Page 48 of Life of the Party

“What?” He looked back at me in agony.

“Just…don’t go without saying goodbye. Please?” I implored.

Riley paused in thought, his jaw clenching in consideration. He looked at me and nodded, one small, slight nod, then continued down the hallway.

CHAPTER 20

Work was slow. Charlie and I joked about living in opposite land since Monday night was so busy. A few tables were scattered about the restaurant, but the pace was easy and welcome.

Grey was there, sullen as usual behind the order window. As if to make up for his personable slip the other night, he ignored me more than ever, if that were possible. I squared my shoulders and set my chin stubbornly like I couldn’t care less. Like I wasn’t aware of his every move and breath and word.

Like I couldn’t feel him there, his presence, whenever he was close.

Brad came by earlier than I told him to. I looked up in surprise from plating salads to see him suddenly at the entrance of the station, leaning on the wall.

“Brad? What are you doing here?” I wondered, relieved by the distraction.

“I wanted to see you.” He smiled, his amber eyes twinkling. He looked good in his tight jeans and button-down shirt, a cowboy hat groove in his freshly gelled hair.

I blushed beneath the fondness of his gaze. “…Are you hungry?”

“I could eat.” Brad smiled. “It probably wouldn’t hurt to have something in there to soak up all the beer.”

“Probably not.” I agreed. “Red Wheat burger? Two patties?”

“How well you know me.”

“Go sit anywhere, and I’ll bring you a Pepsi.” I offered. “Oh, and Brad?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll try to do better, you know, service-wise.”

He grinned at me again, laughing. “See that you do.”

With a smile, I wrote down Brad’s order and stabbed it on the puck, then began to pour his drink, discreetly aware as Grey sauntered up to the order window from somewhere in the back of the kitchen. He grabbed the sheet and stared at my scribbles for a second, then threw some burger patties on the grill and dropped a basketful of frozen fries into the vat of hot oil.

I did my best to ignore him, thinking about Brad and the party instead, how…good it felt to be wanted again.

Charlie came into the waitress area and replaced the coffee pot in the machine, nearly stopping in her tracks when she saw the smile on my face. “What’s happened to you?” She teased. “You’ve lost your perma-frown.”

“Oh, I’m going to a party tonight. I’m just excited.” I glanced up at Brad’s table.

She smirked, following my gaze. “Oh yeah? Who’s the guy?”

“Just some guy from school.”

“Really? He’s pretty cute. Are you going to the party with him?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “But it’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

“Maybe…for now…,” she stared up at Brad in the corner of the restaurant, her eyebrows raised in approval. “Do you like him?”

“I barely know him. But he’s…he’s not what I imagined, I guess. He’s funny.”

“Funny’s good.” Charlie nodded. “You could go with him now, Mac, if you want. It’s like a graveyard tonight. I can totally handle it.”

I hesitated. “Really? Are you sure?”

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