Chapter 27

Itake a deep breath as I look up at the restaurant before me, trying to settle my nerves.

I need a job.

No, I need this job.

I need to start earning more money, so that I can get out from under Sean’s control.

It’s not like I’m working as a stripper. Not that there’s anything wrong with that line of work, but I’m way, way too shy to pull it off. It’s just restaurant work. I’m not even allowed to work behind the bar - I’m not old enough. So why am I so nervous?

I glance at the time on my phone just as a good luck message from Lizzy buzzes through and realize I’m dangerously close to being late for my first shift, which thankfully is only a lunch run to learn the ropes.

Plastering on a smile that is much more confident than I’m feeling, I swing open the door and step inside. The place is nice. There’s an extra large bar where customers can order drinks, of course, but also food.

There’s at least twenty tables as well, and the back area with the kitchen is very well cleaned. There’s even a nice little area for employees to store their stuff for their shift, as well as take their breaks.

The owner is really nice, and shows me around before introducing me to the girl that will be training me.

Within an hour, I’ve proven myself capable as a hostess, and when one of the servers cuts her hand on a broken glass and needs to leave, the manager, Shelly, begs me to step in and help out. All I have to do is take orders and deliver the food to the tables - she’ll do the drinks. I’m not sure it’s legal but I’m not about to start questioning my boss on my first day. Besides, it’s her that would get into trouble anyway if anything happened. Right?

Soon, I’m navigating my way through the tables, while carefully balancing a tray of food as I make my way to a group of customers.

“Here you go, folks,” I say with a bright smile, setting down their order. They nod appreciatively and return to their conversations. And so it repeats, with me taking and delivering orders and smiling so much my cheeks hurt.

As the lunch rush begins to wind down, I’m finally starting to hit my stride. I weave between tables with practiced ease, balancing trays of food effortlessly.

The tips are good here, and I can feel a glimmer of hope that maybe things will start looking up for me. The owner already asked me to stay on and work tonight’s shift too, so that’s a good sign, no matter how much my feet ache. He said the kitchen will feed me as well, which is a bonus.

Being a student - even on a scholarship - is hard.

“Eeeek, look at our girl! She’s doing great!” I hear an excited voice cheer as I walk back out with a tray of drink refills. I smile, immediately knowing it’s Steph and the others. I don’t dare look up at her while balancing this tray though.

As soon as I deliver the refills, I rush over to greet my friends. The brightest sense of happiness fills me as I reach them, and I can’t resist the hugs I give out.

“How’s your first shift going?” Trisha asks, and I grin.

“Really good, actually. They asked me to stay later already, and I really like the tips.” I giggle. Brandon holds our hug a little long, but I don’t really mind. He’s always been a hugger. Steph points at the menu.

“Is the food any good?” she asks, and I shrug.

“I’ve had the sprite…” I tease, making her snort. I take their orders, and get back to my job, but I check on them often, and give them their food and drinks like any other table. They end up lingering for a while, and I don’t mind one bit.

Just as I’m starting to relax into the rhythm of my job, he walks in.

Slater.

My stepbrother who I haven’t seen since the night of his birthday, who’s ignored all of my calls and texts since, is standing at the entrance with a look of disbelief on his face. I freeze in place, my heart pounding against my rib cage.

What is he doing here?

Despite Sean saying we’d both be going to the same college, I’ve not seen Slater around campus even once. It’s like he vanished the night of his birthday, and it’s been months.

My heart plummets when Slater strides over to me, his jaw clenched.

“Cora, what the hell are you doing here?” he demands in a harsh whisper, making sure none of the customers overhear.

I swallow hard, steeling myself against his accusatory tone. “I’m working, Slater,” I reply evenly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the torrent of emotions swirling inside me.

This is the first time we’ve seen each other since he practically threw me out of the house on his birthday, and this is how he’s choosing to interact with me?

Slater’s eyes narrow as he takes in the short, tight, black skirt of my uniform and the surroundings. He looks like he’s about to explode.

I hold my breath, waiting for Slater’s next move as he stares at me in disbelief.

The tension between us crackles like electricity, threatening to ignite at any moment. I can see the conflict in his eyes, torn between his protective instincts and…something else. Something I can’t put my finger on.

“What do you mean you’re working here? You can’t be serious, Cora,” Slater hisses through gritted teeth, his fists clenched at his sides. His voice is strained, filled with a mix of anger and concern that I know all too well.

