Page 13 of Deceitful Oath
When I see him strolling back with a traffic ticket in his hands, I almost burst into tears. I refuse to be the girl who cries her way out of a ticket so I pull myself together.
“You ran a red back there, did you know that?”
“What? I’m so sorry,” I sputter, shaking my head. “That light’s been out for weeks. I just got used to going through…”
“Well,” he grins, passing me the ticket. “It’s fixed now. Eyes on the road next time, hmm?”
I grab the ticket, seeing the hundred-dollar fine, and my eyes well up with tears. I nod and he saunters away from me.Deep breaths, Lux. Deep breaths.
Maybe if I eat a big lunch at Rocky’s every day, I can skip groceries this week and pay the ticket. I nod to myself, approving my own decision. That’s exactly what I’ll do.
I drive the rest of the way to the shop in a state of hypervigilance, sticking to the speed limit exactly. I wait too long at every stop sign and double-check the traffic light color before proceeding. By the time I arrive, I’m ten minutes late.
Groaning in frustration, I pull around to the back alley and park. Rocky’s outside, leaning against the building, a cigarette hanging from his lips.
“I’m so sorry!” I yell, tumbling out of my car. I duck back inside to grab my purse and slam the door shut. “I got pulled over…totally my fault, but I wasn’t…”
“It’s fine, Luxy,” Rocky assures me. He takes a deep breath and opens his mouth again but shuts it.
I give him a questioning look, but he just shakes his head.
“Is it busy in there? Is Lana pissed at me?” I ask, talking a million miles a minute as I stride into the kitchen. Rocky follows me silently. “I’m only ten minutes late, I’ll make it up to her. Hey, if it’s not busy, can I make a sandwich really quick? I’m starving.”
I toss my purse onto an empty stool and tie my apron around my waist.
“Lux, sit down. I’ll make you a sandwich.”
“But should I check with Lana if…”
“Sit.”
Weird. Okay, well I’m never going to turn down food. I plop down on a stool and watch Rocky as he chops tomatoes.
Something’s off.He seems nervous like he’s battling a war in his mind.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
He slams the knife down on the cutting board, frustrated. “Why didn’t you tell me someone died in my shop the other day?”
“Oh shit…”
“That’s right, oh shit,” he says, blowing out an irritated breath. “Luxy, these are the kinds of things you’re supposed to tell me.”
“I’m so sorry.” I hop up, rushing around the counter toward him. “I swear I was going to tell you and then the place got insanely busy and it just flew out of my head and…”
“Stop,” he holds up his hand, his voice softening. “I know you have a lot going on, but this was a pretty big fuck-up.”
“You’re right, it won’t happen again. I promise.”
“No, it won’t.” He takes a deep breath, turning back to the cutting board. “You’re fired.”
It takes me a moment to process those words. I stare at his hands, chopping vegetables, trying to work my mind around what he just said.Fired.
“Rocky…”
“No,” he cuts me off, his voice breaking. “You know I like you Lux, but the death thing and you being late a lot recently, I just…I need someone more…reliable.”
I bite back a sob, swallowing it down hard.