Chapter 6

Taylor

 

“I can’t thank you enough for letting me have the job.” I smile at April as she wipes the counter.

“It’s no problem. Beth said you needed the work, and I need the help.” She smiles back at me.

It isn’t the most elegant job in the world, but it gets me out of the house. It’s a start. That’s what I keep telling myself. We all have to start somewhere.

“Let’s get you started.” April beams with the happiest smile I’ve ever seen on one person. She is truly happy with her diner.

I follow April around for a majority of the day learning the ropes. It isn’t all that hard to do. Basically, I’m taking orders and serving food. I’m a waitress, how hard can that be? When April feels I’m ready, she lets me go on my own. I find it easy to talk with all the customers even though I’ve never really been good with people. Partially because I’ve never been around many.

At school, I tended to stay to myself which worked out in the long run for me. I didn’t want to make friends just to have them ripped away from me like Beth was. I wanted more than that. but my reality didn’t agree.

“Can I get you anything else?” I smile down at the guy in the booth. He’s cute. Probably around my age.

“No. You were great for your first day, thanks.” He says with a smile. I smile back and turn on my heel, heading toward the kitchen.

“Another order!” I call out like Beth told me to. I stick the paper in the hanging clip when I hear a man speak.

“A new order and a new waitress?” he asks. I turn to look over my shoulder when my mouth hangs open. That man is gorgeous as he stands there over the stove. He smiles with perfectly straight teeth. He’s tall and well built, but not like Mayhem. He has more of the swimmer-type body. I’m captivated by him.

“You’re new, right?” he says breaking the awkward silence between us.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I’m Taylor,” I tell him shaking my head. Damn, I haven’t felt so weird talking to a guy in a long time.

“I’m Freddy. Beth’s brother. Nice to meet you.” My breathing kicks up as he walks closer to me. His hand is extended and waiting. I watch him for a long minute before I take his hand.

“You too. Sorry, I’m just a little off today.” His hand is warm and comforting.

“I hear you. First days are always rough,” he says, pulling his hand away. I don’t say anything else. I turn and grab my tray and head back out. As soon as I walk through the door, I slam into someone, my tray and all its contents falling to the floor.

“I’m so sorry!” I say as I drop to the floor and pick up the mess I’ve made. This is bad. How can I fuck up so badly on the first day? Welcome to my life. This is what I do. I fuck things up.

“Don’t worry about it, darlin’. No big deal.” I look up at that voice. It’s deep and commanding.

The man’s green eyes burn through me as he watches my every move. I let my gaze sweep over him. That’s when I notice the leather vest he has on. It looks a lot like the one Mayhem wears. This guy’s says Tic, though.

“You ok?”  he asks.

“What happened?” April squeals as she drops down next to us. She looks up and smiles at the guy.

“Hey, Tic. Didn’t know you were coming in today!” Oh, God. She knows him. That’s great. I just slammed into him, dumping half of someone’s lunch down the front of him, and my boss knows him. What a great first day impression.

“Yeah, Jameson wanted a burger before I head in,” he says. He lifts the rest of the plates off the floor and sets them on the tray, but his eyes stay on me. I can feel them.

“Taylor is new. Sorry.” She apologizes for me.

“You know I don’t mind gettin’ hit on by the hot girls.” He winks at me. My cheeks heat. Is he flirting? Oh my God.

“I’ll get you his burger.” April stands and walks away leaving me with this hot guy. I stand up with my mess of a tray trying to head back I toward the kitchen when he grabs my arm.

“Hey,” he says. I turn to look at him, my body on fire.

“I really am sorry.” I look down. His fingers come to my chin, lifting my face to look at him.

“It’s fine. My name’s Tic.”

“I’m Taylor.”

He gives me a soft smile before turning and walking toward the counter. Thank God this day is almost over. I don’t know how much more I can handle. The hot guy covered in food and the hot guy making said food? I’m fucked.