I square my shoulders, refusing to back down despite the intensity of his gaze. “I need this job, Slater. I can’t rely on Sean forever,” I reply, my voice unwavering as I meet his stare head-on.

He winces at the mention of his father. “I see,” he says tightly.

“You don’t. You don’t know anything about me or my situation, Slater. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work, it’s only my first day.”

His expression softens for a moment, a flicker of understanding crossing his features, before it’s replaced by a mask of frustration. “You know I want to help you, Cora. But this place...it’s not safe,” he says, his voice pleading now as he tries to make me see reason.

I shake my head, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “And what would you have me do, Slater? Run back to you or your father every time things get tough?” I shoot back, the words laced with years of unspoken hurt and resentment.

This is the guy who discarded me and disappeared for years, only to waltz back into my life uninvited to pick up the pieces…and repeat the same pattern all over again.

I guess I should be glad it’s only been a few months since he vanished this time, though given how surprised he is to see me, I’m guessing he wasn’t planning on coming back into my life any time soon.

Slater’s jaw tightens as he struggles for a response, caught off guard by my defiance. We stand locked in a battle of wills, the familiar push and pull of our complicated relationship playing out in the harsh glare of reality.

Before either of us can say another word, Slater’s blue eyes soften as he takes a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that only I can hear over the din of the restaurant. “Cora, you know that’s not what I want for you. I just...I worry about you, okay? I care about you.” His admission hangs between us, heavy with unspoken truths and buried emotions.

Suddenly he cares? After disappearing and ghosting me all summer? Now he wants to start looking out for me again?

I’m not sure I can handle losing him a third time. First he disappeared, and then the masked man never returned, and suddenly, my mom is seeing a lot more of Sean again and… My whole life was flipped that night, and I feel like in the months since, I’ve been treading water, trying to survive, but barely living.

Seeing Slater today - even mad at me - is the first good thing to happen to me in ages.

I meet his gaze, seeing the sincerity in his eyes that I’ve missed so much during our time apart. Despite everything that’s happened between us, there’s still a bond there, frayed and fragile but somehow unbreakable.

“I know you do, Slater,” I reply softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I need to do this on my own. I need to prove to myself that I can stand on my own two feet.”

Slater hesitates for a moment, his expression torn between understanding and frustration. Finally, he lets out a resigned sigh and nods. “Fine. But promise me you’ll be careful, Cora. Promise me you’ll call me if you ever need anything.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to retort asking if he’ll even take my call if I’m in trouble because he hasn’t picked up the phone for me in the last five months. But I don’t. Because I don’t want to get fired on my first day for bringing drama to work, and because I really have missed him.

I give him a small nod, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders at his acceptance. “I promise,” I say, my voice filled with gratitude and relief.

Slater reaches out tentatively, as if unsure whether he’s crossing a line, before pulling me into a tight hug. For a moment, we stand there in the bustling restaurant, surrounded by noise and chaos but cocooned in our own little bubble of reconciliation.

It feels good. I’ve missed him…missed being touched. The disappearance of the masked man after that night left a hole in me that I’ve been unable and unwilling to fill. It’s about time I moved on, but I don’t know how.

As he pulls back, Slater gives me a small smile, the tension between us dissipating like smoke in the wind. “Take care of yourself, Cora,” he says softly before turning away and walking through the door marked for staff only.

I race after him, hissing, “What do you think you’re doing?”

He flicks a lazy grin at me over his shoulder. “I’m the bar manager. So if you’re serious about working here, we’re going to have to get used to seeing a lot more of each other.”

A shiver runs down my spine as I watch him disappear through the door, leaving me standing there, heart pounding and mind reeling.

Working together?

How am I supposed to navigate this new dynamic with Slater, especially after everything that’s happened between us?

Despite the lingering doubts and fears swirling inside me, a small spark of hope ignites deep within my chest at the thought of being near him again, of having the chance to mend what’s broken between us.

“Everything okay?” Brandon asks, startling me. I look around. Did he just watch that entire interaction?

“Uh, yeah…”

“Was that guy bothering you? He seemed a little too?—”

“Oh, no! That’s my stepbrother!” And apparently, my boss… “I just didn’t realize he’d be here…tonight,” I add, since it occurs to me that it’s probably weird that I didn’t know my stepbrother would be here on the first day of my new job.

“Oh.” Brandon frowns, and I smile, patting his shoulder.

“Thanks for checking on me though. Let me get you guys the check!”