41. Mila
Well, this has been a day.
I started at the hotel, watching security footage with Wendell.
Got caught banging my boss in an empty apartment during my lunch break.
Was sent to a completely different location to chop pickles all afternoon.
And now, I’m stuck here in a part of Boulder I’ve never been to.
I sit in a seat next to the huge glass windows. The Tasty Mango is a cute deli, all pinks and oranges with a bright, modern design.
Everyone was great to work with. Many of the dishes have funny or scandalous names, like the “Love Relish,” a sweet and spicy condiment, and the “Ho for Dill Dough,” which is a hoagie on pickle bread.
Anthony Pickle slides into the booth across from me, his boyish looks and messy hair a perfect match for the swirly pink and orange apron he wears. “That was a day,” he says. “I was glad to have you.”
“I’m not sure I was much help.”
“You were a big one.” He unties the apron and folds it on the table. It’s quiet inside the deli in the break between lunch and dinner, like the lull at the hotel between check-out and check-in. “Magnolia left the moment she heard her sister was in labor, and then magically, you appeared.”
“Have you heard anything?”
“She’s still at it. Took over twenty hours with Rebel, so it will probably be an all-nighter.”
“Are you going up there?”
“Definitely. I’ll let Sharlene close. Tomorrow, we’ll have our usual manager. This was her day off, so we ended up short when Magnolia left.”
“Are you usually here?”
“No. I came the minute Magnolia called. I knew they’d need help.”
I glance around the restaurant. “I like it.”
He fiddles with the “Tasty Mango” patch on the apron. “Do you know how long you’re here for?”
“Nope. Raya stuck me on a shuttle bus. It was supposed to pick me up half an hour ago, but I might be forgotten.”
“I can give you a ride back to the hotel on my way to the hospital.”
“Sebastian is going to pick me up.”
“The general manager?”
I nod. It’s too much to explain, and I don’t want to.
“I always liked Sebastian. How’s he doing?”
“Good.”
Anthony stares out the window. “Interesting that they put you out here. Was it Sebastian’s idea?”
“No. Raya’s. I’m an intern. She’s in charge of what I do.”
“Still.”
“There are some…complicated dynamics at the hotel.”
This makes Anthony’s eyebrows lift. “Havannah doesn’t like complicated dynamics. That’s why Sebastian has always been such a good fit.” He sits back against the shiny orange booth. “I sense this was Raya, then.”
“I’m not sure who all was part of the decision to banish me from the hotel, but I still live on site, so I guess that’s something.”
“You want me to check in with Havannah about this?”
“While she’s in labor? Oh, no. I’ll be here tomorrow and happy to chop.” It’s my punishment. Might as well see how all this plays out. “It’s a good place. I learned a lot. They don’t let us do much of anything in the hotel kitchen.”
“Chef Monique is a bit territorial.”
Lights flash against the windows. It’s Sebastian’s SUV.
I jump up. “That’s him. Thank you for a good day. It was nice to meet you, Anthony. I hope to meet Magnolia soon.”
He lifts a hand to wave goodbye as I rush out to Sebastian’s car.
Arya opens the passenger door. “Switch!” she says.
I halt. That’s interesting. “You sure?”
“Totally. We’re headed home.” She moves to the back.
I step into the car and plop down on the passenger seat.
Sebastian envelopes me in a hug, and we sit there a while, holding onto each other.
“Geez, y’all, it’s not like you survived a hurricane,” Anya says, but her voice is gentle.
Sebastian pulls away. “It’s been a day.” He laughs. “You smell like pickles.”
I sniff my hands. “I washed them so many times!”
“It gets in your pores,” he says. “Don’t worry. I like the smell.”
“So what happened?” I ask. “Why did they send you home?”
“Apparently so they could cut off my access to the hotel. My badge doesn’t work.”
My belly quakes. “Are they going to fire you?”
“I can’t imagine so.” He reaches out to squeeze my hand as we back out of the parking spot. “But remember what I said. We go on. It will be fine.”
But will it? Him with that huge house and a sister to support? Me, gosh, do I move in with someone I’ve been dating for two months? Because of the secrecy, I haven’t even told my parents about him. They would want to fly out, meet him, ask questions.
Only Camille knows.
Arya leans forward. “The news seems to be out. We saw Maverick, and he had already heard.”
“Maybe it’s good that I’m elsewhere, then,” I say.
We’re almost at Sebastian’s house when Brooklyn starts messaging.
Brooklyn: I heard you got caught with Sebastian! Where are you?
Before I can respond, she writes again.
Brooklyn: Answer your door!
Brooklyn: Are you not here?
Me: I got sent to work off site. I was at Havannah’s deli.
Brooklyn: You’re not at the hotel? Did they kick you out of your apartment?
Me: No. But I lost access to the rest of the hotel.
Brooklyn: This is terrible!
Me: How did you find out?
Brooklyn: Owen and I worked housekeeping. When we got to laundry, everybody knew. Apparently Martina went with Raya to prep the empty apartment for the new guy coming, and you were in there????
Me: So Martina told?
Brooklyn: She didn’t know anything, but was asking who it could be. Then Ilsa said she saw you in HR. Then Aisha said she saw Raya put you on a shuttle. Then Sebastian disappeared, too, and it seemed everyone knew. I didn’t say a word.
Me: I believe you.
Brooklyn: Are you coming back?
Me: I’ll have to get clothes. But I’m working at the deli until who knows when.
We arrive at Sebastian’s. I type a quick gotta go, and we pile out of the car.
“Everything okay?” Sebastian asks.
“Everyone knows. All the pieces came together with us both meeting with Jessie.”
Sebastian’s face is grim as he unlocks the front door. “I think tonight calls for booze and takeout.”
“I’ll call for Chinese,” Arya says.
“I’ll get the glasses out,” I offer.
We all trudge into the house for a night of commiserating, since none of us know where we’re headed next.