Page 45 of Unhinged

Looking up and bored, he replies, “Monty’s off. Candi will be in later. Greg will probably show up.”

“Greg?” I ask, playing dumb. “What’s he like?”

Milt smirks, and it’s not the level of creepy I anticipated. “He’s the owner’s nephew and our star attraction with the ladies.”

“What do you mean?”

“Always falling over themselves to order their drinks from him.”

“Why?”

Milt cackles as he turns a page. “Not a bad-looking kid. He makes those girlies go squirrelies.”

I laugh. “Does he date many?”

“Why?”

I shrug. “Curious.”

“I think he has a girlfriend.”

“Oh.” For some insane reason, that twists me into a knot. How does he have a girlfriend? Did he tell her about what happened to him? Does he fuck her? He couldn’t even fuck me.

Still shaken, I ask, “Do you like him?”

“He’s okay. Quiet but still mouthy. Too serious. Kind of sad.” Quiet and serious? Those don’t sound like Greg.

“Really? Why is he sad?” He definitely wasn’t sad yesterday seeing me. Still, I thought he’d be happy away from Richmond.

“How would I know?”

“Just wondering.”

Milt cocks a scruffy eyebrow at me. There’s no way he’s not homeless. “Okay.”

“Thanks for the chat.”

He nods and returns to his Taste of Home magazine. Odd.

After Amos’s phone call, he shows me around more, explaining what I need to do. Basically, I’m keeping everyone’s glasses filled and running their tabs. Sounds easy enough.

When Candi arrives, she assists me. Her dyed blonde hair is a frizzy disaster, her faded denim skirt is way too short for my taste, and she layered her face with bold, outdated makeup. Otherwise, she’s extremely helpful, doesn’t call me stupid, and her T-shirt fits her perfectly, unlike mine going off the boob rails. Candi is pretty but in an eighties sitcom big sister-ish role, if that exists. It’s not bad, just different. I also find Candi is a touchy-feely person when speaking. As long as someone’s helping me, I won’t knock them, no matter what they look like or who they are. Kindness goes a long way.

“Yep. A good song comes on, and I set down my tray, and I’m dancing on a table, especially when someone plays my favorite songs on the juke. Customers throw money at you. It’s fun, and you earn some extra cash.”

“They let you do that here?”

She shrugs. “Amy or Monty haven’t stopped me yet. Amos hasn’t seen me do it. It’s not like I do it all the time, but it may be fun with you. Misty never did it. What music do you like?”

“My ultimate favorite is Shinedown.” Finn and I have at least one thing in common besides our mother. He made me a massive fan of them. I guess my brother is good for something. “I love Rascal Flatts and eighties music too.”

“I don’t care for Rascal Flatts. Shinedown? Christian music?”

I laugh. “Uh, no. Rock.”

“Never heard of that band, but I’ll try anything twice.”

I learn a few tips, tricks, and what to avoid. “When you deliver drinks to tables, keep a distance. Don’t bend too close and get your tits in their faces. Some are grabby.”

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