I watched him lean down to fist bump him before saying something that lit up my kid’s face with a laugh loud enough for me to hear from where I still stood.
They both had mischievous looks on their faces, and Layla burst into cackles behind me. “Girl, you’re in so much trouble.”
I was. I really was. Because I was pretty sure I might be in love with that man.
Chapter Twenty-One
The room spun, circling around me like a kaleidoscope of images. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was what it felt like when people said their lives passed before their eyes.
Did it spin around them in quick bursts, or did time slow down in those moments and allow you to enjoy it?
I closed my eyes, shoving off again. I could do without seeing my life flash before my eyes. Besides Jamie, there wasn’t a single thing I’d want to re-experience before death. I’d die depressed and stressed out.
Sighing, I gave myself one more round before putting my foot out and stopping the chair’s movement.
I stared at the time on my desktop, wanting nothing more than to grumble and crawl under the desk. You know it’s going to be a long night when you’re daydreaming at work about life and death. I was so over this work schedule. When I was thirty-five and successful, I sure as hell better look back and be proud of this shit.
I finished filling out my timesheet and put the monitor to sleep. “I’m about to clock out for the day, Evaline. You need anything before I go?”
“No, honey, you enjoy your weekend.”
I scrunched my nose, that was highly unlikely given my schedule, Jamie’s game, and midterms to study for, but it was a sweet sentiment, nonetheless. I pushed back my chair and grabbed my purse and change of clothes, making my way through the office.
I saw a few people as I passed, but most only offered a quick smile or a half-wave. Things had become different after the fiasco with Rob. He hadn’t been well-liked, so no one seemed to hate me over him being fired, but they also didn’t strike up conversations with me anymore. No one was necessarily rude; they just didn’t know how to act around me.
It was as if the sexual harassment I’d experienced had affected them. Seeing me only reminded them of something they’d prefer to forget. I was no longer just a person. I was that person, and they didn’t know what to say to me.
I stepped into the bathroom, efficiently switching out of my office clothes for my waitressing uniform before slipping back out and making my way through the lobby and to my vehicle.
I’d only recently started changing clothes here so I could drop Jamie at home without going inside. I’d felt weird about it at first, but it saved me time so I’d gotten over it pretty quick.
The restaurant had no problem with me clocking in a few minutes early, and with the holidays coming up, I needed every extra tip I could get.
Honestly, I was tempted to take a few extra guard shifts as well. Jim had already asked me if I’d be available and willing to cover more Saturdays as the holidays approached so some of the other guards could have full weekends off with their families.
The irony wasn’t lost on me, and I’d kind of just stared at him before making some off-hand comment saying I’d think about it. I still hadn’t decided.
The restaurant was quiet when I walked in, only a few straggling customers spread around. I waved to one of the new girls who was lazing about the host stand and made my way to the back to clockin and store my things.
The quiet didn’t last long. By five o’clock we had a full house. It wasn’t Super Bowl slammed, but it kept me busy enough that the time whirred by. Five quickly turned to six and six to seven. These were my favorite kind of shifts, the fast-moving ones.
I smiled at a toddler strapped into a highchair at one of my tables, playing a game of peekaboo with my order pad while waiting for her father to dig through his wallet for his credit card.