Page 61 of Small Town Beast

Tanya unbolted the bathroom door and raced to the dining room. It was true.

“I’m sorry!” Gwen said miserably. “I looked up and they were all gone, Tan! Slid out faster than greased newts!”

Tanya sagged against the wall. “Oh shit.”

“I’m so sorry, Tanya.”

“It’s not your fault. That table was my responsibility.”

In three years of waitressing that had only happened to Tanya twice, but these men had eaten enough to feed a stable and the policy was that the tab would come off her paycheck. Shehad left her post to confront Kyle. It was her fault and she would have to pay for it.

Kyle lookedlike Christmas had come early. “Call the police?” he warbled, holding an ice pack to the bruise Tanya had put on his jaw. “No, sweet pea, I ain’t calling the police. You’ll just have to take it off your check. That’s our policy, which you know perfectly well.”

“If you weren’t bothering me — ”

“You stepped outside in the middle of your shift,” Kyle interrupted. “I could fire you over that.”

But they both knew it was an empty threat as long as Gwen had him on video choking her out. Maybe she could blackmail him since he’d called her a racial slur… as if.

The man might be a turd, but he had connections to Florin’s big families, and if he decided to use all three of his brain cells he might realize that he could destroy her life with a word in the right ear. She’d never work in Florin again. No; she just had to hold the L…

Shit.

Tanya went to the bathroom and washed her face, stressing the hell out. Five hundred dollars. Exactly what Saverin had left her to pay Faisal. Now her remaining money had to go to rent. And Faisal wouldn’t get paid.

Of course there was another option…

“No,” she hissed at her reflection.Absolutelynot. She wasnotgoing to take the PI up on his dirty suggestion and give up a little ass to cover the rest.

What if you asked Saverin? You’d have to tell him what happened. You’d be even more in debt to him.

“I’ll cover half, Tanya,” Gwen offered, catching her as she left the bathroom. “It’s my fault you went out to talk to Kyle in the first place.”

Tanya flatly refused.

“But you only went out there to defend me,” Gwen argued. “Rory will help, too, right Rory?”

“Yes,” backed up Rory. “Anything for you, Tanya. I remember you saved my life the other day.”

Tanya wouldn’t hear it. She couldn’t take money from teenagers. She knew what it was like to struggle with no family at that age. Hell, she was barely older than Gwen and Rory but still as the senior among them had to set the standard. It was her fuckup and she had to own it.

“Don’t worry y’all. I’m good,” she smiled. “I got it handled.”

“Here,” said Gwen suddenly, digging in her purse. “Here’s a ticket. These goofballs gave me two copies of the same number, if you can believe it.”

“No, Gwen. Come on.” Tanya wouldn’t take the lottery ticket until Gwen pinned her down and stuffed it in her bra. They all started laughing and went back to work. Tanya tried to put aside the sinking feeling that life was out to get her.

The tablefull of old ladies spent seventy nine dollars. They tipped her two dollars and one of them left a big wet patch on the seat.

Tanya clocked out at three-thirty. It was a hot summer afternoon, and the walk to the bus stop felt longer than ever. She wanted to get to Bee’s side of town to check on her friend. Bee wasn’t answering her phone which had Tanya worried.

The humidity felt like a wet heavy blanket. Tanya took a seat on the uncovered bus stop bench, resting her canvas bag on the tops of her feet. People said if your bag touched the ground you’dstay broke. She couldn’t take any chances because this no-money life was trash.

I got to come up on some money soon. No more of that prostitute shit. I wonder how Miss Laura Jane found out about me. Just my luck. Lord, it’s hot!

She pictured driving a nice big truck with air conditioning.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,her Memaw used to say.

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