Chapter 10
My enthusiasm for my new job was quickly dwindling when I showed up Thursday afternoon and saw the ‘uniform’ that was required. All Brian had told me when he hired me was to wear a pair of black shorts or a skirt, and he would give me my work shirt when I got there to train.
This could most definitely not be considered a shirt.
I pulled at the black halter top that basically ended right below my ribs, hoping it would somehow magically grow in length, but that unfortunately didn’t happen. Oh well, at least my stomach was flat and I still had most of my tan leftover for the summer. Tips should be rolling in my way.
I walked out of the employee only bathroom and heard a sharp whistle the second I turned into the kitchen. “Damn, I didn’t know we had a new waitress.” I sucked in a breath when that familiar cocky voice reached my ears and I looked up, meeting those gray eyes that I had been avoiding pretty well for the most part.
Judging by his tight fitting white t-shirt with the words Shorty’s scrawled across it, I was guessing that was going to be pretty hard. It was just my luck that I would get a job and he would work here.
I pursed my lips at him, considering what exactly to say to him. I really didn’t want to start off my first day on the job being known as the bitch, but I also knew if I was nice to him he would consider that flirting. Justin stepped an inch closer, smirking at me while reaching out to flick the dangling belly button ring I had on today.
“Brian, I thought I told you I was supposed to be interviewing all new potential employees,” he yelled out to the front. “Doesn’t matter anyway, I would have definitely hired you,” he whispered into my ear. “How could I resist seeing this almost every day?” He outlined my body with his hands and I pushed into his chest quickly. “Ugh, please tell me this is your last day of working here, because if it isn’t, I don’t know how I’m going to deal with this.”
“Sorry to deliver the bad news, sweetheart, but I’m Brian’s favorite. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. I’m sure we can figure out a way to…work together.” That twisted smirk remained on his face, and it really made me want to hurl. I had no idea how he and his ego both even fit through the front door.
“Justin, are you bothering Della all ready? You know the rules around here since the last situation we had to deal with. Do I need to remind you?” Brian gave Justin a sharp look, and I couldn’t help but giggle at the sheepish look on his face as his eyes finally cast downwards away from my body. I could only imagine what the ‘situation’ was that Justin had been involved in.
“So, Della, Kassie’s out front, she’ll help you out for the day. Learn the menu, learn the cash register, and be quick on your feet. If you can get those three by the end of the day, you should be good to go for the weekend. Think you can manage?”
“Of course,” I answered quickly, even though I was suddenly really nervous. I introduced myself to Kassie who was a petite Asian girl with sleek black hair and almond shaped eyes. Her size definitely didn’t stunt her speed though; I had to work quickly to keep my long legs up with hers.
She explained to me that the place got pretty busy on Thursdays night because of the fifty cent boneless wing special they had, but she handled it all effortlessly. I wasn’t sure I could do it by myself, but by the end of the night she had given me a few of my own tables, and I had a feeling I all ready had a few repeat customers in my favor. I couldn’t believe the tips I had stuffed in my pockets for basically working an hour on my own.
I stepped out of the restaurant just after midnight, exhausted, but feeling good about myself for finally having earned my own money. “And where do you think you’re going?” I stiffened immediately when I heard a voice behind me, but relaxed just a little when I saw that it was Justin and watched as he snubbed his cigarette out with the tip of his boot.
“Well, I figured I would go work the street corners for awhile,” I replied with a roll of my eyes, crossing my arms over my bare stomach. For some reason, I hadn’t thought to switch out shirts before Brian locked up for the night, and I was now paying for it.
“Really? Which one? I’ll be sure to be your only customer.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets, following me down the sidewalk as I made my way back towards the direction of the dorms.
“Funny. I’m just heading back home for the night, you can leave me alone now.”
“C’mon, Della, do you really think I’m that big of a jackass to let a girl walk alone in the dark? Dressed like that?” He tugged on my elbow, pulling me in the opposite direction as I struggled to go the other way. “I’m giving you a ride back whether I have to drag your ass to my car or not. I really wouldn’t mind, just to let you know. That is one fine ass.”
