Chapter 13

“ARE YOU HAVING A conversation with yourself inside your head? Because you’re making faces.”

Hailey jumped at Anne’s words, not remembering where she was. She was waitressing and it was absolutely dead. She only had two tables so far and there was only an hour left in her shift.

“Oh. Shit. Um, yeah I guess I was,” she conceded.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“Just considering trying out for the American bobsled team but I’m not sure I have what it takes. I also don’t know if I can compete because my feet are actually made of ice and it’s an illegal advantage.”

Anne furrowed her brow at Hailey like she was crazy, which, yeah she probably was.

“Come on, seriously!” She begged. “Tell me what you’re thinking about!”

“Geez, you don’t think I have what it takes either? Fine, I guess I’ll just stick to amateur bobsledding in the alley behind my apartment.”

Anne chuckled. “You’re ridiculous. Now, tell me.”

Hailey let out a deep breath before deciding to tell her. Maybe she could be helpful.

“Just deciding if I want to break up with Gage and how I would do it. It’s overwhelming.”

Anne”s jaw dropped before a wide grin took up her face.

“Oh my God, finally! You need to drop that bastard. He treats you like shit.”

Hailey just sighed. She’s heard this from too many people at this point and it was getting tiring defending Gage so much. It was getting harder to come up with good things about him. She pulled out her chapstick to distract herself and applied it to her lips. Good old, classic cherry flavored.

“What if I just tried training him like a cat? Whenever he’s an ass I just squirt him with a spray bottle, or blow an air horn? Or I could shout ‘LA LA LA’ whenever he talks, then he’ll never say something stupid. Or, at least, I’ll never hear it.”

“Good ideas, but maybe a bit passive aggressive.”

“Kidnapping?”

“Too actual aggressive.”

“You’re right. Glitter bomb it is.”

“That is not how you break up with someone! Or at least get your stuff out of his house before he opens the glitter bomb. Then you can enjoy the single life without any arts and crafts supplies all over you.”

“Did I hear you’re about to be single?” Scott asked from his spot on the grill. “Just as I’m about to move away?”

“Ugh. I haven’t decided.”

“Does this mean you can come to my going away party Monday night? You won’t have Gage keeping you on a leash.”

Hailey wasn’t sure what was more awkward, the fact that someone like Scott picked up on that, or the fact he actually said it to her. Rude.

“He’s right. You need to come,” Anne added.

“I’ll see if I can. I have a shift at the gym, but maybe I’ll come after?”

“I hope so!” Scott had a mischievous look on his face that Hailey ignored. “You going to a shift at the gym after this? I can sneak you a chicken pesto sandwich.”

“Yes! Please, I won’t have time to make myself dinner. You would be my hero!”

Scott gave her a wink before saying, “Consider it done.”

“What am I going to do when you leave? I think I’ll starve!”

Scott gave her a grin before rubbing the back of his hand across his sweaty forehead. The grill must be hot today. People always wondered why restaurants were so chilly. No one wants their cook sweating over their food. Hailey realized if she told her guests the manager was turning down the air conditioning, they always just believed it was happening. Bamboozled!

“Too hot back there?” Hailey prodded.

“Only when you’re around.”

“Ha! You’re crazy,” Hailey shook her head at him. “Where are you moving again?”

“Chicago. I got an in at a fancy restaurant out there and I’ll be closer to family.”

“Oh, what kind of restaurant?”

“It’s Italian, my specialty. Better gig than this place. How many tables have you had?”

Hailey sighed, “Just two. Raking in the big bucks today.”

“Same here,” Anne added. “I spent more on gas getting here than I’m making today.”

The day shifts were always a hit or miss. Today was definitely a miss. Between her two tables, she made ten bucks so far. This is why she had to pick up some shifts at the gym for some stable money. Also, free gym membership.

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a late lunch rush,” Scott added.

“Here’s hoping,” Hailey said before feeling a hand on her arm.

Anne pulled her aside and whispered, “You know he wants you, right?”

Hailey got confused because she assumed she was talking about her useless boyfriend. “What? No, I just told you I’m thinking about leaving him.”

“Not Gage! I’m talking about Scott. Can’t you tell he’s flirting with you?”

Hailey took a peek back at Scott and caught him looking at her with his brown eyes before turning back to Anne.

“You’re crazy. He’s just being nice. Plus, he’s moving, not to mention he’s married. What would he want to do with me?”

“I can think of a few things he’d like to do with you,” Anne said while waggling her eyebrows.

“Ha! Well, that’s not happening. I’m not interested in him like that. He’s not my type.”

In fact, maybe her type had much lighter hair, though Hailey shook that thought away.

Anne gave her an appraising look before moving on. “You have to come to the party! Who else am I going to talk to?”

“Literally everyone else there?” Hailey chuckled. “Everyone here loves you so you’ll be just fine if I can’t make it.”

“Fine. But, try at least?”

“I’ll try, but no promises.”

Anne gave her a knowing look. If Hailey could choose between going out to a party or sitting at home on her couch binge-watching “The Office,” she would always choose the latter. Especially because Friday night was Bridget’s bachelorette party. Two parties in one week? Talk about overkill.

Of course, socializing would be good for her, but it was so much effort for Hailey so if she didn’t have to go somewhere she always found a reason to get out of it. She’d claimed so many headaches over the past year and celebrated when plans were canceled.

Hailey started daydreaming about her weighted blanket at home and looked forward to getting back under it. Of course she wouldn’t flake on Bridget’s bach party, but she would likely be exhausted for the next week so going out after a shift didn’t sound amazing to her.

