Chapter 13 #3
Feeling rejuvenated and less shaken, she exited the restroom and returned to the dining room. The crowd had dispersed since she disappeared into the bathroom, something she was grateful for. She didn’t know if anyone else witnessed her panic attack, but it was embarrassing enough as it was.
“You okay, Gia?” Minh’s concerned voice found her from across the room, wiping down a table.
“Yup, just peachy!” It wasn’t the full truth, but it wasn’t a lie, either. Minh stared at Gia. Her expression told Gia she did not believe her at all. Instead of elaborating, Gia grabbed the pile of dirty dishes and brought them into the back.
Her parents were preparing for the dinner rush. Needing to keep her hands busy so her mind didn’t wander, Gia started doing the dishes.
Everyone had their role and tasks to complete. Not for the first time, guilt stabbed at her. Obviously, her family managed fine without her, but knowing her parents worked tirelessly every day while she was gallivanting around the world and pursuing her dreams made her feel… selfish.
Even Minh gave up her dreams and stayed behind to raise her children and work at the restaurant. Being a single parent was difficult, but at least she had her parents. Now, Minh had Gia in whatever capacity she could provide. It seems she fulfilled the “fun auntie” role perfectly.
The dinner rush went more smoothly this time than the previous night. Who knew dry shoes made such a big difference? Her feet were feeling sore, but nowhere near how she felt yesterday.
About an hour before closing time, the bell chimed with the arrival of a new guest. She popped her head up from wiping down a booth to greet the guest, a practiced smile on her face, only to let it fall at who dared to grace the doorway with their infuriating presence.
Jake.
Her eyes narrowed at the way he walked in as if he owned the place.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end like a feral cat as the dining room nearly erupted with excitement, and people greeted Jake like he was a local celebrity.
The women were practically falling all over themselves to greet him, while the men in the room all stood to give him the man-shake chest-bump thing they did.
Meanwhile, the older males in the room tipped their heads or hats at him in respect as he walked past. Jake greeted everyone as if he were the mayor of the town, making eye contact with anyone who sought his attention or touching their arm or shoulders in greeting.
All while he ignored her, as if she weren’t shooting daggers at him with her fierce glower.
How was it possible every single person loved Jake, and she absolutely despised him?
It made her feel insane for harboring such animosity toward him.
She wondered how many women in the room had slept with Jake. A spike of jealousy ratcheted up her spine as she turned her glower at all the blushing women who were practically drooling behind Jake’s back.
Has anyone else in here slept with him?
Did Juliana, with her dark hair and bronzed skin, get to see Jake in the throes of passion? Or her friend Delilah, with her blond hair, blue eyes, and cleavage on display?
They had been acting extra flirty with Jake when he walked in, fawning over him like lovesick women and touching his arm flirtatiously.
Or maybe it was the quiet and reserved Lana, the owner of Willowbrook’s only bookstore?
She sat alone in the window and only offered a small smile in greeting when Jake walked in, but maybe it had been more of a grimace than anything else.
Perhaps it was because she was still in love with Jake and had been turned down when she wanted more.
Jake broke free of his fan club and approached Gia with a knowing smirk on his face.
He was undeterred by her glare or the fuck off attitude she was loudly broadcasting with her arms crossed tensely across her chest. She didn’t have a small chest, but she certainly wasn’t as well-endowed as Delilah.
And she was all natural, without surgical enhancements—something she was proud of, especially with the pressure to look perfect in Hollywood.
It was a line she didn’t want to cross. Botox and facials were fine, but getting under the knife to alter her appearance to please someone else?
Hard pass. No, thank you.
“What are you doing here, Jake?” Gia bit her tongue to keep from saying anything more offensive. She didn’t want to hear it from her parents if she was rude to their favorite “son.”
Jake’s smile widened in greeting and he spread his arms out. “I’m here to eat, of course.”
As if the answer had been obvious. Sure, they were at a restaurant, but there were many other restaurants in town.
He could have gone to the Mexican place a few doors down or the Italian restaurant across the street. Or to the dive bar at the end of the strip where the locals liked to hang out after work. Anywhere else but here.
“Alone?” She quirked an eyebrow and popped a hip in challenge.
“Yep.” Jake emphasized the last letter obnoxiously. Her fists clenched with the urge to slap him.
Gia had never been a violent person until Jake came around. She needed to figure out a healthy outlet to resolve her resentment.
“What are you doing here?” Jake shot back when she didn’t say anything.
“Um… I work here?”
“Right.” In a show of nervousness, Jake brought a muscled arm up and rubbed the back of his head. The way his veiny arms bulged at the movement made her clench her thighs together involuntarily.
Has Jake always had such brawny arms?
“Marley’s staying at her friend’s tonight, and I figured I could help close the restaurant for Minh so she could get the kids early.”
The tension left her body as quickly as it had risen.
“That’s incredibly… thoughtful of you.” She cleared her throat and resumed her task of wiping down the table to give her hands something to do and her mind something else to focus on.
“Oh, Jake, thank you for coming! We’re just about finished, but the girls will be so happy to get home a little earlier tonight!” Minh rushed out from the kitchen and greeted Jake with a hug and kiss on his cheek. “Thanks, Jake!”
Minh disappeared, and the chime of the door signaled her departure.
“Sooo…” Jake rocked back on his heels, hands in his pockets. “What do you need help with, boss?”
“Boss?”
“Woman in charge?”
“No. That’s worse.” She couldn’t help as a chuckle escaped her. “I’ll close up the register if you want to finish clearing off the tables.”
“You got it, boss.” A mock salute had her rolling her eyes as she skirted past him, leaving enough space between them so as not to accidentally touch him. He made no effort to get out of her way. For the second time since Jake arrived, her hair stood on end, but for a completely different reason.
It was so confusing how her body and mind had such different and warring emotions and reactions. One moment she despised him, and the next her body craved him.
Focusing on her task, she started closing out the register. Once done, she locked up the cash in the safe. She shut the blinds, turned the Open sign to Closed, and was going to lock the door when she saw a car exiting the parking lot.
Wait a minute. That was her ride. Confused, she stared at her parents as they waved to her and drove off.
Did they just… leave me here?
She sensed his approach before his chest brushed against her back, making her shiver with his body heat.
“Did your ride just… leave you here?”
Whirling around, ponytail smacking Jake across the face, she studied his incredulous expression, which matched his tone. She had been sure he had been in on whatever her parents planned by leaving the two of them alone, but he seemed as baffled as she was.
“I guess so.” She shrugged, pretending her family abandoning her wasn’t irritating.
“Come on, I’ll walk you home.” With a tilt of his chin, he gestured at the door.
Willowbrook was a safe town—much safer than LA or any of the other places she had been—but she still appreciated the thoughtful offer, even if it was from her sworn enemy.
“Yeah, okay. Let me grab my purse.” Double-checking she had locked the safe and the register, Gia grabbed her purse from its spot under the counter and slung it over her shoulder.
It was a brand-name purse gifted to her by the designer herself.
It was the first of many, but it was the one she cherished the most, as it was the symbol of how hard she’d worked.
In the dim lighting of the evening, it looked gaudy and out of place. A feeling she was all too familiar with.
Bracing herself, she approached Jake, who held the door open for her.
What could possibly go wrong?