Page 65 of Tempted

“Iced tea, unsweetened. And lots of ice. And I hope that flat soda won’t be on the bill.”

Jasmine took the glass from her hand. “Of course not.” Bitch.

Once she put the order in, she got her customer the iced-tea. But when she returned, the other two wanted drinks. After that refill the woman wanted another one and it went back and forth. She finally figured they were doing it on purpose for whatever reason. Her solution to this was to bring out two pitchers, but when she returned with their food, one of the pitchers had been knocked to the floor.

“Oops,” one of the guys smirked.

Taking a deep breath she served their meal and returned to clean up the mess they’d made. Of course they had a problem with the food and wanted her to take it back.

“Are those kids giving you a problem?” Earl asked when she returned the food.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Jasmine sighed.

“How about you take a break and I’ll have someone else deal with them.”

Jasmine shook her head. “I wouldn’t wish any of them on my worst enemy. I can handle it.”

“Are you feeling okay today? You don’t look too hot.”

“I’m fine.”

Earl frowned. “Jasmine, it’s okay to take some time off you know. You’ll always have a job here.”

She shook her head adamantly. “No. I took the morning off and that’s all the time I need.” Besides, she needed to make up for the tips she’d missed out on with the breakfast crowd. If she told Earl how she really felt he’d send her home for sure.

Her nightmare table continued on their quest to make her life miserable and Jasmine pretty much figured they were trying to get a free meal. She’d waited tables while she was in college and knew the game, but she wouldn’t let them win. She breathed a sigh of relief when she gave them the bill. But it didn’t come without drama.

“I’m not paying this!” one of the men yelled. “You’re out of your mind. The meal was horrible and the service was even worse.”

Jasmine rubbed her temple, fighting off another wave of nausea and dizziness. “Yet you ate everything on your plate,” she pointed out. “When I brought your meal out the second time I asked if everything was okay and you said yes.”

“Now you’re arguing with us? We’re the customers. How dare you!”

“Is there a problem.” From out of nowhere, Earl appeared, his arms crossed over his chest. He wore that, don’t-mess-with-me-look on his face.

The three occupants at the table stammered for a moment at the sight of the big black ex-marine. The female however raised her chin definitely. “Yes, the food and the service sucked and we’re not going to pay this bill.”

“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong young woman. You can either pay this bill, or one, I’ll call the cops or two, I’ll break my foot off in your narrow asses. Which one will it be?”

Her face turned bright red. “Y-you c-cant’ ta-talk to us like that!”

Earl raised a brow. “Wanna try me?”

“Let’s just pay and get out of here. We’re never coming to this dump again,” one of the men muttered throwing a few bills on the table.

“You wouldn’t be welcome here anyway,” Earl growled. “And if I see you in here again, I’ll make good on my promise.”

All three of them couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

“Thank you, Earl. I knew something was funny about them when they came in.”

“Yeah, we get those every now and then. You handled yourself well. I forgot to ask but how did it go this morning?”

Jasmine had taken off this morning to see Star. When she’d gotten to the group home Star was clingier than usual. She’d regressed. During Jasmine’s time with the Meades it seemed as if her daughter was getting better. She was happier and had gained weight. But this morning all she wanted to do was hold on to Jasmine as if she wouldn’t be back.

Jasmine’s heart broke with every second she was able to spend with her child, hoping the time would soon come when she could have her back forever.

Drama ensued when Jasmine had to leave after a few hours to get to work. Star had a major freak out refusing to let her go when she tried to leave. It had taken two workers to get her off. Even she promised her daughter she’d returned, Star would not be consoled. Jasmine felt like she was dying on the inside.

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