Page 30 of Room for Three

His eyes search mine and I can almost see the question there.Did you tell anyone about my middle-of-the-night naked lurking?

Since I’ve never been good at lying, I give him a quick smile before turning to lead them to a table. Rhett is being oddly quiet which is unnerving. He wasn’t at school today and he never tried to text me despite saying Addison gave him my number.

This is so weird.

“…our sister, but now she’s our server.”

I whip my head over my shoulder to see Cason filming me with his phone. I’m agitated knowing he’s probably live right now, showing all his followers another pointless detail of his life. I’d once angrily lectured him about needing my consent if he wanted to film me. Since he filmed that conversation, the video went semi-viral. Most people agreed with me, but they greedily continued to consume his content anyway.

Ignoring Cason altogether, I show my previous foster family to a round table in the back of the restaurant. The windows along the wall behind them overlook a park and a pond with ducks. Aside from the rooftop, which is only open certain days, it’s the best seat in the house. Despite this family being odd, invasive, and sometimes mean, they took me in when I had nowhere else to go. So, paying them back with a good seat in the restaurant feels right.

Owen is a gentleman, pulling out the chairs for his wife and daughter. There was a time when he pulled out my chair, too. Outside of the nighttime creepiness, Owen is far more likable than Leah.

“Will they let you join us?” Owen asks once seated. “Or is that a big no-no.”

“I can come visit, but I have other tables to help since the usual server who works tonight is out sick.”

I get their drink order and then hoof it to the back, out of their eyesight, so I can catch my breath. Pride trickles through me. It’s nice that I can prove I have worth to them and am no longer someone’s dependent. Who knows, maybe in another month or two, I can go shopping with Addison and Leah, this time offering to buy something for Leah instead.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I quickly pull it out to see who’s messaging me.

Cole: I’m picking you up again tonight. I’m sorry if you feel like I’ve been avoiding you today. I wasn’t sure how to handle what happened. We can talk about it later, sweetheart.

I don’t respond, choosing to stuff my phone back into my pocket so I can make the Monahans’ drinks. Guilt weighs me down knowing Cole has been obsessing over our kissing, most likely hating himself over it, and I’ve been lost in memories of Travis.

I’m going to have to come clean.

My stomach twists painfully at the thought of hurting him. The last thing I want is for him to be angry with me, but I especially don’t want to come between him and Travis.

The Monahans are chatting amicably when I return. Addison, Rhett, and Cason all have sweet tea, and their parents have the house wine. I manage to fill the wineglasses in front of them without spilling any or overfilling them.

No one in this family has any qualms about ordering steak that costs more than what I earn in two days. As they add on food to their order, I mentally calculate what it’s all going to cost. I’m a tiny bit resentful of Leah for taking me off the phone plan so quickly considering their entire meal will probably cost the amount of their family plan phone bill for two months straight.

You can’t worry about them anymore.

You’re your own woman. Independent, working, and apparently romantically juggling two men. No need to let the past cloud the future.

The evening crowd decides to show up before the Monahans’ food is cooked which means I frantically run around seating people, taking orders, and making drinks. Aiden has to step out of the kitchen to run food out for me when I get stuck at a table for an insanely long time as the woman decides on a cocktail.

I’ve barely been able to speak to the Monahans at all.

I’m at a table when they leave. Owen steps behind me as I’m taking an order, placing his hand on my lower back. He whispers in my ear. “You’re doing great, Savvy. I paid cash. The leftover amount is your tip. Have fun, dear.”

I squeak when he pats my ass and then walks away.

Why did he do that?

The people at the table don’t notice, and when I glance toward the Monahans, they’re all leaving, completely unaware Owen just smacked my butt.

Gross.

After putting in the order with the kitchen, I race over to the Monahans’ table. The stack of hundreds to pay for their meal is more money than I’ve ever seen at once. I count them out and realize Owen left me a hundred-dollar tip.

No freaking way.

Is that why he felt it was okay to put his hands one me? Like he paid for it?

I try not to let disgust ruin the moment of receiving my biggest tip so far at this job. Maybe he accidentally did it or maybe it was just a gesture of genuine affection.

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