Chapter 6 #2
“Pidge!” a voice snaps two hours later and I jump, drop the washcloth, and turn with my heart in my throat as I’m suddenly face-to-face with Ace.
Holy crap.
I blink at how close he is—our chests nearly touching as his earthy cologne hits my senses, making everything blurry.
The feelings Dad explained to me once again consuming me, but I swallow hard and take a step back despite the fact my body wants to climb him like a damn tree.
He’s a prick remember! I try to remind my body, but the whore doesn’t want to listen and gravitates towards him.
"My name isn’t Pidge," I mumble and grab the cloth, ring it out, and wipe the countertops, trying not to flinch at the tightness in my side.
I think I may have cracked a rib though the ER doctor said it was only bruised.
“Tough shit,” he growls, and I lock my jaw to stop myself from snapping back. He demands, “Clean this shit away and get to the front, we’re busy!”
That said, he storms away and I take a deep breath and look away so I don’t ogle his butt.
The man is one fine specimen with a shitty attitude.
I clean up the cleaning supplies and put them in the closet.
Then I walk into the kitchen, ignoring the chef, whose name I can’t remember and has been eyeing my chest since he introduced himself in the men’s bathroom, and quickly wash my hands.
My eyes go to the stainless-steel kitchen, and my mouth waters at how pretty it is as my fingers itch to cook, to go to my happy place. I ignore the feeling and the disappointment that fills me, quickly rushing out front to a packed diner.
“Molly, table five,” Shaun says beside me, and I look his way and take the notepad and pen and rush over to the table, only to grin widely.
“Miss Molly!” Caleb cheers just as Lyra jumps out of her seat and rushes into my arms.
I try to hide my wince at the pain shooting through my side as I wrap my arms around Lyra, and I laugh and reply, “Master Caleb,” making the cute seven-year-old giggle as his mama, because yes, she may not have birthed him, she is his mama, Holly, shakes her head.
“I didn’t know you worked here, Molly,” Hol says as her icy blue eyes take in my outfit, and I sigh.
We met a few months ago when May’s bar was putting on a fundraiser for the local schools, hers being one of them. The kids were amazing, though I’m shocked by this reaction from them, I only spent half a day with them so it’s nice knowing I had an impact.
“It’s a long story,” I admit with a wince, and she furrows her brows, but I ignore her look and look down at her daughter, who grins up at me, her big icy blue eyes like her mama’s wide and happy.
“And how are you, sweet girl?” I ask, and she replies, “Better…” and I hum as I run my fingers through her hair.
Sandra Jones, Ruth’s close friend and a bitch, had helped Lyra’s biological grandmother kidnap her from school, but thankfully, the MC had found her and since then, the biological grandmother has been locked up and Sandra has gone missing.
Ruth complains about it daily, but something tells me the MC may have had something to do with that.
“Would you like a milkshake?” I ask the cutie, and she grins widely, making me chuckle before I squeeze her one more time just as a figure moves next to me, making me tense, and Caleb cheers, “Uncle Ace...”
Crap.
Uncle as in blood or Uncle as in he’s a pseudo uncle?
Wait, does that even matter?
“Hey, squirt,” Ace says softly, which makes my stomach tighten and my heart flip at how gentle he is with the boy, but I try to ignore it, and I ask Hol, “What can I get you?”
Holly raises her brow between Ace and me, seeing I’m ignoring him and most likely seeing the glare he’s currently burning into the side of my head while I run my fingers through Lyra’s hair.
“Three cheeseburgers, please, Molly, and three milkshakes,” Holly replies to me before Ace questions, “Is Dirty coming in?”
Holly shakes her head and admits, “I want to try and do this,” and he hums.
“Okay, little miss, why don’t you take a seat and color me the best picture while I put your order in and grab your milkshake?” I say to Lyra, who replies, “Okay,” and I confirm, “Strawberry for Ly and banana for Caleb?” to Holly as Lyra takes her seat.
Holly chuckles, “I can’t believe you remember their order.”
I shrug with a slight smile and remind her, “They tried ordering seven from me,” and she laughs but nods.
The kids are hard to say no to, which is why I knew I’d never become a teacher. All they have to do is pout their little bottom lips and widen their eyes, and I’m a goner.
“If I remember correctly, you gave in at least four of those times,” Holly muses, and I wince, “In my defense, they were sugar-free,” making her laugh.
Shaking my head, I say, “I’ll be back in a moment,” before confirming, “A chocolate shake for you, Hol?”
She nods with a grin, and I chuckle before moving around a tense Ace, trying to ignore him, but I do hear him demand, “How do you know her?” and I roll my eyes.
He’s probably going to accuse me of using her to get to a brother. I can just see it after his accusations yesterday.
I get the milkshakes ready and place them on a tray before I walk around the counter, Shaun grinning my way as I pass by and I give him a wink.
I try not to spill them, but as I get halfway to their table, AJ stops just before me, and I don’t react in time as her foot comes out and I trip, the tray toppling onto the floor, milkshakes going everywhere, the glasses smashing and I can’t catch myself, my body goes with the tray, landing on my hands and knees, and I choke back a cry as my hand lands on a broken glass and so much pain shoots through me.
Oh my god, that hurts.
Nothing but pain shoots through my already bad wrist, wetness spreading, and AJ snaps, “Watch where you are going, you stupid woman!” and I take a shuddered breath.
What in hell did I ever do to her?
“Molly–” Hol gasps, but Ace's angry words cut her off, shocking her as he snaps, “Seriously, first the bike and now this?”
I squeeze my eyes shut as I slowly lean back on my hunches, my hand throbbing, and I try not to snap back. Clearly, he wants to ignore the fact that his waitress just tripped me up.
“Clean that fucking shit up!” Ace growls as I try to catch my breath with the sharp pains hitting my hand and I hear Holly gasp, “What the hell, Ace?” but he ignores her and storms past her, ensuring to stomp his foot into the milkshake on the floor, splashing some on me.
I tense my jaw as Shaun kneels before me and takes my hand, wincing seeing the glass embedded into my palm and gently removes it making me flinch.
“Pretty but a prick,” I mutter as Ace storms down towards his office, and Shaun chuckles as he places a cloth onto my palm and presses down on it hard, and I suck in a shocked gasp, and tears sting the back of my eyes as I look at the mess on the floor and now on me, no thanks to Ace.
I lock my jaw, the crap between my step-monster and her daughter to this is getting the best of me, and I know, I’m going to get my own back.
Hold on tight, Ace, because you’re about to become my punching bag.