Chapter 14

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I'm so stressed out at work because three people called I today and four people quit yesterday.

They're all homeless and they quit because they don't feel like working.

So I'm in, working with the two other people here, and I'm seriously, seriously considering calling my baby in and asking for help.

The two are in the back cooking and I'm waiting tables.

The work phone is going insane, but I'm way too busy to care.

I'm moving swiftly through the restaurant, trying to get everything done.

We have a crowd of people waiting around to get a table.

It's that busy.

It's the day after New Years. All the phones stop at once and I feel some stress leave my body.

Then Kyle walks in, with Matt, Kathryn, and Kourtney, and Ryan and Riley and Mr. and Mrs. Knight.

Everyone else is outside.

I ignore them.

I really don't have time.

I'm so stressed out, I'm about to burst into tears.

This day is terrible.

Especially since Channing and I had a plan to go on a date today, and I couldn't find my fucking phone. I told him I'd meet him at the restaurant last night for breakfast at ten.

It's noon.

I stood him up.

God, I feel terrible.

I'm gonna go beg for forgiveness when I get out of here at fucking midnight.

The customers are getting pissy because the wait is long.

I've had ten people today alone ask for a manager.

I explained that the manager quit, that I'm the owner, and they start ripping my head off.

"Cam." Kyle says.

"Kyle, I'm sorry, I really don't have time." I sigh, rushing past him and into the back with a stack of dirty dishes to add to the pile already there.

I come back with food to deliver to table 26, upstairs.

I rush up there and deliver the food and go back down, passing people and stopping to get their drinks refilled.

"Cam, it's important." Kathryn says.

"Guys, I can't." I sigh, carrying more plates to the back.

I go bac to the front and wipe down the tables of the people that just left, and I seat the next table and get their drinks and food orders.

"Cam, it can't wait!" Ryan says. He's starting to get pissed off.

I sigh.

"You have thirty seconds. Walk with me." I say.

"Channing is gone." He says. "We were supposed ot meet him for lunch but he didn't show up and then he isn't answering his phone and I figured he was sleeping so we stopped by his house and he's not there, and he's not at your house. We checked everywhere, even his work."

I panic.

"Did you look everywhere?"

"Yes. His truck is in the driveway but he's not there." Kyle cuts in.

"Shit, shit." I say, knotting my fingers in my hair.

I sigh and flip the pen sign to closed.

"Priorities." I say. "He's my priority."

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