Before You

Chapter 16

          "Hey Evy!" Peyton says cheerfully.

          "Hey Peyton" I say, and put my things in my employee locker.

          "How has your week been so far?" Peyton asks.

          "It's okay. I'm just ready to make some money. I need to start saving as much as I can" I reply.

          "Well then, you're at the right place! Come with me, grasshopper" Peyton says and gives me a smile.

          We get through the breakfast crowd. The day is going quickly, just like my last shift. Peyton keeps telling our tables that I'm shadowing her and they've all left me a healthy tip as well. I can definitely get used to this. We're gearing up for the lunch crowd when I hear Peyton mumble something.

          "What's wrong?" I say.

          "There's a guy that just sat at my table. I can't stand him. He's such a jerk, but he's close with Susan, so I just try to push through while he's here. Listen, don't get close to him and stay behind me. No matter what, don't say anything. I'll take care of it," she says calmly.

          I'm a little confused about what's she talking about, but decide to follow her lead. We both walk out of the kitchen and to the table. The man she referred to is very handsome. He has green eyes and blonde hair that's been parted perfectly to one side. He's very muscular. He's older, probably in his late twenties. As soon as we approach the table he looks up at Peyton and smiles.

          "Hey Peyton. I know you've missed me," he says plainly.

          "Hello Davis" Peyton says. "What can I get for you today?"

          "Hmm, I think I'll take the BLT sandwich with fries and a sweet tea. I'm also interested in that date we haven't had yet," he says.

          "I can't date customers. You and I are just great friends, remember?" she says smiling.

          "Oh, come on. I can talk to Susan about that. You know you want to be more than friends," Davis says.

          He wraps his arm around Peyton's waist and pulls her onto his lap. I step forward and my mouth automatically opens. Before I can speak, Peyton holds her hand up as if to stop me. She gets up from his lap and takes a step back.

          "You're such a jokester, Davis. I'm going to put that order in for you now" she says and waves for me to follow her.

          We walk through the kitchen door and Peyton takes a seat on a nearby chair. I'm waiting for her to say something, but nothing comes. I'm trying not to be too forward, but I can't hold it in anymore.

          "What was that?" I say frankly.

          "That is Davis. He's the jerk I told you about" she says plainly. "Listen, I don't want to give Susan a reason not to like me. Trust me, I don't like how he acts. If we were anywhere other than here, I would throat punch him, but I need this job. For now, I just try to keep things light and get through it."

          I look at Peyton with wide eyes. "You shouldn't have to get through it. If you don't like him, he shouldn't be grabbing you the way he did. What is it with men thinking they can have whatever they want, when they want it?"

          I can feel the blood rushing to my head. I am definitely more upset about what just happened than Peyton is. Maybe she's dealt with him too many times and it no longer has an effect on her. I shake my head in disbelief.

          "Peyton, if you're not going to say something to Susan, at least stick up for yourself. Tell him he can't touch you like that," I say sharply.

          "Wow, you really are upset. Don't worry. I can handle myself. I'll only take so much and then I'll deal with it" Peyton says calmly.

          I watch her as she leaves the kitchen to check on another table. Is she serious? Why doesn't she say something? I know her job is important, but isn't it also important to stick up for yourself? This is exactly why I have issues with men. They simply can't be trusted. They're always out for themselves. This is also why I have issues with rich people. They think that money buys everything, including other people.

          I helped Peyton with her tables throughout lunch, except the one that Davis sat at. I always fell behind in the kitchen while she waited on him. I explained to her that I just couldn't be around him, especially if she wasn't going to do anything about his behavior. She understood my point of view completely.

          "Okay, he is finally gone" Peyton says as she enters the kitchen again.

          "Good. Maybe it'll be awhile before he comes back" I say, hopeful.

          "That would be nice. Even though I had to put up with his crap, he did leave a nice tip. He told me to give half of it to my beautiful friend" Peyton says with a smile.

          "Are you serious? He really said that?" I ask surprised.

          "Yeah. You just got a fifty-dollar tip from him" Peyton says.

          "What a jerk!" I shout.

          Peyton gives a small laugh and tilts her head to the side. "Does that mean you don't want the tip then?"

          "I'll definitely take the tip. I have a feeling that one day soon, I'll be throat punching him for you" I say plainly.

          Peyton grabs her stomach and laughs uncontrollably. I was actually being quite honest, but looking at her laughing this way makes me feel less serious. My head falls back and I start laughing. It seems impossible for either one of us to stop. When we finally do, I realize that I haven't laughed like that since I moved to Atlanta. I need to laugh more. I need to have more fun.

          "Hey, what are you doing this weekend?" I ask.

          "Well, it's been awhile since I've been home, so I'm going to go back for this weekend, but I'll be back for our shift on Sunday" Peyton says.

          "Oh okay. My twenty-first birthday is tomorrow and some of my friends from Savannah are coming to visit. I don't know what we're doing yet, but I was going to invite you" I say.

          "Tomorrow is your birthday! Twenty-one? I know what you should be doing then! I hate that I'm going to miss that. I would have loved to come. Let me make it up to you. Next weekend, I'll take you out to celebrate. How does that sound?" she says smiling.

          "Yeah, that sounds great!" I reply.

          "Sweet! Well, I need to go. I still have to do laundry and pack my bags for this weekend. Have a great time tomorrow!" Peyton says walking away.

          "Thanks! You have a great weekend too!" I reply.

            Today was a pretty good day. I thought that jerk, Davis, was going to ruin it, but it ended up better than expected. My friends are coming to visit and now I have plans with Peyton next weekend. I grab a mixed CD out of the case and turn the volume all the way up in my car. I made it before I left Savannah. It has some of my favorite songs on it. I pull into my apartment parking lot just as I finish singing a song. As I get my purse and book bag together, the next song starts. It's Linkin Park. My mind is immediately consumed with Jett and the way his dark brown eyes scanned my shirt the other day. It's going to be another restless night.