Page 57 of Singled Out

Grateful for the save, I picked up meals for Hank and Shirley Moody. “Nancy sends her compliments to the cook,” I said, grinning at my boss.

He grunted, but I thought I saw a shy smile as he averted his face, putting all his attention on the food sizzling on the grill as I hurried off.

When I came back to deliver my dad’s breakfast, he watched me instead of digging into his food.

“You look tired today, honey.”

With a lighthearted laugh, I said, “I’m tired every day. I must need new makeup.”

“Were you out late last night? On a Sunday?”

Fighting to blank my expression, I wiped at a coffee stain on the counter. “With a seven o’clock shift this morning?” I flashed him a look like he should know better, and I didn’t feel bad at all for the misdirection.

While I didn’t care for my sake if my dad knew I’d been at Max’s, I’d protect that information fiercely for Max’s sake because it mattered to him. I didn’t think my dad would fire him, but I also didn’t want him to warn Max away from me again, and I absolutely didn’t want Max to regret being with me.

My dad eyed me as if trying to discern whether my implication was the truth. Time to deflect.

“I have exciting news. Dakota and I are going to be roommates. We’re signing a lease on Mrs. Karasinski’s apartment.”

“Above her shop?”

“That’s the place. We can move in as soon as they clean it out.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Will you be able to handle the rent?”

I bit down on my irritation that he thought he had to ask that question. I might not be a lawyer or a stock analyst, but I knew better than to commit to a lease if I didn’t make enough money to cover rent. “As long as my wonderful customers keep tipping generously.”

That was one thing I had to give my dad full credit for. He tipped me well but not ridiculously over-the-top, this-is-my-daughter well. That would feel like charity.

“We’ll see how the service is today,” he teased.

“That’s fair.” I went to the kitchen window where food was up for a table of early-bird tourists.

After making a round of all my tables, I refilled my dad’s coffee.

“Thank you, honey. Monty’s lucky to have you for all these years.”

That seemed like a dig at me for staying at what I knew he considered a dead-end job for so long. But Dakota had told me many times that I was oversensitive about this issue where he was concerned, so I let it roll off.

As I cleared Chet Hogan’s place three stools down, I wondered what my dad would think if I told him I was considering opening a business with Dakota and Cambria. Probably that we were reckless.

Frankly I wasn’t sure he’d be wrong.

That balled up nervousness lodged in my gut again. It was anxiety, but there was also a kernel of excitement when I imagined being a store owner with my friends and not pouring another cup of coffee.

Though I’d shut down the topic last night with Max, I’d been mulling over his words ever since. He had a valid point—I didn’t have enough info to decide about opening a business. There’d be no risk in meeting with Cambria and Dakota to learn more. If Dakota was even contemplating the possibility.

I made a point of not mentioning any of it to my dad. He’d never let it go if he knew I was remotely considering such an endeavor. And if it didn’t go anywhere, he’d be even more disappointed that his daughter was “stuck” being a server due to lack of ambition.

I carried the water pitcher around to my tables and refilled Nancy’s glass without interrupting their conversation. Something stirred in me, something like hunger. Not for food but for having a direction in my life, an endeavor that made my blood buzz.

The seed had been planted at Max’s two nights ago when I’d seen my life for what it was—empty and without deep meaning. Running into Cambria yesterday, mentioning my jewelry to her, and having her jump on it so easily… That seed had been nourished, encouraged, as if someone had sprinkled fertilizer on it and watered it.

This wasn’t a position I’d found myself in before, and it wasn’t comfortable. But there was just enough jittery excitement bubbling around in me that I couldn’t ignore it.

I decided to contact both Dakota and Cambria after my shift.

Chapter Seventeen