Perfectly Flawed

2. Work Chat

I rush into Joanie's grill and bar, where I work, officially 47 minutes late.

Keila, one of the girls who works here and coincidentally our neighbor, dramatically checks the time on the clock above the hostess stand.

I smother my smile. "Hey, Keila. Sorry I'm late, I thought I worked at 2 not 1.."

"Mhmm." She looks me up and down. "I was stuck on the hostess stand, Dakota. And I don't even really like people." She complains as she follows me to the backroom.

"Yeah you say that every time I see you." I laugh. "I'm not sure why you thought this was the best place to work since you literally have to serve hundreds of people..."

"See, when I'm behind the bar, though, I get paid a lot to do it. Men love my boobs." She winks at me.

I snort. Keila is petite but leggy, with boobs bigger than mine -though at a 34B that's not uncommon- but her ability to wear low cut shirts and easily grab attention and tips...I'm constantly jealous. "Okay, we get it." I roll my eyes. "Still isn't the ideal place for someone to work if they hate people, that's all I'm saying."

"Watch it. I saved your ass from getting fired." Keila shoves me.

"I wasn't gonna get fired for being late once." I laugh. Was I?

"Well still. You're my favorite bitch to work with."

I grin. "I've only worked here for a couple weeks, so thanks for the compliment, but what's wrong with Erin? Or the chef whose name is so incredibly cliche but yet I somehow always forget it?"

"Well nothing, technically but they don't like to sit around and talk."

I laugh again as I finish tying my apron and head back out. "Okay well Kasei loves to talk, why don't you like hanging out with her?"

"She's obsessed with my brother, so yeah she's fun and cool but to me she's the same as everyone else." She waves her hand and packs up her stuff from behind the hostess stand.

"Wait. JT is your brother?" I frown.

She widens her eyes at me. "Dakota I've literally told you that at least 5 times holy."

"Sorry sorry I'm a little bit blonde." I joke, fluffing my dark bun of hair.

"See the thing is blondes can make that excuse.. you're just a bit dumb."

I laugh along with her. Okay, fine I'll admit to that one. "You're a bitch."

"I never said I wasn't." She sarcastically blows a kiss.

This is true. I think back to the first day I met her. I walked in, full of energy asking where Erin was so I could start and she looked up from the hostess stand. "Who are you and why the fuck are you so happy on a monday morning?" Was her response.

I laughed. "I'm Dakota, a new hire, and it's not Monday morning. It's noon on a Wednesday." "Okay well it's Monday morning for me. I've been stoned for the past 3 days and don't want to be here. I'm Keila and I'm a bit of a bitch but you get used to it. Go grab me some coffee?"

I snorted, assuming she was just hazing the newbie. The perfect servant housewife in me wanted to do as she asked, but the rebellious girl in me crossed my arms "nah, go get it yourself."

Keila stood up a little straighter, clearly shocked, saying something along the lines of: "Damn. Okay I have respect for you now. We'll be friends."

I laughed. "Ok just bring me to Erin."

She frowns jokingly. "Alright, bossy. She's in the kitchen with jacque."