Page 19 of Inception

“I hear you, babe. So how’s it been working with Trace anyway?” she asked. “Is it majorly awkward?”

“Not really,” I shrugged. “I’ve hardly seen him tonight.” That part was the truth. He had made himself incredibly scarce all evening, and I had the nagging suspicion I was the reason.

She laughed. “No kidding. That’s what you get when daddy owns—” She stopped abruptly, softening her tone. “Hey, you!”

I turned around to see Trace walking up behind us.

“What’s up, Taylor,” he greeted her casually. “Where’s Ben?”

“Manning his porcelain throne.”

“Thanks for the visual,” he said looking around, distracted. “What are you up to?” he asked her almost mechanically.

“Just talking shop with my girl,” she smiled big at me and then back at him. “You came up a few times.”

“Yeah?”

My eyes bulged. What the heck was she doing? The last thing I wanted was him thinking I cared enough to discuss him.

“Only good things,” she added.

I turned away in an effort to hide my enflamed cheeks.

He shifted uncomfortably. “You should get back to work.”

“You got it.” I circled on the heel of my foot and was just about to high-tale it out of there when Taylor called out.

“Wait! I haven’t ordered yet.”

Oops. I turned back around embarrassed, pulling my pen and pad out from my black apron as I returned to the table.

“What can I get you?”

She grinned from ear to ear. She was seriously enjoying this way too much. “Let’s go with Buffalo wings, and a pitcher of Root beer.”

“Spicy or regular?”

“Spicy, of course.” She gave me an open-mouth wink.

“Be right back with that.”

“You’re doing great,” she cheered as I headed into the kitchen to place her order. “Keep up the great work!”

No doubt all of B.C. heard her on that last one.

By Eleven o’clock, the place was packed wall-to-wall. It looked like every soul in town had managed to find their way over to All Saints, and shockingly, no one seemed to mind the crammed personal quarters or the lack of quality oxygen. The live band was just starting in on their first set when the main lights dimmed down, and the dance floor filled up to capacity. Everyone appeared to have caught that Saturday night fever, and even I couldn’t help but smile from the sidelines as I looked on with my serving tray tucked under my arm.

To my dismay, Nikki eventually showed up and spent the better part of the night determined to get back into Trace’s good grace. I watched as she followed him around the place like a lost dog, drooling all over him as she batted her apologetic lashes that looked even faker than the synthetic hair extensions she had on her head.

Someone needed to get her a muzzle.

As sickening as it was to watch, at least she was focused on him tonight, and not me.

Aside from that minor gripe, the job was going relatively well, and certainly a whole lot better than I had anticipated it would go when I first arrived here. I even got into a decent rhythm of service and actually found myself enjoying the distraction, and even though I messed up an order that night, according to April, it was far better than the four she messed up on her first night.

I was on my way back to the kitchen to pick up that very order when a hefty man in his late twenties grabbed my arm and stopped me as I tried to pass by his table.

“Look it, Jasper, fresh meat.” He was speaking to his lanky friend, but he kept his beady eyes on me.

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