Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Jo
God I felt like shit.
I hoped whoever the hell got me sick at work, dies a brutal and long-lasting death.
I felt like death warmed over. I couldn't keep a lick of food down, and despite how much I was sleeping, I still felt tired. It was ridiculous, and I didn't have time for it.
A groan slipped from my lips when I heard my front door open. There was only one person who had a key to my house, and as much as I loved her dearly, I wasn't in the mood for company.
"Oh my, dear. You look terrible."
"Thanks, Grams. That's just what I wanted to hear."
If it wouldn't hurt to roll my eyes, I absolutely would've at the moment.
"I warned you two weeks ago that you weren't looking well and you insisted on working yourself to the bone. Now look what's happened."
The reason I looked like shit two weeks ago had nothing to do with whatever the hell I caught yesterday. It was just my bad luck for using the sick excuse when I wasn't actually sick.
"We've been extra busy these last few weeks. I couldn't leave you high and dry."
I blamed being busy on Maverick and his friends. He didn't think I would notice the fact that they rotated in at every hour during my shift, but I did. There was no reason they needed to eat as much food as they have been. Unless they suddenly didn't care about their bodies and wanted to get fat.
Somehow I didn't think that was the case.
"I could've waited tables. I'm not that old yet."
I sighed. This was a constant argument we had. My grandmother insisted she could work like she was in her thirties rather than her eighties.
"I know you can, but there's no reason you should have to.
What happened to wanting to retire someday?
Don't you think it's time to think about that again?
" I wasn't saying I wanted to take over the diner, but for my grandmother, I would.
She practically raised me, and I would do whatever she needed.
Of course Grams waved me off. "Nonsense. I'm too young to retire."
I didn't have it in me to fight with her. All my energy was used up hugging the porcelain god. Instead I looked down at what she had in her hand.
"What did you bring me?"
"Some homemade chicken soup. It always made you feel better when you were a kid."
Just the thought of eating anything made my stomach flip on its end.
"Thank you. Why don't you just put it in the kitchen for now. I'll try to eat some later."
"Are you sure it's just the flu?" Grams placed her hand on my forehead. "And not something else."
"Like what, Grams?" I didn't have it in me to play mind games with her at the moment.
"Dear, are you sure you're not pregnant?"
"Grams, that would require me to have a steady relationship."
But now that she planted the seed in my head, I couldn't stop thinking about it. There was no way. The universe wouldn't be that cruel to me.
Grams sighed. "You're right. It's wishful thinking. I would love if you would settle down already and give me great-grandbabies before I die of old age."
I scoffed. "Aren't you the one who just said how young you are?"
Grams squinted her eyes at me. "No one likes a smarty-pants, young lady."
For the first time since waking up, I actually laughed and didn't feel like death. "I get it from you."
"This is true, but it's not nice to point it out."
I shook my head.
"Is there anything else I can do for you before I get back to the diner?"
"No, thank you. The soup is perfect." Even if I probably wouldn't eat it. "I appreciate you stopping over."
"Anytime, dear. Let me know if there's anything else you need. Otherwise I'll stop over again tomorrow to see how you're doing." She walked over and kissed my forehead. "No fever, so that's good."
I'm glad she thought so.
I waited for Grams to let herself out before I buried my head in the pillow. I couldn't be pregnant. There was no way. Grams was just throwing darts out into the universe in hopes that they would stick.
I absolutely wasn't pregnant.
If I said it enough times, I could send my own juju out into the universe and make it real.