me or that I reciprocated, but because we did it behind Cole’s back.
What will he think of me now?
I’ve been a wrecking ball in their lives since the moment I moved in. It’s possible they’ll grow sick and tired of my chaos. Then what?
I have nowhere else to go.
The pain of that realization cuts me to my core.
I’d been hurt over Cole’s dismissal of me after our kiss last night. God, it was the best kiss of my life. But he ruined it by freaking out. I’ll admit I even cried a little into my pillow before falling asleep.
So, when I saw Travis in my room this morning, I had this overwhelming need to see if I could make him want me like Cole so clearly doesn’t.
Travis does want me.
He made that crystal clear when he joined in on the forbidden activity and instructed me on pleasuring myself.
Was that the end of it for us or will there be more?
I’m sore from my fingering but the delicious tingle in my clit has been there all day. It’s as if I woke up nerves that need constant stimulation. Even standing here, I can’t help but rub my thighs together to relive the ache. The wetness from my arousal won’t go away. In fact, after school, I had to change underwear and grab a pantyliner just in case.
Someone clears their throat, and I jolt. My skin is hot from the memories, but also from being caught again. This time, though, it’s not Aiden. A group of people waiting to be seated are at the hostess area.
Not just any group.
A group I know intimately well.
The Monahans.
Seeing Addison is what makes it bearable. I barely make eye contact with her before she bounds over to me, throwing her arms around me. Tears sting my eyes as I hug my friend. Her familiar perfume invades my senses, making my heart thump with pure joy.
“I miss you,” Addison says, not letting go. “It’s so boring without you.”
“I miss you too.”
We pull apart and the rest of the family watches me intently. I give Leah an awkward hug and then wave to Addison’s brothers. Owen flashes me one of his signature grins that used to warm me until I realized his nighttime problem. Until he rubbed his cock on me while in a sleepy trance. Now he makes my skin crawl.
It’s not lost on me that Owen, who’s around the same age as my dad, Cole, and Travis, makes me cringe while my new roommates turn me on so badly, I have to wear a pantyliner to keep from soaking through my underwear.
“When Addison told us you’re working at the esteemed Smoke & Sugar, I knew we had to come pay you a visit,” Owen says, never losing his grin. “We’re so proud of you. All grown up now.”
His eyes search mine and I can almost see the question there. Did you tell anyone about my middle-of-the-night naked lurking?
Since I’ve never been good at lying, I give him a quick smile before turning to lead them to a table. Rhett is being oddly quiet which is unnerving. He wasn’t at school today and he never tried to text me despite saying Addison gave him my number.
This is so weird.
“…our sister, but now she’s our server.”
I whip my head over my shoulder to see Cason filming me with his phone. I’m agitated knowing he’s probably live right now, showing all his followers another pointless detail of his life. I’d once angrily lectured him about needing my consent if he wanted to film me. Since he filmed that conversation, the video went semi-viral. Most people agreed with me, but they greedily continued to consume his content anyway.
Ignoring Cason altogether, I show my previous foster family to a round table in the back of the restaurant. The windows along the wall behind them overlook a park and a pond with ducks. Aside from the rooftop, which is only open certain days, it’s the best seat in the house. Despite this family being odd, invasive, and sometimes mean, they took me in when I had nowhere else to go. So, paying them back with a good seat in the restaurant feels right.
Owen is a gentleman, pulling out the chairs for his wife and daughter. There was a time when he pulled out my chair, too. Outside of the nighttime creepiness, Owen is far more likable than Leah.
“Will they let you join us?” Owen asks once seated. “Or is that a big no-no.”
“I can come visit, but I have other tables to help since the usual server who works tonight is out sick.”
I get their drink order and then hoof it to the back, out of their eyesight, so I can catch my breath. Pride trickles through me. It’s nice that I can prove I have worth to them and am no longer someone’s dependent. Who knows, maybe in another month or two, I can go shopping with Addison and Leah, this time offering to buy something for Leah instead.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I quickly pull it out to see who’s messaging me.
Cole: I’m picking you up again tonight. I’m sorry if you feel like I’ve been avoiding you today. I wasn’t sure how to handle what happened. We can talk about it later, sweetheart.
