Chapter Eleven

Amber

I was helping my parents out at the diner. Sundays were busy for them, especially on barbecue day. I didn’t mind. I enjoyed seeing all the regular customers and checking in with them and their families. We had all grown up together, and some of them felt like close cousins. I couldn’t even count how many pseudo-grandparents I had.

“Two more orders of ribs,” I called out to my dad, who was busy at the grill basting baby back ribs.

It was the diner’s specialty, but they were only sold on Sundays. People lined up to get their chance to eat my dad’s famous ribs.

I was moving around the diner like an expert, totally comfortable in the environment. I had on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and my comfortable tennis shoes. I smiled and chatted with the customers as they came in, doing my best to get everyone seated as quickly as possible. My parents had started offering to-go ribs to try to keep up with the demand. There was no way they could seat everyone inside the diner. There were picnic tables set up outside as well to accommodate the overflow.

“How are you doing?” my mom asked when there was a brief lull in customers.

“Good!”

She laughed. “Don’t lie. You’re here on a Sunday afternoon.”

“Mom, I’m always here on Sundays.”

She shook her head. “Not lately. Are you sure you’re doing okay? I know the engagement is hard on you. How’s it going at work?”

I tilted my head. “It’s not that bad. I mean, a little awkward, but I think it will all be okay.”

“Don’t you dare tell me you still have hope he’ll come back to you,” she said with a scowl on her face.

“Stranger things have happened. I’m not saying there is hope, but I’m not saying it couldn’t happen.”

“Amber, don’t you dare take up with that man again!” she scolded.

My phone vibrated in my back pocket. I reached for it and grinned when I realized it was a text from Harry. I opened the message and smiled. He was so naughty. I shouldn’t like it, but I did.

“Don’t tell me that’s him,” my mother said with her brow furrowed.

“No, Mom, it isn’t.”

“Good. You can do so much better than him. Look around. There are plenty of men right here who would love to take you out,” she said.

I looked around the packed restaurant. Eating ribs was messy business. It wasn’t exactly the most attractive look on anyone. The men I saw had sauce covering their faces, and they were digging into the ribs like they were cavemen.

“I’m going to pass, Mom. Thanks.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, you can’t judge a man by the way he eats ribs. How about Kenny? He’s a good guy and works really hard.”

I shook my head. “Mom, stop trying to set me up.”

“I want to help you get over that man.”

“I don’t need your help.”

She ignored me and pointed out another guy I knew from his regular visits to the diner. “Daniel. Come on, he’s handsome and kind.”

I sighed. She wasn’t going to let up. “Do you need me anymore?” I asked, checking my watch.

It was after two. The height of the lunch rush was over. The other waitresses could handle the business. I had to get away from my mother before she drove me crazy. I knew she didn’t like William. I had heard her the first ten times. I wasn’t in the mood to be lectured and paraded in front of every single bachelor that stepped through the diner doors.

“You don’t have to run off,” she said, softening her tone.

“Actually, I do. I’m fine, Mom. Really, I am. I don’t need you to set me up. I’m a big girl and can decide who I want and who I don’t. You don’t know William like I do. It’s unfair of you to judge him.”

Her eyes widened. “I don’t need to know him. I know what he did to you and to his fiancée. That is not a good man, Amber.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m going. I’ll talk to you later.”

I took off the little white apron and stuck it under the counter before walking out the door, waving good-bye to old friends as I went. I couldn’t take another minute of my mother’s lecturing.

“What are you doing?” I asked when Courtney answered her phone.

“Lounging around in my pajamas like most adults on a Sunday.”

I laughed. “I don’t think most adults are lounging in their PJs. In fact, I just left a packed restaurant filled with adults who are dressed and moving about. I’m coming over.”

“Fine, but I’m not getting dressed.”

“Suit yourself,” I said and jumped in my car.

I was bursting to tell someone about the Harry situation. I was feeling horribly guilty and needed to unburden my soul. Courtney was the only one I could tell who wouldn’t be judgmental. My mother would have had a heart attack and demanded I go to church and repent for being so slutty.

I knocked once before letting myself into her apartment. Just as she said, she was curled up on her couch in her pajamas, her blond hair piled on top of her head.

“You look comfortable,” I quipped, moving her legs out of the way and flopping on the couch next to her.

“You didn’t bring me any ribs?” she pouted.

