Chapter 2

chapter

two

Joey

It's another glorious day at Big Mo's Diner.

Translation–nothing interesting ever happens in Hat Creek, Texas, population 982. Especially at the diner, where we have a series of the same customers, day in and day out.

The bell rings as someone steps inside the diner. But I'm in the prep area, so I can't help them. At the moment, I'm elbows deep refilling the syrup dispensers. I've already got the sticky amber confection all over my fingers. If only this would be the worst part of my day. But I've worked here long enough to know there is still a lot of shift for things to get worse.

Thankfully we've already survived our busiest time of the day and we're now in the lull of midafternoon.

"Joey!" Lorraine yells. "You got a customer asking for you."

Oh shit! A customer looking for me specifically? That can't be good.

I've worked at Big Mo's for over a year now, but I certainly don't have any regular customers that ask for me. Sexy Charlene, who usually works the night shift, always has men coming in looking for her. Lorraine, who has that sassy-waitress thing going, mothers everyone, and has worked here basically forever, has a slew of regulars. Me? I blend into the woodwork.

And the last time anyone came looking for me, it was because my car was in the shop and I couldn't afford to pick it up.

Anyone coming in here looking for me can't be good. I scramble through my brain trying to remember a bill I might be late on, but I can't think of anything.

The only person I can imagine it might be is Mr. Forsyth, who runs the daycare at the local University. I applied for a part-time job there and was hired on a probationary status. I wish I could be full-time there, but even with that many hours, it wouldn't be enough income to replace this job. But if I can work my way up to full-time, my tuition will be discounted. Which will let me transfer from the community college to the university. Which is step one in Joey's-Awesome-List-of-Bigass-Goals.

I have no idea why Mr. Forsyth would come here instead of just calling, but he's the only person I can think of. What if he's come here to check on me to see how I am outside of the daycare? Is that something they do? To make sure you're not a stripper on weekends and then teaching other people's children during the day? Surely not.

I mean, not that I am a stripper. Because I am not. I snort just thinking about that. No one would pay to see my blindingly pale, chubby body trying to swing around a pole.

Heart pounding and nerves battering my belly, I close my eyes for a brief moment.

I move to the sink and do my best to turn on the water and wash my hands without getting syrup all over the faucet. As I dry my hands, I survey my appearance.

There's already a grease stain on my sickly peach-orange uniform. The obligatory white frilly apron is less white and more grayish tan. And the skirt does absolutely nothing for my size eighteen ass. Lorraine is tall and thin, and on her the traditional diner uniform looks okay. But on me with my big boobs and bigger butt, I look like I'm trying for the sexy waitress at Halloween, but failing miserably at it.

At the moment, I do not exactly look like preschool teacher material.

Ah well, nothing to be done. This is who I am. This is my life and I'm doing my best to better my situation and reach goals. But everyone starts from somewhere.

I just hope I don't have syrup in my hair. As long as the unexpected visitor isn't from the community college, come to tell me they've made a mistake and I can't be in their bookkeeping program, then I can handle it.

I take a cleansing breath and step around to the front.

Lorraine's got her hip propped against the chrome lip of the counter. She's laughing at something one of her customers has said. As I round the corner, a man stands to face me.

Everything inside me cringes.

This is not Mr. Forsyth.

Not by a long shot.

In fact Mr. Forsyth would have been a much better visitor.

Instead, it's one of the dads who picked up his son the last two times I was working at the daycare. He's obnoxiously flirty, despite the fact that he's married. In fact, I can see his wife and his son, Luke, sitting in one of the booths.

Before I make it over to him, Lorraine grabs my arm and leans in close.

"I know he's gross, but be careful. He's one of the most influential people in this tiny ass town, and Big Mo trips all over himself when Brandon and his family come in." Lorraine rolls her eyes. "You know he owns that big used car lot out on Highway 6? Thinks his shit don't stink."

I nod. I mean, I'd heard that about Brandon Jacks before, but they haven't been frequent customers here. At least not during my shifts.

So why the hell is asking for me? He better not be making a complaint about something at the daycare.

I make my way over to the counter the man is leaning against. He's not an unattractive man, but there's still something about him that gives me the creeps.

"You asked for me?" I say. "Is there a problem?"

When he turns his head to face me, his gaze immediately locks on my cleavage. He licks his lips, then finally looks at my face. He gives me a lascivious smile.