I don’t respond, choosing to stuff my phone back into my pocket so I can make the Monahans’ drinks. Guilt weighs me down knowing Cole has been obsessing over our kissing, most likely hating himself over it, and I’ve been lost in memories of Travis.
I’m going to have to come clean.
My stomach twists painfully at the thought of hurting him. The last thing I want is for him to be angry with me, but I especially don’t want to come between him and Travis.
The Monahans are chatting amicably when I return. Addison, Rhett, and Cason all have sweet tea, and their parents have the house wine. I manage to fill the wineglasses in front of them without spilling any or overfilling them.
No one in this family has any qualms about ordering steak that costs more than what I earn in two days. As they add on food to their order, I mentally calculate what it’s all going to cost. I’m a tiny bit resentful of Leah for taking me off the phone plan so quickly considering their entire meal will probably cost the amount of their family plan phone bill for two months straight.
You can’t worry about them anymore.
You’re your own woman. Independent, working, and apparently romantically juggling two men. No need to let the past cloud the future.
The evening crowd decides to show up before the Monahans’ food is cooked which means I frantically run around seating people, taking orders, and making drinks. Aiden has to step out of the kitchen to run food out for me when I get stuck at a table for an insanely long time as the woman decides on a cocktail.
I’ve barely been able to speak to the Monahans at all.
I’m at a table when they leave. Owen steps behind me as I’m taking an order, placing his hand on my lower back. He whispers in my ear. “You’re doing great, Savvy. I paid cash. The leftover amount is your tip. Have fun, dear.”
I squeak when he pats my ass and then walks away.
Why did he do that?
The people at the table don’t notice, and when I glance toward the Monahans, they’re all leaving, completely unaware Owen just smacked my butt.
Gross.
After putting in the order with the kitchen, I race over to the Monahans’ table. The stack of hundreds to pay for their meal is more money than I’ve ever seen at once. I count them out and realize Owen left me a hundred-dollar tip.
No freaking way.
Is that why he felt it was okay to put his hands one me? Like he paid for it?
I try not to let disgust ruin the moment of receiving my biggest tip so far at this job. Maybe he accidentally did it or maybe it was just a gesture of genuine affection.
Mario, the bus boy and dishwasher, appears at my side with a bin to clear the table. “Hey, Savvy, Vale wants to talk to you in the office.”
I whip around to face him. I’m not sure how old he is, but he can’t be much older than me. If I wasn’t all twisted up over my roommates, I’d probably want to date a guy like Mario. With his dark hair, green eyes, and lazy smile, he’s easy on the eyes, that’s for sure.
“What does she want?” I ask, voice unnaturally high. “Am I in trouble?”
He chuckles. “With Vale? Hell naw. She’s sweeter than that dessert shit she makes. Probably nothing. I’ll watch the front while you’re back there.”
I thank him and then rush to the back where Vale and Aiden share an office. She’s shoveling food into her mouth so fast I’m not sure she’s even tasting it.
“Savvy,” she says around the chicken she’s chewing. “This will only take a sec. Close the door.”
Great.
Now I know I’m in trouble.
Anxiety ratchets through me as I quietly close the door. “I’m really busy out there.”
“I know, hon.” She sets down her plate, swallows her food, and then approaches slowly. “Are you okay? Do you want us to call someone?”
I gape at her, eyes wide with confusion. “What? Why?”
She purses her lips and then lets out a sharp breath of air. “The man who touched you out there. Aiden saw it and wanted me to talk to you.”
My face burns hot. “That was my foster dad. He was just hugging me. Gave me a big tip too. Nothing to worry about.”
She tucks a strand of her red hair behind her ear and studies me intently. “Are you sure it wasn’t anything bad? Aiden is protective of his staff.”
“I swear,” I lie. “They’re my family.” Another lie.
This seems to relieve her because the tension floods out of her and her shoulders relax. “Okay, good. And yay for a big tip. I know I can speak for Aiden, too, but you’re doing a phenomenal job. We’re still hiring. Soon, it won’t always be so crazy. Hang in there, hon.”
Once she’s deemed I’m not in any danger, she dismisses me, and we both head back to our respective areas. Aiden gives me a small smile and nods. Though it was awkward that they confronted me about what Owen did, I’m also touched.
There are people, other than Travis and Cole, who care about my wellbeing in this world.
Things are going to be okay.