“Holy crap, I’m actually getting a table,” Anne said, breaking her away from her daydreams.

“Oh shiiiiiit, I hope they order all the liquor and tip you big.”

“Fingers crossed.” Anne readied a bread basket and headed toward her table.

Hailey reached into her apron for her chapstick and found nothing but her change.

What the fuck? I just had it!

She let out a quiet growl thinking about all the tubes she’d lost. Hailey had to buy them so often she considered buying them in bulk. Of course, that took money so she didn’t. She needed to keep saving up for things like food and shelter. Damn basic necessities.

“Hey guys, 86 asparagus. We’re all out,” Mike called from the front of the kitchen. Hailey figured that was no one’s loss. Gross vegetables.

Movement in her section broke her out of her thoughts: she was getting a table. Half relieved and half disappointed because that meant work. That was until she took a better look at who was sitting at the table, then she was excited.

After grabbing a bread basket and bread plates, Hailey made her way over to the table to see a familiar face with that gorgeous grin she had known for years, sandy brown hair and eyes she always wanted to avoid getting lost in, but she tried not to think of that. This was Avery after all and she had no business checking him out. But, then she noticed he was wearing a button-down shirt with a tie and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Dammit, why did that look always do it for her? Fucking forearm porn.

“Avery, hey! What brings you in?” she said before turning to the other man joining him. “Hi, I’m Hailey, how’s it going?”

The fifty-something-year-old gentleman in a suit as fancy as Gage’s tailored ones smiled at her before turning to Avery. “Oh, so you’re Hailey. So nice to meet you.”

They both turned to Avery who was getting a bit red in the face and glaring at his friend.

“Yeah, I talk about soccer a lot at work,” said Avery, quick to change the subject. “This is Jeff. He’s the lawyer that works with some of our kids at the social work program I’m in. We just came from a hearing so we figured we’d get lunch to talk more about our case.”

Hailey nodded in understanding. “Gotcha. Nice to meet you, Jeff. Hopefully it’s not a tough one. Luckily it’s dead in here so you don’t have anyone else near you and I’ll give you guys lots of privacy so you can talk shop.”

Avery looked up at her with a smile, “It’s not that intense, but thank you.”

“No problem, what can I get you guys to drink?”

They both ordered draft beers so Hailey gave them a few minutes to browse the menu while she went up to the bar. By the time she got there, Frankie the bartender already had the frosted glasses sitting there ready to go. “Thanks, Frankie,” she said before walking back to Avery’s table.

Hailey wasn’t sure why she was nervous. Maybe because nobody ever really visited her at work besides family. The place wasn’t fancy enough for Gage’s taste so he never bothered either. So that fluttering in her belly was just because she was excited to have a friend. That was what she was going to tell herself, anyway.

As she approached the table, Avery made eye contact with her and grinned. She walked up to the men and put their glasses in front of them.

“Here ya go,” she said, hoping Avery didn’t notice the slight tremble in her hand. “Do you guys know what you want to eat or are you sticking with just drinks for your meeting?”

“Oh we’re going to eat. We missed lunch since the hearing went a lot longer than it was supposed to,” said Avery. “We’re gonna share the sausage and ricotta pizza.”

“A fine choice, good sir,” Hailey giggled and faked a British accent. “Patrons everywhere should bow down to your wisdom.”

“Thank you m’lady,” said Avery, playing along with Hailey’s silliness. They both chuckled and Jeff just stared at them with a shit-eating grin on his face.

As Hailey turned and walked away toward the kitchen she heard Jeff say, “I see what you mean. You’re in trouble.” He barked out a laugh that drew the attention of other diners in the restaurant. When she looked back she saw Avery throwing a balled up napkin at him.

Hailey wasn’t sure what to take from that interaction. What did he mean Avery was in trouble? Maybe it was something to do with the case they were working on.

Throughout the rest of their meal, anytime she approached their table they quickly stopped their conversation before Hailey could hear. She assumed they were talking about the case that was definitely none of her business.

Avery worked with troubled kids, helping them get their lives back on track. He’d told some crazy stories about his job over the years, including one kid who threw a chair at him during a house call with their family. Hailey respected his work. It was important and he was making a difference in kids’ lives. He wasn’t just helping rich people get richer like Gage. Geez, why was she comparing them like that?

At the end of their meal when Hailey brought their check, she realized she was disappointed he was leaving.

“Thanks for coming in!” she said. “No one ever visits me here.”

Avery gave her a knowing look before he took a deep breath and asked, “Not even Gage?”

“No, not even him.” She looked at her feet for a moment before picking her head back up to Jeff. “It was nice to meet you, Jeff. Keep fighting the good fight with Avery here.”

“I’m so glad I got to meet you. You’re even better than I expected.”

“Than you expec—”

She couldn’t finish before Avery cut in, “Well, we better get going. Hailey, I’ll see you at our next game.”

Hailey shook off whatever the hell just happened while she turned back to Avery. “Definitely, ready for domination!” She said with a bit of a growl.

Avery chuckled at her antics. “They don’t stand a chance! Take care until then.”

“Thanks, Avery. Have a good one, guys!”

She walked away smiling and realized it was time for her to start cleaning up her section to get ready to go to the gym. Perfect timing. Hailey didn’t look too much into the fact that Avery definitely talked about her to a coworker. He said it was just about soccer, but the reddening of his face whenever Jeff brought her up told a different story.

Later when she walked to her car after her shift, she got excited thinking about seeing him at their next game, but she refused to admit the meaning behind that to herself.