Page 14 of Life of the Party

“Right.” I nodded, accepting Sophie’s praise. The restaurant was obviously her life and she clearly knew what she was talking about. I wondered how old she was. And when she became a waitress. And if she did it just to show her parents a thing or two.

“Just you and me, hey?” Charlie leaned against the counter, grinning when Sophie finally left. “Take a moment. Have a drink. Sophie’s always rush, rush, rush.”

“It was busy.” I felt the need to defend the poor woman.

“Yes, it was. But it’s not now. Take a load off.”

I shrugged and joined her at the counter with a drink, placing myself in direct view of the kitchen. I peered through the take-out window, searching for Grey as casually as I could. He was nowhere to be seen, but I did spot Riley hard at work, ladling pizza sauce onto dough.

“Is Grey working tonight?” I asked Charlie nonchalantly, sipping my Pepsi.

“No. Off tonight.” Her smile became an eye roll, and then she shook her head. “Don’t even tell me. You started here for him, didn’t you?”

“What?” I pretended to be appalled; amazed she’d seen through me so quickly. “Of course not.”

“You wouldn’t be the first, honey. But I wouldn’t waste my time if I were you. I’ve seen pretty much every attempt under the sun, and Grey never goes for it.” She shrugged. “It’s the same with all the girls.”

“Hm.” I feigned disinterest. “Well, luckily, that’s not what I’m here for.”

“Right.” Charlie smiled. “My mistake.”

There was still vacuuming to do, the coffee machine to clean, ketchups to wipe…the list went on and on. I had no idea there was so much to a waitressing gig. By the time I plunked myself down at a table to roll the cutlery, my feet ached, my legs stumbled, and my eyes burned with exhaustion.

Most of the kitchen crew were already out front, relaxing at the tables and drinking coffee. A thick haze of smoke hung in the air above them.

“Hey, Mac.” Riley left his table to join me, his checked kitchen duds replaced by street clothes. He sat down with a sigh. “How was your first day?”

“Tired.” Was all I could say.

“It’ll get easier. My first day, I was so overwhelmed.”

“Is it always so busy?”

“Most nights. But your tips will be worth it, trust me.”

“Tips!” I’d totally forgotten about my styrofoam cup filled with change. I handed it over for Riley to count so I could keep rolling cutlery. “Can I trust you?”

He shrugged and smiled back. “I guess we’ll see.”

We sat in silence for a moment, both bent over the task at hand.

“Not a bad haul.” Riley decided then, jumping up to exchange my small change for bills from the main till. He handed me a few twenties and a ten. I smiled in delight.

“Wow, worth it!” I declared happily. “Let’s celebrate! This is more than enough for a bag. What do you say?”

Riley surprised me by hesitating. He looked at the money clenched in my hand and frowned. “I don’t know, Mac.” He sighed. “It’s a school night.”

“It’s a…school night?” I blinked at him, stupefied. “Since when does that matter?”

“I just don’t feel like being high all the time, all right?” Though he kept his voice low, there was no mistaking the sudden edge to it. He looked at me in frustration. “There’s more to life, you know.”

I was speechless. Never, since the day Riley smoked his first joint, had he ever turned down weed. Free weed, especially. I couldn’t believe what he was saying, the total one-eighty he was pulling on me. Like he’d completely changed since the weekend.

We hadn’t talked much since his mushroom trip. He’d been abnormally quiet when he picked me up for school that morning, pensive throughout the day, but I’d been too distracted thinking about Grey, and work, and Grey, to really pay attention.

Riley had my full attention now.

“What’s up with you?” I leaned forward and lit a cigarette.

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