Page 130 of Tasty Cherry

I turn to Jessie. “I’ll stay away. But Raya has broken protocol herself now. Watch her.”

Jessie nods. “I will.”

41

MILA

Well, this has been a day.

I started at the hotel, watching security footage with Wendell.

Got caught banging my boss in an empty apartment during my lunch break.

Was sent to a completely different location to chop pickles all afternoon.

And now, I’m stuck here in a part of Boulder I’ve never been to.

I sit in a seat next to the huge glass windows. The Tasty Mango is a cute deli, all pinks and oranges with a bright, modern design.

Everyone was great to work with. Many of the dishes have funny or scandalous names, like the “Love Relish,” a sweet and spicy condiment, and the “Ho for Dill Dough,” which is a hoagie on pickle bread.

Anthony Pickle slides into the booth across from me, his boyish looks and messy hair a perfect match for the swirly pink and orange apron he wears. “That was a day,” he says. “I was glad to have you.”

“I’m not sure I was much help.”

“You were a big one.” He unties the apron and folds it on the table. It’s quiet inside the deli in the break between lunch and dinner, like the lull at the hotel between check-out and check-in. “Magnolia left the moment she heard her sister was in labor, and then magically, you appeared.”

“Have you heard anything?”

“She’s still at it. Took over twenty hours with Rebel, so it will probably be an all-nighter.”

“Are you going up there?”

“Definitely. I’ll let Sharlene close. Tomorrow, we’ll have our usual manager. This was her day off, so we ended up short when Magnolia left.”

“Are you usually here?”

“No. I came the minute Magnolia called. I knew they’d need help.”

I glance around the restaurant. “I like it.”

He fiddles with the “Tasty Mango” patch on the apron. “Do you know how long you’re here for?”

“Nope. Raya stuck me on a shuttle bus. It was supposed to pick me up half an hour ago, but I might be forgotten.”

“I can give you a ride back to the hotel on my way to the hospital.”

“Sebastian is going to pick me up.”

“The general manager?”

I nod. It’s too much to explain, and I don’t want to.

“I always liked Sebastian. How’s he doing?”

“Good.”

Anthony stares out the window. “Interesting that they put you out here. Was it Sebastian’s idea?”

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