Chapter 33 Elijah #2
After tidying up the kitchen, and sharing another shower, we get ready for the day. Tobias, in cozy warm sweats to lounge around the house in—I was insistent on it. And me, in my usual navy button-up and beige pants ensemble.
“Shit. It’s snowing.” I hiss, looking outside as I throw on my pea coat.
“Let me clean off your car for you,” he says, opening the closet for his winter jacket.
I snatch at his arms. “No. No. You, couch.” I point over his shoulder.
He sighs heavily which only makes me smile as I hold onto his arms. “Listen, once I get home, you can tend to me alllllll you want.” I sway him side to side. “Until then, let me do this.”
His lips turn up into a smile as he rolls his eyes. “Okay. Okay. Go. Leave me then.” He waves me off.
I laugh, opening the door. I’m instantly greeted by a cold chill as the wind blows in.
“I love you.” He calls out after me as I skip down the icy porch.
“I love you!” I say, waving back to him.
***
Working down my mental list for this morning was easy enough.
With everything that’s been going on, it’s vital Tobias has a working phone.
I make a quick stop on Main Street, drop off his smashed one, and pick up a cheap temporary replacement he can use until it’s fixed.
Can’t have him walking around without a means to communicate. That would be unsafe and unwise.
After that, I do the necessary pickups he usually does on Saturday mornings. Beer store, check. Food suppliers, check. After all is said and done, I’m itching to get back to him.
But, I suck it up.
Because I left the biggest job for last.
The restaurant.
I step inside, dropping off the food supplies in the kitchen. The kitchen staff are happy to see me as I quickly catch up, taking a moment to say hello to everyone.
Once I bring the beer stock in with the bussers, I’m immediately flagged down by the serving staff.
“Elijah! Have you heard from Tobs? I can’t get a hold of him.” Claire chases after me as I make my way to the office.
“His phone’s broken. But, what’s up? I’m stepping in for the time being.” I answer, opening up the office.
“Okay, well, Gabe’s still not here yet so we don’t have a bartender this morning. And Stacy’s not in until four.”
I stop in my tracks, looking back at the bar. Gabe’s a no show?
“He didn’t call?”
Claire shakes her head and crosses her arms against her chest. “Walked out last night at the party and hasn't talked to anyone since.”
I huff out a laugh. “Probably embarrassed that he made a fool out of himself last night. Hungover or something.”
Claire’s eyes pinch together. “That doesn’t really sound like him. That’d really worry me.” She looks at the door as my heart sinks.
“That’d worry you? Why?” I ask in a whisper.
Claire’s mouth flutters open and shut. “Shit. I shouldn’t have said anything. Not that I think he’d care if you knew. It’s just…not my business to tell.”
I shake my head. “No…I wouldn’t say anything. Just…” I look at the door too. Silently praying he’d walk through. “I have this bad feeling I might’ve really fucked up last night.”
“Huh, why?”
I bite my lower lip, feeling my blood pressure rising. “I said things to him that no one should probably say to someone they don’t know.”
After what Tobias said to me, it sort of sounds like he really was just trying to be there for him. Even if it makes me angry that he put his lips on my person…maybe it was in good faith.
“I’ll call him later and try and see if I can get a hold of him. Until then, I’ll serve. You bartend.”
Claire nods her head. “Okay, sounds like a plan.”
A morning shift wasn’t something that I was planning on exactly, but hey, at least it made the time pass. We got a short rush around lunch, and we’re able to crush it like the team we’ve always been.
I kind of missed being here in the midst of it all. Time away really makes you appreciate things.
With Gabe still not showing up today, I had to stay on until the night time staffers arrived.
But once they did, I quickly caught up to one of the bussers, Oliver, and paid him twenty extra bucks to help me clean the office.
In record time, we had everything put back together and sparkly clean.
Tobias really didn’t break anything at all. It was all just throwing things around that looked like a fiasco in here.
Once it was all set and clean, I got to work answering emails, and finishing up the schedule.
After giving Gabe a few rings that went straight to voicemail, I accepted defeat.
He’s not picking up. I can only hope I didn’t scare him so badly that he quit. As much as I dislike the guy, that’d be pretty unfair of me as his employer. No one deserves that.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted.
Looking at the clock, I sighed. It’s already five p.m.
But, at least everything I had planned work-wise to get done today is finished. Now, Tobias is all caught up and doesn’t have anything to worry about when it comes to work. Not while I’m here.
“Have a great night, everybody!” I wave as I dial a number I’ve been meaning to for a while.
The voice on the other line picks up and I smile. “Hey. You busy? Can I come see you?”