Page 9 of In Good Company

I laugh before shaking my head and softly pushing her off me. Luckily, our boss, Loretta, is nowhere to be seen. If she saw us acting anything but prim and proper, she’d be threatening our jobs.

“I haven’t accepted the job yet. I still have to think about it.”

Charlotte narrows her eyes as she scans over my face. Herfingers twist in the long strands of her ponytail as she processes my response. “What do you have to think about?”

I bite my lip, thinking of Cal’s offer from a week ago. “It’s just a big decision. If I take the job with them, I have to cut my hours here at Pembroke Grill. They want me Wednesday mornings to Sunday afternoons. Who knows if Loretta will even let me go that part-time or if she’ll make me quit.”

Charlotte waves her hand through the air dismissively. “Loretta has a terrible way of showing it, but she loves you. She’ll let you work whatever hours you want. You have to take the job, Lucy.”

My eyes scan the restaurant, making sure no one’s been seated in the time Charlotte and I have been lost in our own conversation. This afternoon has been rather slow because the weather outside is so beautiful, but it’ll get busy the moment people finish their rounds of golf. Until then, I’m left with a bit of downtime to talk with Charlotte.

“I think I’m just nervous,” I answer honestly, focusing on neatly folding a crisp green napkin in case Loretta walks in.

I keep it to myself that something inside me is still considering Cal’s offer. Part of me feels bad for even thinking about it. It doesn’t quite feel right to accept a job from my ex-boyfriend’s brother, but the other part of me feels silly for feeling that way. Cal is just asking me to cook for him, not marry him.

Yet, something has still stopped me from texting him for the last week. I’ve typed something out every single night but always end up deleting it. I can’t explain why I can’t just say yes to him, but I need to make up my mind soon. Part of me wonders if it’s less about Cal being Oliver’s brother and more about me feeling the need to tell Cal no. The shock on his face was evident when I denied his job offer. It’s obvious he’s not used to it. It’d be good for him to hear it every once in a while.

Plus, something about the conversation outside Laurent’shouse felt different. I’m not normally one to get sassy or really argue with anyone, but Cal pushed my buttons enough that I couldn’t help it with him.

Maybe working for him would be a bad idea regardless of who he’s related to. If he can get on my nerves like that in one night, I can’t imagine what would happen over an entire summer.

I sigh, wondering why I’m thinking so hard about it. The job with Cal might not even be on the table anymore since I’ve taken so long to get back to him.

And the Bouchers want me to make a decision by the end of the weekend, leaving me only two more days to decide what the hell I’m going to do for the rest of the summer.

“That might be the most neatly folded napkin ever,” Charlotte comments, breaking me from my thoughts.

I jump, looking up to meet her eyes. A nervous laugh escapes me. “I got a little deep in thought.”

Charlotte tosses her blonde ponytail over her shoulder. Her eyes soften as she pins her full attention on me. “I gathered. Tell me where your head’s at. What’s stopping you?”

I sigh, chewing anxiously on my lip for a moment. Charlotte has become my best friend. We started here at Pembroke at the same time and immediately clicked on the first day. I should be honest with her and tell her about Cal’s offer. Maybe she’ll be able to talk it over with me and help me make a decision.

I’m about to tell her when the familiar sound of Loretta’s heels stops me from continuing the conversation.

“Lucy!” Loretta’s tone is hushed but serious. It makes my spine straighten as I spin to face her.

“Yes?” I ask nervously. I smooth out the pleats of my skirt, hoping there aren’t any wrinkles in my uniform. Loretta takes the dress code very seriously.

“You’ve been requested at table eight.”

I look over my shoulder to see table eight, but it’s out of view from where we stand at the end of the bar. “Table eight? Isn’t that Charlotte’s section today?”

Loretta gives me a tight smile. “The patrons at table eight have requested you. You’ll take it today.” Her words come out strained, but her tone leaves no room for discussion.

I nod, running my fingers through my hair to smooth it out. I have no idea who’s requesting me, but I know if I don’t show up looking fully put together, Loretta will have my job. I’ve seen her fire people for less. And with my inability to commit to either one of my other job offers, I might need to keep hold of this gig. “Yes, Loretta.”

Charlotte gives me a reassuring smile. Luckily, it doesn’t seem like it hurt her feelings to have someone from her section request me.

“Well, get going,” Loretta scolds, giving me a curt nod and shooing me away.

I shuffle away from them, still trying to make sure my hair is tamed. I hurriedly make sure my polo is completely tucked into my skirt. If someone is going out of their way to request me as their server, I want to make sure I’m looking my best. I’m busy adjusting the waistband of my skirt when the table comes into view.

Cal’s eyes immediately meet mine, and my steps falter for a moment.

I should’ve known the moment I’d been requested that he was behind it, but for some reason, it hadn’t even crossed my mind.

“Lucy!” His voice carries across the empty restaurant. He holds his arms out, gesturing for me to come to the table.

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