"Hiya, darlin'. We just keep running into each other, don't we?"

I tilt my head in confusion. "I'm sorry, have I met you before?"

Am I being petty pretending I don't recognize him from the daycare? Yes, yes, I am. Am I sorry about that? Not even a little bit. People like him, who think they're all that and a MoonPie, well, they just need a reminder now and then that we all put our pants on one leg at a time.

He bristles at my question, but then his smarmy smile is back.

"You wound me, darlin' that you don't remember." He points at the booth where his wife and son are sitting. "I'm Luke's daddy. We met at his school. Joanna, right?"

"Joey, actually. Yes, Luke is a sweet boy."

"He's just nuts about you. Anyways, I wanted to come over and make sure you're serving us tonight because that will make the boy so happy. But also, I wanted to formally introduce myself." He pulls a business card out of his pocket and holds it out to me. "Brandon Jacks, if you need a car, I'm your man." Then he leans closer to the counter. "My personal cell number is on the back. In case you need anything else."

Gross .

I take his card and drop it in my apron pocket. "Thanks. I'll be over in just a minute with some water for your table."

I spin around and go into the kitchen, for no other reason than to get my ick reaction out. I shudder and pluck his card out of my apron and drop it in the trash. Just no.

Then I paste on my customer service smile and march myself out to his table.

"Welcome to Big Mo's," I say. "I'm Joey and I'll be your server today. Is there anything you'd like to drink besides water?"

"Miss Joey!" Luke squeals and then he jumps out of the booth and wraps his tiny arms around my middle for a squeeze. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here."

"But you work at my school," he says.

"Yes, but this is my main job."

"Cool!"

"Lukas, sit back down," his mother says.

Though how she noticed he was out of the booth is amazing because the woman hasn't looked away from her phone screen since she sat down.

I take their order and skirt around Brandon touching my leg.

That's the thing about small town diners like this, especially ones that sit on a trucking route. A lot of times men don't know that just because I'm standing close to them to take their order, it's not an invitation to put their hands on me. Charlene and Lorraine just kinda roll with it.

It's probably because I grew up in and out of different foster homes, but I don't like people touching me without permission.

I take care of two other tables, then it's time for me to bring the food to the Jacks family.

I set down Luke's grilled cheese basket with fries and he smiles up at me. He really is a sweet kid.

"‘Member when we had that big earthshake?" Luke asks.

"Earthquake," his mother corrects without looking up from her phone.

"The one that was a few months ago?" A lot of people barely noticed it. The event itself wasn't dramatic, a low rumbling like the passing of a train. Most people barely noticed when it happened.

The crazy part was that it seemed to happen everywhere, as if there was a cord banded around the earth and someone plucked it. It wasn't an earthquake, because it had no epicenter.

"Yeah, I do. That was scary, huh?" I ask.

Luke nods. "If you'd have been at school that day, I wouldn't have been as scared."

"Aww, thank you, Luke. That's sweet of you to say."

"I wish you worked there every day."

I sigh. "I do too, but this job pays me more money and I'm going to my own school too."

I leave them to their food and go back behind the counter.

"You should watch out for that one," Lorraine says.

"Who? The kid?"

"No, the dad. I know I told you to treat him like a VIP customer. But Mo won't tolerate customers abusing us. And he's got that look in his eyes. That horny bastard look. He hasn't taken his eyes off you."

I shrug. "Yeah, I got that vibe as well. Gave me his business card with his cell number on the back. Offered to help me with anything."

Lorraine makes a face.

I squeeze her shoulder. "Don't worry about me, I can handle myself."

"Yeah. I know you can, sweetie. You're a tough one for sure, but I'm here if you need me."

Brandon approaches me when I'm clearing a table near the back of the diner towards the bathrooms.

"Darlin' if you're needing extra money, we're always looking for a reliable babysitter." His eyes rove down my body, then back up.

"Uh, thanks." I give him a tight grin. "I'll keep it in mind."

"Do that," he says. Then he leans in next to my ear. "I'm sure I can come up with lots of ways to supplement your income."

GROSS !

Finally, he and his family leave.

"You know," Lorraine says. "You can always ask for help if you need it."

I give her a sideways hug. "I know. And I truly appreciate it."

But if this life has taught me anything, it's that no matter how amazing someone seems, at the end of the day, I can only count on myself.