Chapter Twenty-One #2
Ben laughed. “How about we get things set up first. We can adjust as we go. Do you want to come by the resort on Monday?” He checked his watch.
“I’m meeting my wife, Charlie, and some friends at the café soon.
I need to run, but I wanted to catch you before the weekend. Harvey said this might be a good time.”
Jake couldn’t help it; he tried not to laugh, but a chuckle escaped. Savannah shook her head, and Ben grinned at them.
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re not surprised that he came to talk to me about it, but for what it’s worth I was planning to anyway.” He nodded at Jake. “I’ve heard good things about you.” He turned to Savannah. “No one told me you were working here, though. I’d have come sooner if I’d known.”
Savannah smiled and nodded and made the right noises while they said goodbye to Ben, but a heavy weight settled in Jake’s chest – she didn’t really work here.
And as much as he’d love her to – not for the sake of the contract with the resort, just to have her around every day – she was currently trying out the assistant manager job at the restaurant with Taryn.
They both stood out front and waved as Ben pulled away. Once his truck was out of sight, she turned to him with a huge smile on her face. “Isn’t it awesome?!”
“Yeah.”
Her smile faded. “You don’t look thrilled.”
“Because I wish … I wish you wanted to work here for real.”
“Oh.” Her expression was almost comical.
“Shoot!” She looked down at herself. “How stupid am I? I got so caught up in it. I thought I really did work here. I was so excited to work on the golf carts and to …” She shook her head sadly.
“But I’m sure Ben will still give you the contract.
He was glad to see me for old times’ sake but … ”
Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sure he will. But it’s not about the contract; it’s about you being here. Yes, I’d love to get to spend all our days working together, but even more important than that? I’d love to see you happy spending your days doing what you love.”
He kissed her forehead. “Looking sexy as hell in your coveralls, teaching me all the things I don’t know. I’d love for us to go home together at the end of the day and …” He shrugged. “But that’s me being selfish. You’re moving up in the world.”
“No!” She said it so forcefully that he worried for a second.
“I’m not moving up in the world – not by working at the restaurant, not by becoming an assistant manager. I can see it now – Josh and Tiff both tried to tell me. If I keep working there, Jake, all I’m doing is moving farther away from the life I want to live.”
He dared a small smile. “Yeah?”
She nodded vigorously.
“Okay. Then, just so I’m sure I’m not reading this wrong – are you saying that if I were to offer you a job …?”
She grinned. “I thought you already had – I hope you did because I already accepted it.”
She took a big breath and blew it out slowly. “And when I get to the restaurant tonight, I’m going to tell Taryn that I’m not cut out to be an assistant manager, and that I’ll give her some notice and I’ll still cover shifts if she still needs me, but from now on … I work here!”
~ ~ ~
Savannah looked around the restaurant while she waited for her drink order to be filled.
She was glad that she’d had the chance to work here.
It was a much nicer – classier – place than she would ever have imagined herself working.
But it wasn’t what she wanted out of life. She could see that so clearly now.
Dalton gave her a nod from his spot at the bar.
He was a good man; he and Taryn were a good team, and she’d miss them, but she was glad that this chapter was ending for her.
She smiled as she watched him swat Taryn’s ass when she walked by him.
Taryn pretended to look pissed at him, but Savannah could just see the way they loved each other – it shone in their eyes, even when they bickered.
Taryn smiled when she reached her. “You seem happier tonight.”
Savannah hesitated, but Taryn laughed. “It’s okay, I get it – you’re relieved.
Relieved that you turned down the assistant manager position and relieved that you get to work with your Jake now.
And stop looking so worried – I’m not mad at you.
Far from it. All I wanted was to see you happy.
It’s obvious that there’s so much more about you than waiting tables.
” She shook her head. “I just didn’t know that you were a mechanic – of all things – at heart.
And if that sounded like criticism, it wasn’t – it was admiration.
I may still have to call on you for a couple of shifts here and there till I rearrange the schedule.
And if ever you need any shifts in the future, you let me know – I’ll be glad to slot you in, okay? ”
“Thanks so much.”
Taryn shook her head. “You don’t need to thank me, sweetie. I’m happy that things are working out for you. And I appreciate that as soon as you knew what you wanted you let me know.”
“I’d never want to mess you around, even though I kind of did.”
“You did no such thing. I suggested you try out the assistant manager job so that you could see how it felt – I wanted to help you make the decision from a place of knowing, not just imagining what it’d be like.”
“And it’s a great job, and I know—”
Taryn made a face. “I thought we were friends – I know we are – and that means you don’t need to give me all the explanations – or any. It’s not for you, and you’ve found what is for you. I’ll be bringing my car in to you when it needs looking at, okay?”
“Absolutely. I know you said I don’t need to explain, but I feel like I do.
I had to come in and tell you as soon as I arrived tonight because I know now.
All week I’ve been wondering and weighing it up and figuring it out.
But then this afternoon when Ben came in to see Jake – it didn’t even hit me till after he’d gone that I don’t actually work there, but…
it felt like I did. I just… assumed, you know? ”
“I get it, and it’s all good.” Taryn checked her watch and jerked her chin toward the tray.
“Shoot! Sorry!” Savannah picked it up, and Taryn laughed.
“It’s not your fault. I’m the one keeping you talking. But once that table’s finished up you can get out of here if you want. Kiara’s section’s quiet tonight, she can cover your tables. You should go home and celebrate with Jake.”
“Oh! I—”
Taryn narrowed her eyes at her. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that I can be difficult? You haven’t seen that side of me yet – it mostly comes out when people argue with me.”
Savannah laughed. “Well, in that case…”
“Exactly. Get those drinks delivered, then…” She frowned. “I guess you’ll have to call him to come, won’t you?”
“Yeah. He’s not expecting to pick me up this early.”
“Then come sit at the bar with Dalton and we can all hang out while you wait.”