I could feel his eyes boring holes through the back of my shorts as he pushed me in front of him, so I stopped abruptly. “Fine, I’ll let you give me a ride home, but do you think you could stop staring at my body for at least the ride over. It’s a little creepy.”
“Sorry,” he snorted, holding up his hands defensively. “Didn’t realize I was such a creeper. Here we are.” He pointed to a rusted out car that literally looked like it came straight from the seventies and hadn’t been kept up what so ever. It might have been cool back in the day, but now, it was just gross looking. “Um, I think I would rather walk.”
“Oh, a princess, huh? Trust me, it will get us from point A to point B, and it’s clean on the inside.” He pulled open the door that creaked loudly and pushed me gently. “Get your ass in there, I promise you won’t catch any diseases.” I sat down stiffly, not wanting to let my body touch any part of the car, but surprisingly, it was clean on the inside.
I was expecting it to be smelly and have that cigarette smoke stench, but it actually smelled a lot like cinnamon mixed with the cologne of his that I was all too familiar with. “See, not so bad, right? Which dorm do you live in?” I gave him directions and we headed that way, the drive silent the whole time. He kept his eyes trained on the road as he sped through the mostly deserted roads, keeping his promise.
Really, I didn’t mind Justin looking at me, but when he seemed to constantly have a different girl with him every time I saw him, it just grossed me out. I guess if I thought about it, not that long ago I had been sort of like him, flitting from guy to guy, even though I didn’t hook up with all of them. I had been a whore with a purpose if I really thought about.
It just seemed to help fill an empty void. I hadn’t felt the need to fill that need since I moved here, I think it had a lot to do with getting out of Connecticut, away from all of the memories that I wanted to keep buried.
I hadn’t realized we stopped, until Justin cleared his throat and I looked over to see his gray eyes trained on me intensely. At least they were on my face this time. “Well, thanks for the ride,” I mumbled before gripping the passenger handle, but it wouldn’t budge as I pushed. “I think I have you trapped finally,” Justin smirked. “It doesn’t open from the inside,” he quickly explained as I raised my eyebrows at him.
I huffed out a breath. “Okay, well will you go and open it then?” His brows disappeared under the black beanie he had on, his dark hair that was normally an unruly mess slightly peeking out, so I decided on a different approach. Taking a deep breath, I tried to keep all attitude out of my voice. “Justin, will you pretty please with sugar on top, open my door. Please,” I added on again.
“We-ll,” he dragged out, his face turning serious as he contemplated whether or not he should continue holding me hostage or not, tapping one long finger on his chin. “Maybe if you promise to be on top, I can-”
“Oh my god, do you ever stop with the bullshit that comes out of your mouth. Have you ever had a serious conversation in your life?” I screeched, smacking him in the chest with my hand. He grabbed onto it before I could pull away, lacing our fingers together while biting his lip ring. I could tell he was trying hard not to laugh at my freak out, and I appreciated it. For some reason, he knew how to get on my every nerve just by doing the smallest things.
“Della, I’m just not a serious guy, but if you gave me the chance we could actually have a real, adult conversation. If that’s what you really want,” he squeezed my hand lightly.
“Fine,” I huffed out “Let’s have a ‘conversation’ then.”
“Uh-uh, I think Sleeping Beauty needs to get inside for the night. How ‘bout you let me take you out Sunday and then we can talk?”
“I’m busy during the day on Sunday.”
“Fine, then how about Sunday night, does that work?”
“I guess.”
“Well, I’m glad you seem so excited about it then. Is it all right if I pick you up around seven?”
“Whatever, as long as you let me out of this damn car.”
“Excellent,” he replied, before jumping out of the car and running around to open my door. His wide smile was contagious and I couldn’t help but smile back at him as he deposited me at the front door, waiting to make sure I had made it safely inside.
I waved at him before I punched the up arrow on the elevator, and the last thing I saw before the doors shut, were those gray eyes staring back at me. I would give him one date, chances were it would probably only be one and after I didn’t give it up at the end of the night, he would finally be over me.