Page 43 of Not in My Book

Ida nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. It’d add some yearning and tension to your chapters. Did you have a chapter you wanted me to look at?”

“I wrote our latest date out with Max and Hunter. I also was able to cut down my fellowship submission, but now I’m worried I’ve cut too much.”

She waved me off. “That’s fixable. Let’s start with the chapter, and we’ll finish off with the other.”

I shared my docs with her, and we went over them for the next hour. I loved having Ida all to myself like this, being able to pick her brain on anything. She was just as eager to talk about romance as I was. I’d spent so much time secretly loving romance and reading as many books as I could with no one to talk to, but now I had someone who loved it just as much as I did. Who understood it evenmorethan I did and was helping me develop my work. In moments like this, it felt like everything was coming up Rosie.

Saturday, I had the apartment all to myself since Alexa worked the weekend shift at the Hideout. Her shift didn’t end until around ten, but with closing duties I didn’t expect her home any sooner than midnight.

I hadveryexciting plans for my Saturday night in New York City. I had my favorite soft, white blanket and a new romance novel. I was settled on my bed with Taylor Swift playing quietly on my phone.

My phone started to buzz, but I ignored it, turning the page. I tried to focus on the words in front of me, but it buzzed again. And again.

I reached for it on the nightstand; Alexa’s face was flashing on the screen.

I frowned. “Everything okay?” The sound of chatter and music overwhelmed even me from the other side. “Alexa?”

“Is there any way you can come down tonight?” Alexa’s voice was wobbling. “Marianne called in sick, but she has the rush shift, so it’s only four hours but we’re short staff—”

“Marianne doesn’t work at the bar though, why do you need me?”

“Can you come … wait tables?” she pleaded. “Luke asked me to beg you. We’re overbooked, and everyone and their mother decided to visit New York for the holidays.”

I stared longingly at my book, hesitant to leave it.

“You’re guaranteed to make at least double your usual tips tonight. People tip better this time of year.”

“Fine,” I ground out. I was close to reaching my goal in savings so I could buy my ticket home, but not quite there yet. And I needed the money sooner than later because the price of the tickets went up every minute. “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

“I fucking love you,” she said. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“Yeah, yeah, see you in a few.” I tossed the phone on my bed and pulled open my closet. I quickly changed into my uniform before heading out into the cold.

There was a line out the door of people just waiting tospeakto our hostess. Plenty of people were also littered across the sidewalk, buzzers in their hands. There were Christmas trees on either side of the entrance and garland hanging low overhead.

I had to push through the crowd to get to our hostess stand. When the hostess, Janie, spotted me, she sighed out of relief. “Thank God you’re here, I don’t know what to do.” Wrinkles were lining her forehead, her voice crumbling.

I gave her a sympathetic smile. “Just keep seating people but let them know how long the wait is. Take it one guest at a time, okay?” I said gently. She nodded her head, her bottom lip wobbling. “Have you seen Alexa?”

“Last I saw she was entering tickets by the kitchen.”

I hadn’t been to the restaurant on weekends yet. It was a madhouse. Every table was full and every seat at the bar was occupied. On weekdays, there was usually a dull hum of conversation in the restaurant, but it sounded like music now. The clinking glances harmonized with the laughter from across the room and it wassuffocating.

After I ducked in the back to clock in, I found Alexa placing plates on her tray. Her black hair was in disarray and her tie was crooked. Her eyes widened when she saw me.

“I love you,” she said immediately.

“What table is this for?” I asked. “I can bring it, go take a minute.”

“Wow, I really love you. Table six.”

She handed off the tray and rushed toward the dry storage room. When I was first hired here, I was adamant about only being abartender, even though Luke had tried to convince me to wait tables. Back home, I worked at our local diner, where I’d quickly learned how to find peace amongst the chaos. I knew how to handle the angriest customers and fall into a rhythm with the chefs.

One time here at the Hideout,one time,I filled in for a waitress and after that Luke begged me to switch to waitressing. He said, almost in awe, “Rosie, I think you were born to work in the restaurant industry.” Ididlove it while I was in the flow of it all, but no amount of tips could convince me to deal with jerk customers every weekend.

I’d only been at the restaurant for five minutes, and I already reeked of garlic and cheese. I stared longingly at my bar, wishing to be behind it. But I continued to wait on Alexa’s tables until she came back and explained the situation to me.

“Marianne is scheduled for that corner of the restaurant. I’ve got most of their orders so far, but they don’t have food yet.”

---