Twenty

Cory

I forced myself not to look back as I hurried to the dining room and settled into the dinner routine. Guests were arriving, and as usual for a seated dinner, most were dressed in suits or tuxes. The host seated everyone, and I spent the first thirty minutes pouring water until the first guests had finished their salads and I could start collecting dirty dishes. I had never been so anxious to collect a dirty dish in my whole life.

When I finally had enough on a cart to not look obvious, I hurried back to the kitchen. I stood for a moment and watched Jackson work. He never slowed down as he first grabbed a tray of dishes, rinsed them off, and slid them into the dishwasher. Once it started, he walked around to pick up a tray of clean dishes to take back to the kitchen. He noticed me when he walked back a few moments later.

"Hey, do you have some dishes for me?" he asked.

"Yes, they're just starting to finish the first course." I pushed the cart over and I took the one that was empty. "There shouldn't be as much tonight, but never say never," I said.

"I just loaded the last batch of the dishes that had put us behind, so it should go a little smoother now." He dried his hand on a towel before settling his hands on his hips. He was so happy. It was easy to see, and if his parents thought giving him a life of partying without any responsibilities was what he wanted, they'd be wrong.

"That's great! You really look happy working here," I said and tried not to wince. I hadn't meant to say that out loud, but it was so obvious.

"I am. Hey, I gotta get back to work. I'll see you with your next delivery." He immediately opened the dishwasher and pulled out another tray of clean dishes before shoving a dirty tray in. Then I realized I was watching him wash dishes and I knew for a fact there was more between us than me helping a guy.

"See you later," I said and hurried back out to the dining room. It was now full and even though it was semi-formal almost everyone was dressed very formally. Getting to see handsome men was definitely a bonus, and seeing a boatful of gay couples gave me hope that someday I could find my other half. "Or maybe I already have," I mumbled.

"What's that?" a guest asked me as I leaned in to take his plate. I'd been so lost in thought I wasn't thinking.

"Oh nothing, just talking to myself."

"Well, it's only a problem if you answer," he said and smiled while everyone else at the table chuckled. I picked up as many plates as I could carry and turned to walk away when the same guy stopped me. "What's your name?"

"I'm Cory," I said and hoped he wasn't asking so he could complain to one of my bosses about me.

"Nice to meet you, Cory, I'm Neal," he said and held out his hand to shake, but my hands were full, so I just sort of shrugged.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. I wanted to ask if you would be at the party later?" He was cute with dark blond hair and blue eyes, but something told me to be wary. Everyone at his table was dressed to the nines and all of them seemed to be in on some joke that only they got. There was just an air of arrogance that hung over them that I couldn't explain.

"Sorry, no. I'll be off work by then and I plan to relax for the rest of the night." It wasn't a lie, and he didn't need as much information as I'd given him, but still he paused like he thought if he waited long enough, I'd do what he wanted. Well, he was about to get a lesson in how little I cared about who he was.

"Is there anything else?" I asked, and when he only smiled at me, I turned and put the dirty dishes on the cart before going back and collecting more.

This cruise was different than most because one person had reserved the whole ship and everyone on board was here at the invitation of a social media influencer. I had yet to see him, but there were private dining rooms I had never been to that were most likely where he and his main party were.

I glanced around the room and to me it looked like the same crowd as any other cruise. There were all ages but there were definitely more men on this trip, but that wasn't a bad thing. Noticing a table nearby with more plates, I hurried over to take them and noticed that Neal guy was watching me. I ignored him, and their table until finally I had no other choice but to go back to it. I picked up one plate and the only other one left was conveniently right in front of Neal.

"You don't like me much, do you?" he asked.

"What? I don't even know you. So, I have no opinion of you at all," I said and tried to smile, but this was getting weird. Without waiting for him to say something else, I took the dishes I'd collected over to the cart and pushed it back to the kitchen without a backwards glance.

Jackson was still working as hard as he had been when I was here last time, but he looked up and smiled like he hadn't seen me all day. "Hey, how's it going out there?"

"It's going. The first seating is just being served their main course so not much longer until we'll be clearing the first seating and preparing for the second."

"Are you okay? You seem off," he said and gave me a critical once over.

"I'm fine, just ready for this day to be done." I didn't feel this way often. I really did enjoy this job, but so much had happened the last two days, and the more I thought about spending a quiet night with Jackson the more I wanted it.

He walked over to me and pulled me in for a hug. He squeezed me tight and shook me around until I couldn't help but laugh. "What's that for?"

"You just looked like you needed it. Don't worry, this shift will be over before you know it," he said, and I wondered when it had happened that the guy I found so disgusting on the beach had turned into such a sweetheart.

"Thank you. I guess I did." I walked back out, smile in place and full of anticipation for work to be done, and resolved to avoid that guy's table by any means possible.