Their Rose Petal

Chapter Twenty Two

The restaurant is packed, under staffed, under stocked, and I'm running around like I've lost my damn mind. Noah is stressed, cussing and slamming pans around.

I think I need to hire a few new cooks.

I'm on the phone with our supplier, ordering more of almost everything. I'm not sure why we're so busy on a Thursday. I know my pockets don't mind.

Kinsley is at the bar, holding down shit over there. Even my servers are stressed out.

"Mitch I have seven tables, and I was just double sat. I can't take anymore." Dianna says, typing in orders in the computer.

"Me either, I'm in the weeds. Bad." Another server, Danika, says.

"Alright, I'll take the next few." I take the apron I have off, grabbing a notepad and a book.

I'm glad I chose a more comfortable look today. Black yoga pants that flare at the bottom and and white shirt.

"Hey! Welcome to Roselet's, what could I get for you?" I greet the four top, taking down their drinks. I grab some empty plates off of other tables on my way back.

This how the night went, all the way until eight o'clock. Finally, I get to take a breath. My servers are tired, my cooks are exhausted. I send most everyone home for the night, besides one server and two cooks. Kinsley looks happy as hell, I'm assuming she's made good money.

I walk over, taking a seat at the bar. "Fuck,"
I groan, stretching out my back.

Kinsley just smiles at me, pouring me tequila on the rocks. I take it straight back, and motion for another. "Busy night, huh?" She grins.

"Hectic night. Food took forever to come out, but I don't blame our kitchen. It was just ticket after ticket after ticket." I mumble, swirling my new drink around.

I glance over, and Richard is laughing at me. "Rich! I haven't seen you in awhile, you doing okay?" I smile at him.

"Doing great, lovebug. Took that vacation I wanted too, been working since I got back. How's your new relationship going?" He wiggles his eyebrows, and I glare at Kinsley.

"Hey, we were just making conversation. He said he's been a regular for awhile, I figured he already knew." She shrugs nonchalantly.

"It's going well, trying not to rush into things."

"Good. Glad to hear it." He lifts his glass up in a type of a toast. I raise mine as well.

Time passes slowly, and I busy myself with cleaning up and stocking up from the busy day. I am tired.

"You ready?" Kinsley walks over, bag in hand. I nod my head, taking her drawer and counting it down. I hand her her money from today and we head out the door. "I'll follow you home." She says, blowing me a kiss.

I get in my car, turning on some music before pulling off. I debate on going to the boys' house instead, but I'm sure they need some space. I don't have to be up their asses twenty four seven.

My hearts stops as I near our apartment building. Fire trucks are scattered around, police and ambulance in between. "What the fuck," I gasp out. Smoke is flowing from the top of the building, and I park my car a block away. Kinsley is already running towards the building, which is being blocked off by officers.

I stare at the scene in front of me. Flames engulf the upper floors of the building, tenants are running around, coughing and crying from smoke inhalation. Mothers try to consolidate their crying kids while they're also in shock, probably trying to figure out where they can go now that their homes are destroyed.