A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 18

"I've got the beef burger, no salad," I say to the table of guys I'm serving.

I know who ordered it, but I want them to know I'm there before I just put their meals in front of them. 

My shift has been steady so far, still on track for a 3 pm finish.

"Burger, no salad," I say again, just louder. This time the guy that ordered it looks at me and smiles.

"That's mine, thanks," well at least he said thanks, I put the other two plates on the table and, after offering to get them any sauce, suggest they enjoy their meal. Then walk away.

I love my job, most people would think I'm mad for enjoying being a waitress, but I don't enjoy it for the job, or even the rude customers I serve, day in day out. I enjoy it because the people I work with are like my family.

"The guy on 3 is looking at you," Josie, says. I turn around and see that Mr Burger no salad was having a conversation with his friends but looking at me. I turn back around and look at Josie.

"He loves himself too much, look at the way he's looking, he's basically saying "Get in my bed, I'll give you the best shag of your life," that's just gross." I shrug my shoulders. "Besides, I have my eye on someone else." I blush, trying to hide my grin.

"Ugh! He's not worth your time! He's a player and you work with him, how is that going to work, you'll be in each other's pockets constantly." Josie moans at me, we've discussed my predicament with Archer at length, and the fact that he works at the gym seems to put Josie off of him.

The bell goes, indicating that there's food ready to be taken to a table. "I'll get it," I say, putting my juice down.

"Yeah, of course, you will," Josie rolls her eyes, I just grin back at her and walk to the kitchen, anything to get out of that conversation.

I stand in front of the hot plate, where food is waiting to be taken, "Where am I going?" I say loudly over the sound of the fans.

Leo, our head chef, turns to look at me, with a smile on his face. "7 please," I thank him and pick up the plates, "That chicken wanted no tomatoes," He says before I leave. I smile at him and he smiles back.

I take the plates to the table and put them in front of their consumers, "Enjoy your meals," I say with a smile on my face. They smile back and dig into their food as I walk away. I go back to the table with Mr burger no salad and say, "Everything okay with your meals?" They nod and smile, so I walk away. My shift continues much like this until it was nearly time for the evening staff to come in, I clean down the last few tables, laughing at a napkin left with a number on it, and give it to Josie, who gets all excited.

Sapphire turns up 5 minutes late with no apology, and decides she will dismiss my staff, "Josie, you can finish, I don't need you to stay until five today. Don't get into trouble tonight will you, you're on lunch again tomorrow." Josie tends to forget what her drinking limit is on a night out, especially when she's serving lunch the next day. It's a running joke now that she gets told to be good because she never is and always ends up hungover the next day.

"YES! See you tomorrow bitches!" She calls as she goes to get her coat and keys, making me smile.

"Sapphire, I hope you don't mind me saying, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't dismiss my staff. And if you turned up on time as well. I know we are both assistant managers, but a little punctuality might come in useful." I say as I'm signing off.

"Excuse me?" She says back, "Your shift has now finished, therefore I'm in charge." Her attitude stinks.

"Look, I appreciate you feeling like you have authority now that you're a higher level, but I've been assistant manager here for 4 years, you haven't even done 3 months." I don't bother looking at her as I walk to the staff room.

"I'm still in charge of this shift." She tells me.

"I know, but you walk in here late, which incidentally is making me late to pick my brother up from school, and then decide to speak to Josie like she's shit on your shoe." I grab my jumper out of my locker, flinging it over my head. Picking up my keys and sliding my phone into my back pocket, I look at her, almost daring her to say something else.

She backs off, clearly not wanting to have this conversation. Fine by me.

I walk outside to see Josie had been waiting for me.

"Need a drag?" She offers me her cigarette, which I really fancy, but having not smoked for 3 years, I feel like I don't want to break that streak, I know I'd be pissed with myself later if I did smoke it.

"No thanks," I say, "She is such a cow." I realize my hands are balled into fists and when I say goodbye to Josie, I'm not friendly at all. I'll text her later to apologize.

---

When I finally pull up outside the school, I see Hudson and Alfie waiting for me by the gates.

"Did you have a good day?" I ask as they climb into the car.

Hudson is like a different person, "Yeah, we played footie at lunch and Alfie kicked the ball and it nearly hit a teacher!" He's laughing almost hysterically. 

"Yeah, it was so funny! She was like..." Alfie does some funny moves with his hands, indicating the teacher dodging the ball, "Then she did this," more hand movements. "Then she had a go at Callum, because Callum normally aims for the teachers," more hysterical laughing from the both of them.

"Then Callum, who didn't know it was Alfie, is there arguing with her but she didn't believe him." More laughing. 

"Wow, sounds like it's been an eventful day!" I chuckle while they're still belly laughing. 

The traffic in the town centre is at a standstill. Why don't roadworks get done in school holidays?

It is 4 pm by the time we get back, I sit them at the kitchen table to do their homework, with a glass of milkshake and a cookie each. 

I order the pizza online, requesting an 18:45 delivery slot.

I go upstairs for a shower, knowing I'll be on a shift at work, from 12 all day tomorrow. 

I wash my hair, making sure it's silky and smooth then I dry it, letting it curl slightly with the heat. I apply my face cream and slide into a fresh silk nightie. Putting on my silk dressing gown over the top. 

I turn my bedside light on, so I don't have to turn on the big light later tonight.

Taking a step back, I look at my bed, remembering the contact from this morning. I feel an increasing heat between my legs, biting my bottom lip at the thought. It was certainly an interesting morning. I'd definitely like to see him again. Not just at swimming lessons.

I head downstairs to check on the boys.

They're still doing their homework, so I help myself to a glass of wine. The cool dry liquid slides down my throat and instantly calms the slight bit of rage still boiling inside me.

I decide this is a good time to text my apology to Josie. She replies saying she didn't even notice my sharp tone. That's good I guess.

As I put my phone down, it rings. A number I don't recognize. 

"Hello?" I answer shortly.

"Miss Abbott, I've been trying to call you since I last spoke to you." Shit, I haven't spoken to the holiday company since Wednesday. I grab my wine, the bottle too, and make my exit upstairs, shutting the door behind me.

"Sorry, I've been working and looking after my little brother, I've not had the chance to call you back," I say, topping my wine glass up.

"We need to discuss getting your parents' bodies home," She says it as though they're just another dead couple, but as much as we had our problems, they are still my parents.

"Okay, how can I help?" This is going to take a while, let's find some more wine.