“No. I had to get out of there. I was convinced my mom was going to auction me off to the highest bidder.”

“She just wants you to be happy.”

“She wants me to forget about William, and she thinks setting me up with one of the good boys who frequent the diner will do the trick. It is not that easy.”

Courtney shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry, but I’m on her side with this one. I never cared for your William. I mean, I know I never met him, but it all seemed very shady. He only took you out the one time in a city where no one knew you. I think you were his booty call.”

My mouth dropped open. “I was not!”

“If it sounds like a booty call and looks like a booty call, it’s a booty call.”

“I see him every day. We talked and flirted. I’ve had booty calls. This wasn’t that,” I protested.

“If you say so. It doesn’t matter because it’s over.”

I sighed. “I have a confession.”

She turned to look at me and shook her head. “Don’t you dare tell me you slept with him again.”

“I didn’t. I slept with his brother.”

Her mouth dropped open before spreading into a huge grin. “You did what? When?”

“Remember the night at the bar?”

She started laughing. “I knew it! I could tell he was into you, and it was obvious you were flirting with him. So, how was it?”

“Stop! I’m not going to give you the dirty details!”

“Yes, you are. Is he better than his big brother?” she asked, salaciousness in her voice.

I was quiet for a second, then smiled. “Maybe.”

“Are you guys going to hook up again?”

“No! I shouldn’t have done it the first time. It was a stupid, drunken mistake.”

She laughed. “I think you should. You guys seemed to hit it off. And the best way to get over William is by moving on with someone else. The fact that it happens to be his brother is an extra perk.”

“It was stupid and childish. I don’t know what I was thinking.” I put my head in my hands and moaned.

“I think it’s great. Really. Tell William you’ve moved on.”

“I can’t do that. I still don’t know if he is really going to go through with the marriage to Tiffany. He might realize it’s a mistake and change his mind.”

“And you think he is going to run back into your open arms?” she asked.

“Why not?”

“Well, if he finds out you slept with his brother, I have a feeling that is going to be a big issue,” she pointed out.

“Which is why it can never happen again.”

“Amber, I love you, but you really need to get over that guy. It was a brief fling. It isn’t like you two dated or even had a real relationship. I hate to tell you, I think the relationship was one-sided. I think he told you all the nice things, got you into bed, and now he’s over it. He’s getting married. That’s a pretty big clue he was never all that into you,” she said, trying to be gentle.

I covered my face with my hands again. “How could I have let myself get so wrapped up in him?”

“He knew what to say to win you over. He had the means to treat you well. I’m sorry, hon, but the guy sounds like a smooth operator. The fact he’s your boss makes it so much worse.”

I nodded my head. “I know. I’ve always told myself never to get involved with anyone I work with, especially my boss. If anyone finds out, they’re going to assume I got to where I am in the company by spreading my legs.”

“I don’t think anyone is going to find out. He certainly isn’t going to tell anyone. That would open him up to a sexual harassment lawsuit. It’s in the past. Let it go and don’t look back,” she advised.

“That is easier said than done. I don’t know how I let myself get so caught up in the fantasy. I should have known something was off when he never asked me out on a real date after our weekend together. I think I did know, but he kept flirting with me and kissing me when we were at work. I assumed he was busy and would ask me out when he had time. I’m such an idiot.”

“No, you’re not. Why not explore this relationship with Harry? He seemed down-to-earth and funny in the brief time I saw him. And, he is totally hot,” she said with a grin.

I shook my head, thinking back to our night together. “He’s very hot. He’s got a perfect tan, and his chest is amazing. Other parts of him aren’t too bad either,” I said, laughing.

“I knew it! Of course he’s good in bed. Lord knows the man has had plenty of practice if even half the tabloid rumors are true.”

“Gah, what a mess. How did I let myself get caught up in a messy affair? It is so unlike me.”

“It’s over. Move on. Maybe just stay away from the Martin brothers altogether. That could get a little weird,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

I laughed. “Gee, you think?”

“I’m truly sorry. I know you liked him, but I know you’re going to find a man who is good enough for you.”

“Thanks. I hope so.”

We kicked back and watched TV before I headed home to do laundry and get ready for another work week. I felt like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders now that I’d accepted William was not meant for me. I had been used—willingly, but still used. I didn’t care if he did or didn’t get married. I would not let a man treat me like his side piece. I had more self-respect than that. Let Tiffany have him. They deserved each other.